Shure SM58 vs SM57

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 15 published reviews

Shure

SM58

The SM58 is a rugged, easy-to-use XLR microphone best suited to live vocals, speech, and portable recording, with limited studio flexibility.

Best for: Live singing, public speaking, and portable XLR podcasting
Skip it if: You need USB or studio-level nuance and instrument versatility

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Shure SM58

Shure

SM57

The Shure SM57 is a rugged, versatile instrument microphone that handles loud sources well, though it is not optimized for vocals.

Best for: Loud instruments, guitar amps, drums and live stage work.
Skip it if: You need a dedicated studio vocal microphone.

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Shure SM57

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Specs side by side

Spec	Shure SM58	Shure SM57
Best for	Singing & instruments, Podcasts & voice	Singing & instruments
Connection	XLR	XLR
Capsule	Dynamic	Dynamic
Type	Handheld	Handheld
Boom arm	No	No
RGB	No	No

Rows where the two differ come first.

Where only one fits

use: SM58Podcasts

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Shure SM58

Rugged build thrives on demanding stages and mobile use 1 2 3 4
Cardioid pattern rejects off-axis noise and feedback 1 2 3 4
Internal shock mount minimizes handling noise 1 2 3 5
Consistent vocal tone works for singing and speech 1 2 5 6
Strong value for live vocals and portable recording 2 3 6 7
Requires an external recorder or interface; it is not USB 3
Less ideal for instrument recording than the Shure SM57 1 2 6
Close placement can create a boomy proximity effect 1 6
Brightened midrange may not suit every recording need 2 8

Shure SM57

Rugged metal construction suits demanding live and studio use. 2 3 4 5
Handles loud instruments with minimal distortion and high SPL tolerance. 1 2 3 4
Cardioid pattern rejects background noise and off-axis sound. 2 3 4 6
Effective for guitar amps, drums, brass and close-miked sources. 1 3 4 6
Not optimized for vocals; a dedicated vocal microphone suits singing better. 1 2 4 5
Needs careful placement because proximity effect can boost bass. 2 3 7
May lack high-frequency detail or full acoustic-guitar body. 1 3 6
Plosives remain an issue without a windscreen or pop filter. 3 6 7

Ranked in our guides

Guide	SM58	SM57
Best podcast microphones	#3	–
Best XLR microphones	#2	#3
Best dynamic microphones	#2	#3

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 15 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.