GEAR REVIEW
SHURE SM7dB MICROPHONE | Kent Morris
KEY FEATURES
• No need for a signal boost device
• Active gain + 18dB or + 28dB
• Fills several voice and instrument needs
With a sweet play on words , or acronym in this case , the Shure SM7dB offers a new take on a decades-old classic microphone .
The SM7B has been a standard voice-over , studio vocal , radio DJ and even live mic for eons . It is large , dynamic and possesses a unique tone , but fell out of favor , to an extent , in the past decade until the pandemic . With the uptick in podcasts , since then the SM7B found new life as the centerpiece of seemingly every podcaster from Tokyo to Telluride . However , modern users found the low-level output of the SM7B alone to be lacking and often employed a Cloudlifter to boost the signal prior to the console ’ s preamp . What Shure has done with the SM7dB is essentially put the booster inside the mic shell . An active gain device of either + 18dB or + 28dB is included along with a bypass for the classic SM7B level plus retention of the original ’ s bass roll-off and presence boost controls .
The result is arguably better than an SM7B with an external booster since the circuity is designed from the factory for the mic and it reduces connectivity issues as well . In use , the SM7dB delivers the same robust , forward sound of the classic model , but with higher output . The two levels of boost are handy for matching output with various consoles and the elimination of another cable and outboard box is a welcome reduction in portable environments where bag space is at a premium . The SM7dB is versatile enough with the roll-off and presence switch to fit male vocals , female vocals , upright bass , low toms , acoustic guitars , cellos and tympani while offering a distinct tonality condenser mics cannot match .
Shure has performed surgery on an obvious candidate here but added the skill and precision only available from the original manufacturer . If your mic closet doesn ’ t already include an SM7B , the SM7dB is clearly the version to buy .
$ 499 Shure . com
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Kent Morris Kent Morris is a 44-year veteran of the AVL arena driven by passion for excellence tempered by the knowledge all technology is in a temporal state .
114 December 2023 Subscribe for Free ...