Shure
Shure KSM353
Passive ribbon (Roswellite), figure-8, side-address; hand-assembled premium studio mic with wire-rope shock mount
Power None (passive). Switch phantom power off before you plug it in: a faulty cable can damage the ribbon. Low output: it needs a lot of preamp gain.
- Type
- Ribbon
- Pattern
- Figure-8
- Sensitivity
- −53.5 dBV/Pa
- Among 28 ribbons: more output than 33%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 21%
- Max SPL
- 146 dB SPL
- Among 29 ribbons: takes louder sound than 71%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 82%
- Rated range
- 30 – 15k Hz
- Released
- 2009
vs 24 side-address ribbons
More output than 26% of 24 side-address ribbons.
Each stripe is one side-address ribbon with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 28 side-address ribbons
Takes louder sound than 70% of 28 side-address ribbons.
Each stripe is one side-address ribbon 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, p. 7.
"Frequency Response"; 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, p. 7.
"Polar Pattern", two circles (125, 500, 1000 Hz; 2, 4, 8 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring. Distance and room not stated. The rear lobe is opposite in polarity (guide p. 4: invert the polarity when addressing the back).
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | Roswellite ribbon (in place of a foil ribbon); patented ribbon motor assemblyPage 3: "The Roswellite ribbon material replaces traditional foil ribbons with high tensile strength, toughness, and shape memory"; "Patented, custom ribbon motor assembly". | p. 3 |
| Sensitivity | −53.5 dBV/Pa (2.11 mV/Pa)1 kHz, open circuit voltage, typical. "-53.5 dBV/Pa (2.11 mV)". | p. 6 |
| Max SPL | 146 dB SPLNo condition given. | |
| Output impedance | 330 ohm"Output Impedance 330 Ω"; the spec sheet: "Transformer, balanced, actual 330 Ω". | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmrecommended, or more. "Shure recommends using preamps with impedance settings of 1000 Ohms or more, although different load impedances may be used for a desired sound quality." | p. 3 |
| Rated frequency range | 30 Hz to 15 kHz | p. 6 |
| Powering | none (passive)"Phantom power is not necessary and should not be supplied when connecting or disconnecting the microphone. However, properly supplied phantom power will not harm the microphone." | p. 5 |
| Weight | 633 gmicrophone; 950 g with shock mount. "Microphone: 633 g (1.4 lbs)", "with shockmount: 950 g (2.1 lbs)". | p. 6 |
| Dimensions | 48 × 158 mmDrawing: "1.9 in (48 mm)" across, "6.2 in (158 mm)" long (diameter × length). The spec sheet: diameter 4.83 cm, height 15.75 cm. | p. 7 |
| Finish | Machined stainless steel housing"Housing: Machined stainless steel". | p. 6 |
| Supplied accessories | A300SM ShureLock wire rope suspension mount; A353SC aluminium carrying case; A353VB velveteen pouch; A300PC polishing cloth"Furnished Accessories". The 2015 spec sheet lists an AK353C zippered carrying case instead of the A353SC, while its overview still mentions an "aluminum flight case". | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on front side of ribbon produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 | |
| Transformer | Custom-wound, double-shielded, full-size transformer, positioned perpendicular to the ribbon | p. 3 |
| Construction | Hand-assembled in the USA from machined steel, silver, gold and aluminium components | |
| Optional accessories | A300M ShureLock stand mount; A15PRS switchable phase reverser; PS-6 Popper Stopper windscreen; C25E 7.6 m (25 ft) cable | p. 6 |
| Rear pickup | When addressing the back side, invert the signal polarity (A15PRS in-line polarity reverser) | p. 4 |
| Stereo useShure | Blumlein with a pair; mid-side with a cardioid such as the KSM137 or KSM32 | |
| ApplicationsShure | Studio vocals, orchestra ensembles, acoustic instruments, ambient or room pickup, voice-over for film or broadcast | |
| Patent | U.S. Patent 7,894,619 | p. 8 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2009 | |
| From the spec sheet | ||
| Connector | XLR-3 male"Three pin professional audio (XLR) male". | p. 1 |
Documents
- KSM353 User Guide27A16164 Rev. 1
- KSM353/ED Premier Bi-directional Ribbon Microphone, Product Specifications
- Shure KSM353 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.