Earthworks SR117 Review / Test (vs. SM58, AT2010, Beta 87a)

Today I review a brand new handheld condenser microphone from Earthworks, the SR117. This mic has a controlled low end, a neutral mid section, and a bit of extension into the treble, but it has a bit of a roll off in the air frequencies.

Buy the Earthworks SR117 (Affiliate Link)

Buy the Focusrite 2i2 (3rd Gen)- Same Performance as 18i20 (Affiliate Link)

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: ~3:00
Boosted in Post: +6dB

SPECS:
- Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
- Freq Response : 20Hz - 20khz
- Sensitivity: -30.5dB
- Self Noise: 16dBA
- Max SPL: 125dB (140dB with -15dB pad)
- Impedance: 180 Ohms
- High Pass Filter: 6dB/octave at 250hz
- Phantom power: 11-52V.

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer
00:22 - What’s in the Box
00:42 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:09 - Specifications
01:19 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
01:38 - Plosive Test
01:49 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
02:18 - Background Noise Test
02:35 - Untreated Room Test
02:54 - Shock Rejection Test
03:12 - Handling Noise Rejection Test
03:25 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
03:38 - Cup the Mic Test
04:01 - Intro to Comparison
04:26 - Shure SM58 Comparison
04:48 - sE Electronics V7 Comparison
05:08 - Audio Technica AT2010 Comparison
05:32 - Lewitt MTP350 CM Comparison
05:56 - Beyerdynamic TG V70d Comparison
06:22 - Sennheiser E945 Comparison
06:50 - Shure Beta 87a Comparison
07:18 - Earthworks SR314 Comparison
07:49 - Neumann KMS105 Comparison
08:23 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
09:01 - Music Test
10:40 - Pros & Cons
11:44 - Overall Thoughts
13:21 - Recommendation
14:05 - Outro

#Condenser #Handheld #MicReview

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): If you purchase an item using an affiliate link, it provides me a small referral fee. As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

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[okay]

This is my kind of microphone - flat, condenser, good off axis rejection, low handling noise, fantastic build quality, from one of the best microphone manufacturers out there. Shocked that Earthworks makes such as "affordable" microphone. Definitely want one, need one.

Not cheap, but will most likely outlive me.

[EarthworksAudio]

Thank you for reviewing the SR117 Bandrew!!! Would love to hear you do more singing and guitar playing. Hope you feel better soon!

[Itslegitman]

Wow im actually impressed how good beyerdynamic sounded, would love to see more tests on it!

[ChronologicalFern]

As someone who works with recording in my own at home studio, while at the same time having always had a very low budget that slightly changes accross the years, your channel is amazing and everything I've ever wanted.

[jalind]

Thanks for the really great review.

think the Earthworks SR117 mic is extremely fine grained and silky smooth. They are a dream to EQ and mix. With the right micing and EQ, they produce a really nice vocal blend that is N integrated octaves and harmonies. I can easily pull lead vocals forward for lead/backing segments of songs.

I use the Earthworks SR117 mic along with the Sennheiser e935 and e945 mics for mixing and blending individually miced live vocalists -- up to nine at a time from a pool of about 14 vocal personnel. The vocal lead varies according to song and within songs. Sometimes, there isn't really a lead, just an octaves and harmonies single blended sound, like a small ensemble or choir. This makes getting.a really good blend with a voice or two pulled forward according to lead a part of mixing them.

After experimenting for a couple of weeks I came up with a general use pattern. It's a lot easier to get a good profile before EQ. For me, EQ is not a good cure-all and I don't like depending on it when I can get a better start point from the mic with no EQ by using a different mic.

I use the Earthworks SR117 for female vocalists whose voices are weaker in the midrange and strong in the presence. I have at least three vocalists whose voices are overly present in the Sennheiser e945 mic. Typically soprano and high descant voices. I use the Sennheiser e945 mics for female vocalists with stronger mid than presence. Typically alto and tenor range femail vocalists with weaker presence. The presence boost from the Sennheiser gets them into the blend better than the Earthworks SR117 does before EQ.

For male vocalists in general, a presence boost helps me place them into the blend and mix before EQ better than not having one. I get a more even sounding blend. For male baritone and bass, I use the Sennheiser e935 to decrease the proximity effect that I would otherwise get a lot more of out of the Sennheiser e945. For male tenors, it depends on the presence strength in their voices. I generally use the Sennheiser e945 to get a presence boost because the total vocal profile is such that they disappear in the mix and blend too easily without it. If I had a really strong presence and weaker mid, I might use an Earthworks SR117 for them, but I have yet to encounter that situation.

