Shure

Shure SM57 Review

Shure SM57 & SM58 Microphone Set - Professional Dynamic Cardioid Pair for Instruments & Vocals - Crisp Sound & Versatile Performance

$178.00 (price as of 2026-11-07)

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Reddit score

4.1 Based on 24 Reddit owner comments · Top 11% of 18 tracked xlr microphones

Owner sentiment
4.0
Recommendations
4.1
Spec score
Not rated
Value
4.2

How these are computed: methodology. Components without evidence show “Not rated” and their weight moves to the others.

Is the Shure SM57 worth it?

Based on 24 Reddit owner comments, the Shure SM57 scores 4.1 out of 5 (owner comments average 4.0 stars), and the theme owners raise most is vocals (10 mentions).

Who it suits

  • You care about vocals (7 positive owner mentions)
  • You care about background noise (4 positive owner mentions)
  • You care about value (3 positive owner mentions)

Who should skip it

  • Vocals matters a lot to you (2 critical owner mentions)
  • Background noise matters a lot to you (1 critical owner mention)

What Reddit owners say

19 positive and 2 critical owner comments. Quotes link to the original Reddit comment.

background noise
“I use a Sure SM57 with a foam ball for talking.”
owner comment via r/podcasting · 2026-02-08
background noise
“and even recently got a "wow" from an sm57 that was being used as an acoustic guitar mic in a live in the room setting with drums, bass and electric guitar.”
owner comment via r/audioengineering · 2026-09-03
gain needs
“Get a SM57 or SM58, use a wind screen to reduce plosives.”
owner comment via r/podcasting · 2026-02-08
gain needsbuild
“There are even sm57, other dynamics, ribbons, etc.”
owner comment via r/homestudios · 2026-01-13
vocalsbackground noise
“Some of the winners that usually come out of the shootout are the Audix OM series, Sennheiser 935/945 (935 is my personal fav for mid priced dynamics, but that is based on my voice), Shure SM57 Beta, and an old EV ND357.”
owner comment via r/livesound · 2025-08-03
vocals
“Granted it doesn't happen often, but switching the mic to an SM57 works.”
owner comment via r/livesound · 2025-09-28
value
“Thing is though, people have made Grammy award winning songs in there basement with just a 100 dollar sm57.”
owner comment via r/audioengineering · 2026-03-13
vocalsbackground noise
“I finally switched to an SM57.”
owner comment via r/audioengineering · 2026-04-30

Key specs

As listed on the Amazon product page we checked; missing fields are never estimated.

Connectivity TechnologyXLR
Connector TypeXLR
Special FeatureDynamic Cardioid Instrument Microphone
Polar PatternUnidirectional
Microphone Form FactorHandheld
Number of Channels2
Enclosure MaterialStainless Steel
Item Weight16 ounces
Antenna Location"Singing,Karaoke, Public Speaking/Speech "
BrandShure
Model NameSM57 & SM58
Built-In MediaMicrophone Set
Unit Count2 Count
Number of Items2
UPC612735037529
Mfr Part NumberSM57-LC-58Pk
Warranty Description2-Year Warranty

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XLR to XLR Cables is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Commissions never affect scores, rankings, or verdicts.

FAQ

Is the Shure SM57 worth it?

Based on 24 Reddit owner comments, the Shure SM57 scores 4.1 out of 5 (owner comments average 4.0 stars), and the theme owners raise most is vocals (10 mentions).

What do Reddit owners complain about with the Shure SM57?

The most common critical theme is vocals (2 mentions).

How much does the Shure SM57 cost?

It was $178.00 on Amazon when we checked on 2026-11-07. Prices change, so check Amazon for the current price.

Alternatives

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT2035

3.5 (1 owner comments)

$174.90 (price as of 2026-11-07)

build

“The newer AT2035 looks the same (but in black), and I assume is based on the earlier mic, but made in China instead of Japan.”

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RODE

RODE PodMic

3.6 (4 owner comments)

$184.99 (price as of 2026-11-07)

vocalsvalue

“😄 The PodMic is solid and very clear.”

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Shure

Shure Beta 58A

3.4 (3 owner comments)

$159.00 (price as of 2026-11-07)

vocalsbackground noise

“Avoid mic's that are marketed as condenser-like (shure beta58, sennheiser e9xx, se v7) they sound nice but tend to cause more feedback issues than sol”

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Last updated 2026-11-07. Amazon listing ASIN B0DNV2YL68.