Shure
Shure Beta 54
Subminiature electret condenser headworn mic, supercardioid, on a wire-frame headband, with snap-fit windscreens and a detachable in-line preamp for phantom power
Power Phantom 11-52 V DC (through the in-line preamp).
- Type
- Condenser (electret)
- Pattern
- Supercardioid
- Sensitivity
- −56 dBV/Pa
- Among 311 mics: more output than 10%
- Self-noise
- 43.1 dB(A)
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 0%
- Max SPL
- 141.4 dB SPL
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 70%
- Rated range
- 50 – 20k Hz
vs 204 condensers
More output than 2% 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 73% 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 54; relative dB (one scale for all three lines). The legend gives "15 mm (.6 in)" for the dashed line and "606 mm (2 ft)" for the solid ones. 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 54 polar pattern; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2.5 to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −56 dBV/Paat 1 kHz, open circuit voltage; with the in-line preamp; also −52 dBV/Pa, 2005 guide, wired version: "-52.0 ± 3.0dB, 2.51mV". Printed "-56.0 dBV/Pa (2.51 mV)", and the 2015 sheet has the same. But -56 dBV/Pa is 1.58 mV and 2.51 mV is -52 dBV/Pa: the 2005 guide gives -52 dB (2.51 mV) for the wired Beta 54 and -56 dB (1.58 mV) for the wireless WBH54, so the -56 here may be the wireless figure copied (as on the Beta 53). | p. 10 |
| Self-noise | 43.1 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 43.1 dB SPL (A-weighted). The signal-to-noise ratio of 55 dB re 94 dB SPL, printed in all three documents, fits 39 dB. | p. 11 |
| Max SPL | 141.4 dB SPL1 kHz at 1% THD; also 152.5 dB SPL, 2019 guide, wireless WBH54; also 149 dB SPL, 2005 guide, wired: 1% THD, 1 kΩ load; also 144 dB SPL, 2005 guide, wireless: 1% THD, 20 kΩ load. "BETA 54 141.4 dB"; the 2015 sheet has "141.4 dB SPL at 1% THD/1 kΩ load". THD "of microphone preamplifier when applied input signal level is equivalent to cartridge output at specified SPL". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 55 dBref. 94 dB SPL. "55.0 dB"; the same in all three documents. | |
| Dynamic range | 98.3 dBat 1 kHz; also 110 dB, 2015 sheet and 2005 guide: max SPL into 1 kΩ minus typical A-weighted noise. The 2019 figure is its max SPL minus its self-noise (141.4 - 43.1). | |
| Output impedance | 160 ohmoutput impedance of the RPM627 in-line preamp; also 136 ohm, 2005 guide and 2015 sheet: "Preamp Output Impedance 136Ω". "Output Impedance (RPM627) 160 Ω". | p. 10 |
| Rated frequency range | 50 Hz to 20 kHz"50 to 20,000 Hz"; the 2005 guide agrees, the 2015 sheet prints "20 to 20,000 Hz" (its graph starts at 50 Hz). | |
| Powering | phantom 11-52 V DC (through the in-line preamp)"11–52 V DC phantom power, 2 mA". | p. 11 |
| 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 (the 2015 sheet says WA331) and "In-Line Preamp" RPM627; polarity is given at pin 2 relative to pin 3 of the preamp. | p. 15 |
| Weight | 135 gmicrophone and in-line preamp. "135 g (4.75 oz.)"; the 2005 guide and 2015 sheet give 135.35 g. The wireless WBH54 (no preamp) weighs 35 g. | p. 11 |
| Finish | black (Beta 54, WBH54B) or tan (WBH54T)Available models; the tan finish is listed only for the wireless version (also on the 2015 sheet). | p. 4 |
| Supplied accessories | 2 snap-fit foam windscreens; 2 standard protective caps (gold mesh); swiveling lapel clip; 2 boom holders; logo pad; plastic carrying case"All models include" (besides the mic and headband). | p. 5 |
| Protective cap | Use only with the standard protective cap (gold mesh, "No attenuation"): "Using the microphone with no cap, or with the filtered cap, will degrade sound quality and alter the microphone's polar pattern" | p. 7 |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 (at the preamp output) | p. 11 |
| Wireless versionWBH54B, WBH54T | TA4F connector for Shure bodypacks, no preamp: -56.0 dBV/Pa (1.58 mV), max SPL 152.5 dB, dynamic range 109.4 dB, +5 V DC, 35 g | |
| 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 | Mic and boom with TA4F RPM646 (black) / RPM648 (tan); standard cap RPM208 / RPM212; snap-fit foam windscreen RPM316 / RPM318; lapel clip RPM510 / RPM512; boom holder and logo pad RPM570 / RPM580; headband RPM550 / RPM560; TA4F connector WA333; in-line preamp RPM627 | p. 15 |
| 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 54 Subminiature Headworn Condenser Microphone, Product Specifications
- Subminiature Condenser Headworn Microphones, Models BETA 53, BETA 54 User Guide27F3115 Rev. 6
- BETA 54 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.