Shure SM58S vs SM57

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

Summed up from 13 published reviews

Shure

SM58S

The Shure SM58S is a rugged, proven live-vocal microphone with useful self-muting, but it is not a versatile studio or digital-recording solution.

Best for: Live vocalists and presenters who need reliable, self-managed muting.
Skip it if: You need quiet-studio fidelity, USB output, or a switch-free stage setup.

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What reviewers say about the Shure SM58S

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.

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What reviewers say about the Shure SM57

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Specs side by side

Spec	Shure SM58S	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: SM58SPodcasts

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Shure SM58S

Rugged, reliable construction suits demanding live environments. 1 2 3 4
On/off switch provides convenient muting between speakers. 1 2 3 5
Cardioid pattern helps suppress background noise and feedback. 1 4
Works without phantom power, keeping setup relatively simple. 2 6
A proven choice for intelligible live vocals and spoken-word use. 2 4 5 6
Switch can be accidentally toggled or become unreliable over time. 2 3 5
Opening the signal path may produce audible pops. 2 3
Less suited to quiet studios, podcasts, and some instrument duties. 1 2 6

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	SM58S	SM57
Best XLR microphones	–	#3
Best dynamic microphones	–	#3
Best microphones for singing	–	#2

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 13 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.