I use Sennheiser Evolution 9xx series handhelds exclusively with the Earthworks SR117 because they are very fine grained and smooth as well. Much more so than alternatives. With regard to smoothness, I'd put the Earthworks SR117 slightly ahead of the Sennheiser e9x5 mics and definitely ahead of the Sennheiser e8x5 and the Shure SM75 and SM58 handhelds. I also put them somewhat ahead of the Sennheiser e9x5 mics in terms of how easily they can be EQed for most EQ purposes. If I'm looking for a presence boost, I'll take the built in boost in the Sennheiser e9x5 mics over having to EQ a presence boost.

I'm normally very wary of using vocal condensers in a live environment with somewhat reflective surfaces, stage monitors, and a lot of open mics (like 7 to 9 vocalists plus miced acoustic instruments). In my experimentation over a few weeks, I've found the Earthworks SR117 just a manageable with gain before feedback as any of the Sennheiser e9x5 dynamic mics. I'm amazed with that although the tight and consistent polar pattern easily explains why.

I'm recommending the venue add a minimum of 3 to add to their mic locker for the vocalists -- we've been using up to 4 from my personal locker for experimentation. Yup. I liked them so much, I bought another 3 of them for personal use quite quickly after trying the first one only one time.

[uncle-english]

Oh, honey, you're back!!!!
I think everybody is so happy to hear you again

[artysanmobile]

Earthworks makes some of the best sounding microphones I’ve ever used. They have decided on a purist approach, eschewing the trend of every mic tailored for a purpose. Last I checked, every imaginable use includes basic EQ for enhancement, but try EQing OUT an undesirable response. I’m happy to see you reviewing this.

[happyasmongoose]

Thanks for reviewing this. I bought one already on recommendation of an industry guy. I am conflicted seeing critical comments, reminds me of critiques of the DPA2028.. flat, plain, what’s the big deal. Well…You have a blank slate for EQ and effects that also is FAST and natural so vocal fatigue is minimized. So pitch stays better longer, etc etc. It is not always about presence and treble, guys. I can get (and have) that in a $99 dynamic. I will be using this mic as a platform to build from instead of a bar mic plug-n-play. Cheers!

[mrspuff]

i really like this and the beyerdynamic. hard to decide between the two. will have to do some more listening. thanks for all your effort on this video - really appreciated the wide variety of mics and the palate cleansers in between!

[ZachariahConnor]

I like this one, it doesn’t have that annoying presence boost like the beta 87a. With modern PEQs on live mix consoles, flatter mics are usually preferable IMO

[Blu]

So bummed they discontinued the SV33, was really looking forward to you eventually reviewing that one.

[agambhasin]

Hello Dear Brother
Its always great to see you review some absolutely amazing microphones and this one is no different, I love how Earthworks is slowly becoming one of the best modern day microphone producing brand, they are however not available here in India yet but someday when they arrive, I am *Shure* to have this one! I think this sounded the best to me, I am a flat sound fan and I love such microphones, however I feel you left out one microphone in this comparison, the Rode M2 is a very very neutral sounding handheld condenser that personally I absolutely love! I think this comparison can go on your Deuce channel someday so people like me can enjoy how it sounds!
Hope you have recovered well and your spirits are high as ever
Take care, regards

[patrikherman_]

I absolutely adore the sound of this microphone, personally it's quite pleasing to listen to. This would be fantastic to equalize, too.

[BeardedManFromWaco]

Sweetwater's Black Friday deal: purchase one SR117, get one free. My purchase receipt states two SR117 for the price of one. It is will supplies last, so hopefully you are reading and are one of the lucky few. Crazy deal if I am right and not missing something obvious. Best of luck!

[fiddleseth]

Was wondering when you'd do this review. I bought two SR117s immediately when they came out before i got to hear them, on the off chance they might sound anything like my SR314. They don't. But they are incredibly smooth in the high mids where most of the pain occurs in live sound. I'm hoping mics like these will be the new normal. Distorted high mid presence peaks feel leftover from a time when vocals just needed to thrust themselves in the mix over loud guitar amps on small stages, quality be damned. These Earthworks definitely need EQ, and they don't work incredibly well on loud untreated stages, but they are great in their own right. The SR117 is what the DPA 2028 should've been.

[theoutsiderjess]

I was thinking about getting a new handheld so this came out at the right time

[rundisciple]

Wow I am shocked at how much fuller and more balanced the earthworks sounded than literally all those other hand held mics *maybe except for the Neumann*. And how honky the other budget line brand ones are in comparison

[phatboyzband]

Beyer TGv70d Best one in the bunch.thx love the way you test back and forth the palate cleanser..

[rj]

Feel better soon, Bandrew! Great review

[Schmuddel]

The insistence of Earthworks on a pancake-flat response curve makes them one of the best mic manufacturers in the world. I wish there were more who had the same philosophy.