You may remember a shoot-out I did between the Shure SM58 and its big brother the SM7B. It was interesting to hear some of the similarities between the mics, especially since one costs almost three times more than the other.
Ever since then, I’ve wanted to compare the 58 to a microphone I use quite a bit both in my studio and when I play out live – the AKG D5.
I’ve loved the sounds I’ve been able to get out of the D5, but I’ve never compared it directly to the SM58, which dominates the live sound market.
The D5 is a pretty stylish mic, with its black grill and body and nice big AKG logo. It’s also a super-cardioid microphone, as opposed to the standard cardioid pattern on the SM58.
Aside from these differences, the microphones are fairly similar. They’re both dynamic mics, and they both sell for right at $100.
So…does one sound better than the other? Let’s hear.
Shure SM58
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AKG D5
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If you’re having trouble playing these, you can download them here: SM58 and D5. (Right-click and save.)
How It Was Recorded
Here’s a quick run-down of how I recorded these. I left the grill on both, and simply stood about four inches from the front of the grill. I recorded directly through a Focusrite preamp into my 003, and I didn’t use any processing on either take.
My Thoughts
Both mics sound good, but I think the D5 has a good bit more high-end content to it. It doesn’t seem hyped to me necessarily. It just seems like the highs aren’t as rolled off as with the SM58.
Also, the bass of the D5 seems to reach a little bit lower. Sadly, this is only really heard when the mic “pops” from my breath, but still, it was something I noticed. This may make the D5 a better choice for bass amps, for example.
All in all, while it definitely depends on how well each microphone sits in the mix, I’m pretty impressed with my D5. It gives some of the benefits of a dynamic microphone, in that it doesn’t pick up as much room noise and is a bit “aggressive,” but it doesn’t sound as much like a dynamic as the Shure SM58 did, particularly in the high frequencies.
What do you think? Which do you like better?
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I have tested them both for live use (in my studio I prefer to use a condenser) and I think the D5 sounds alot better, less feedback (for example: I could lay my mic in front of the stage monitor and I didn’t had feedback at all)
But the sm58 is nicer to hold in your hands, the D5 seems a bit large. That’s the only negative point I can mention about the D5.
So my conclusion of what would be the best mic.: the inside of the D5 with the outside of the sm58
The D5 was too crisp on the highs. The bass was not full to me, it was more a lack of mids and more high crispness that made the bass stand out. The 58 provided a full, rich sound with no edges. I prefer the 58. However, in a live situation I prefer the beta 58 a.
in my opinion the d5 sounds better. it sounds brighter and seems to have a little bit more output than the sm58. i think i’m going to get me one.
thanks for this shootout. very well sung!
Is the microphone or the singer is really good?
It seems that D5 has less problem with sudden sound of breath and providing a voice slightly more bright (or clear…).
Very nice demo! Thanks.
the main thing is–>> in d5 high frequencies sound more chirp but in sm58 high frequencies sound quite smoother….so sm58 works fine
An interesting comparison. I think the 58 has a more natural sound. I also think that if there were 4 or 5 vocal mics active on a live stage, the AKG's would be harder to keep under control.
akg sounds awesome, , the voice is rich
I tried a lot of mics, SM58 Beta58, SM87, EV’s ND267AS, Shure Classic H55… and then the D5. While the SM58 and Beta58 both are great mics, for my money and my singing range and style, the D5 worked out better, both live and in studio.
Plus, the fact that it cost me less did hurt one bit!
I walked into a music store ready to purchase a Shure Beta 57A & the salesman grabbed the D5 and 4-5 other mics, I did not see what they were – found out later that where higher end Shure mics that cost 3-4x as much as the D5, including the SM87A. He hooked me up to a testing area & the clear winner in my book was the D5. More clarity, more natural sounding, nothing artificial sounding about it. It was what I like to call “musical” and performed/sounded just as good as mics costing 3-4x times as much. No mics in this price range could touch the D5, and other much higher in price where only marginally “better”. A clear winner.
I am an Auctioneer and I work in cattle sale barns. I needed a mic that would not pick up all the things that happen like people on the block talking, gates shuting, cattle making noise and our own feed back. I have 20 plus mic’s. I only use the D5.
That’s really cool, Paul. Thanks!
I think the D5 sounds better but everything sounds very good with the SM58.
I like the D5 better.
yes there is more Air, but to my ears it sounds honky in the low mid, not as natural as the 58. the 58 has that magic midrange bite that sounds like a mixed vocal, the D5 gives the vocal more of a hissy kinda vibe, thinner in the middle and big at both ends,
I have the D880 and would say its sound almost the same as the D5 , Thanks for comparisons, good to hear i wanted to know how it stood up to the 58.
I found in live situations my akg D880 is amazing, but not so good when trying to dull down all that air in the mix. Great on acoustic guitar though. From this test it also sounds like D5 has quiet a lot of plosives, 58 is still the best for that. i stuck some metal mesh filter in my D880 and that helps, would like to hear these both side by side. I would think the D5 sounds better on a female vocal. I used the D880 on this track for the vocal
http://www.last.fm/music/Aaron+Owen+Smith/_/Calling++You?autostart
and you can hear its still very airy,