Shure
Shure Beta 53
Subminiature electret condenser headworn mic, omnidirectional, on a wire-frame headband, with two interchangeable protective caps (standard and filtered) and a detachable in-line preamp for phantom power
Power Phantom 11-52 V DC (through the in-line preamp).
- Type
- Condenser (electret)
- Pattern
- Omni
- Sensitivity
- −54 dBV/Pa
- Among 311 mics: more output than 16%
- Self-noise
- 42.5 dB(A)
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 0%
- Max SPL
- 139.4 dB SPL
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 56%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
vs 204 condensers
More output than 3% of 204 condensers.
Each stripe is one condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 258 condensers
Quieter than 0% of 258 condensers.
Each stripe is one condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 277 condensers
Takes louder sound than 61% of 277 condensers.
Each stripe is one condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the user guide 2005, p. 12.
"Polar Patterns and Frequency Response", BETA 53; relative dB. Distance, room and smoothing not stated.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the user guide 2005, p. 12.
BETA 53 polar pattern; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2.5 to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring. Which cap was fitted is not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −54 dBV/Paat 1 kHz, open circuit voltage; with the in-line preamp; also −50 dBV/Pa, 2005 guide, wired version: "-50.0 ± 3.0dB, 3.16mV". Printed "-54.0 dBV/Pa (3.16 mV)", and the 2015 sheet has "-54.0dB 3.16mV". But -54 dBV/Pa is 2.0 mV and 3.16 mV is -50 dBV/Pa: the 2005 guide gives -50 dB (3.16 mV) for the wired Beta 53 and -54 dB (2.0 mV) for the wireless WBH53, so the -54 here may be the wireless figure copied. | p. 9 |
| Self-noise | 42.5 dB(A)equivalent SPL, A-weighted, typical; also 39 dB(A), 2005 guide: "39.0 dB typical; 42.0 dB maximum". The 2015 sheet also gives 42.5 dB SPL (A-weighted). | p. 10 |
| Max SPL | 139.4 dB SPL1 kHz at 1% THD; also 150.5 dB SPL, 2015 sheet: "at 1% THD/1 kΩ load" (the guide gives 150.5 dB for the wireless WBH53); also 147 dB SPL, 2005 guide, wired: 1% THD, 1 kΩ load; also 142 dB SPL, 2005 guide, wireless: 1% THD, 20 kΩ load. "BETA 53 139.4 dB"; THD "of microphone preamplifier when applied input signal level is equivalent to cartridge output at specified SPL". | p. 9 |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 55 dBref. 94 dB SPL. "55.0 dB"; the same in all three documents. | |
| Dynamic range | 96.9 dBat 1 kHz; also 108 dB, 2015 sheet and 2005 guide: max SPL into 1 kΩ minus typical A-weighted noise | p. 10 |
| Output impedance | 160 ohmoutput impedance of the RPM627 in-line preamp; also 136 ohm, 2005 guide: "Preamp Output Impedance 136Ω". "Output Impedance (RPM627) 160 Ω". | p. 9 |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom 11-52 V DC (through the in-line preamp)"11–52 V DC phantom power, 2 mA". | p. 10 |
| Current draw | 2 mAalso 4.6 mA, 2015 sheet and 2005 guide: "preamp and microphone" | |
| Connector | TA4F (mini 4-pin) on the mic cable; XLR-3 male on the RPM627 in-line preampReplacement parts: "4-Pin Mini Connector (TA4F)" WA333 and "In-Line Preamp" RPM627; polarity is given at "pin 2 with respect to pin 3" of the preamp (p. 10). | p. 16 |
| Weight | 135 gmicrophone and in-line preamp. "135 g (4.75 oz.)"; the wireless WBH53 (no preamp) weighs 35 g. The 2015 sheet prints "1135.35 g (4.75 oz.)", a misprint. | p. 10 |
| Finish | black (Beta 53, WBH53B) or tan (WBH53T)Available models; the tan finish is listed only for the wireless version. | p. 3 |
| Supplied accessories | 2 foam windscreens; 2 standard protective caps (gold mesh); 2 filtered protective caps (silver mesh); swiveling lapel clip; 2 boom holders; logo pad; plastic carrying case"All models include" (besides the mic and headband). | p. 4 |
| Protective caps | Standard cap: gold mesh, "No attenuation". Filtered cap: silver mesh, "Attenuates high frequencies" | p. 7 |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 (at the preamp output) | p. 10 |
| Wireless versionWBH53B, WBH53T | TA4F connector for Shure bodypacks, no preamp: -54.0 dBV/Pa (2.0 mV), max SPL 150.5 dB, dynamic range 108 dB, +5 V DC, 35 g | p. 9 |
| Headband | Low-profile wire frame, adjustable in width, boom height and boom length; the boom can be moved to either side | p. 6 |
| PlacementShure | Near the corner of the mouth; roll the boom to keep it off skin and facial hair | p. 8 |
| Replacement parts | Foam windscreen RPM304 (black) / RPM306 (tan); standard cap RPM208 / RPM212; filtered cap RPM220 / RPM214; mic and boom with TA4F RPM132 / RPM134; lapel clip RPM510 / RPM512; boom holder and logo pad RPM570 / RPM580; headband RPM550 / RPM560; TA4F connector WA333; in-line preamp RPM627 | p. 16 |
| From the spec sheet | ||
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmrecommended minimum input impedance. ">1 kΩ"; the 2005 guide gives >1 kΩ for the wired version and 20 kΩ for the wireless one. | p. 1 |
| From the user guide 2005 | ||
| Cable | 1.5 m (5 ft), small-diameter, shielded, with mini 4-pin connector (TA4F) | p. 11 |
Documents
- BETA53 BETA54 Headworn Vocal Microphones, user guideVersion 4, 2019-K
- Beta 53 Subminiature Headworn Condenser Microphone, Product Specifications
- Subminiature Condenser Headworn Microphones, Models BETA 53, BETA 54 User Guide27F3115 Rev. 6
- BETA 53 Headworn Vocal Microphoneshure.com en-GB product page
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.