Shure
Shure KSM42
Large dual-diaphragm side-address condenser vocal mic (front diaphragm active, rear passive), cardioid only, with a ShureLock shock mount and magnetic pop filter
Power Phantom 11-52 V DC (IEC-61938).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −37 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 51%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 66%
- Self-noise
- 8.5 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 89%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 89%
- Max SPL
- 139 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 58%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 53%
- Rated range
- 60 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 2010
vs 75 side-address condensers
More output than 36% of 75 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 77% of 99 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 58% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address 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, p. 5.
"Typical Frequency Response"; relative dB. Room and smoothing not stated; the distances are from the legend, the source is not named (page 3 calls the same curves "Vocalist at 2 feet" and "Vocalist at 6 inches").
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. 5.
"Typical Polar Patterns"; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2.5 to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring, outer ring +5 dB.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | large dual diaphragm: active front 1-inch, 2.5 µm, 24-karat gold Mylar diaphragm; passive back diaphragmFeatures. | p. 1 |
| Sensitivity | −37 dBV/Pa (14.1 mV/Pa)open circuit voltage, at 1 kHz, typical. "–37 dBV/Pa (14.1 mV)". | p. 4 |
| Self-noise | 8.5 dB(A)equivalent SPL, A-weighted, typical. "8.5 dB SPL-A". | |
| Max SPL | 139 dB SPL1 kHz at 1% THD, 2500 ohm or 1000 ohm load. "139 dB 2500 Ω load, 139 dB 1000 Ω load"; THD "of microphone preamplifier when applied input signal level is equivalent to cartridge output at specified SPL". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 86 dBref. 94 dB SPL | |
| Dynamic range | 131 dBat 1 kHz, 2500 ohm or 1000 ohm load | |
| Output impedance | 147 ohmoutput impedance | |
| Rated frequency range | 60 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom 11-52 V DC (IEC-61938)"11–52 V DC phantom power (IEC-61938), 6 mA"; specs measured at 48 V, "slightly decreased headroom and sensitivity" at lower voltages. | |
| Current draw | 6 mA | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"Three-pin professional audio (XLR), male, balanced". | |
| Weight | 494 gnet. "494 g; with shock mount and pop filter: 820 g". | |
| Dimensions | 185.4 × 55.9 mmDimension drawing (p. 5): height 185.4 mm (7.3 in.), width 55.9 mm (2.2 in.). In the shock mount with the pop filter: 220.7 mm high, 133.3 mm wide. | p. 5 |
| Supplied accessories | A42PF Popper Stopper magnetic pop filter; A42SM ShureLock shock mount; AK42C carrying case; A42VB velveteen pouch; A42OR replacement O-rings for the shock mount (4)"Furnished Accessories". The 2010 sheet lists an aluminium carrying case, A42SC. | p. 6 |
| Clipping level | 8.0 dBV into 2500 ohm, 6.5 dBV into 1000 ohm (20 Hz to 20 kHz, 1% THD) | p. 4 |
| Common mode rejection | ≥60 dB, 10 Hz to 100 kHz | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 | |
| Pop filtering | Integrated three-stage mesh grille, plus the magnetic pop filter that attaches to the shock-mount ring | p. 2 |
| Housing | Zinc die-cast housing, hardened low-carbon steel grille | p. 1 |
| Internal shock mount | Internal shock mount against handling and stand noise | |
| Intended useShure | Mainly solo and backing vocals, voice-over and speech; also choirs and room ambience, piano, guitar, strings, brass and woodwinds | |
| Optional accessories | A32WS black foam windscreen; A32ZB padded zippered bag; A32M mount/swivel adapter | p. 6 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2010 | |
| From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Electronics | Prethos Advanced Preamplifier Technology; gold-plated internal and external connectors | p. 1 |
Documents
- KSM42 Cardioid Condenser Microphone, user guideweb edition, 2017-11-02
- KSM42 Large Dual-Diaphragm Side-address Condenser Vocal Microphone, Product Specifications
- shure.com en-US KSM42 product URLredirects to the KSM40C page
- Shure KSM42 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.