Shure
Shure PGA181
Side-address cardioid electret condenser (PG Alta series), cast-zinc housing, for vocals and instruments
Power Phantom 48 V DC.
- Type
- Condenser (electret)
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −38 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 46%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 62%
- Max SPL
- 138 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 53%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 49%
- Rated range
- 50 – 20k Hz
vs 75 side-address condensers
More output than 28% 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 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 52% 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. 6.
"0,61 m (2 ft.) from sound source"; relative dB. 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. 6.
"Polar Pattern", 1,000 Hz; 0° at the bottom, rings every 5 dB down to -25 dB, the centre -30 dB.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −38 dBV/Pa (12.7 mV/Pa)at 1 kHz, open circuit voltage. "-38 dBV/Pa (12.7 mV)". | p. 6 |
| Max SPL | 138 dB SPL1 kHz at 1% THD, 1 kΩ load | |
| Output impedance | 120 ohmactual. "120 Ω, actual". | |
| Rated frequency range | 50 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom 48 V DC"48 V DC phantom power (4 mA)"; the guide (p. 4) says it "can operate with lower voltages". | |
| Current draw | 4 mA | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"Three-pin professional audio (XLR), male". | |
| Weight | 383 g"383 g (0.8 lbs)". | |
| Dimensions | 150.4 × 52.6 × 40 mmDimension drawing: length 150.4 mm (5.92 in.), diameter 52.6 mm (2.07 in.), width 40 mm (1.57 in.). | p. 7 |
| Housing | Cast zinc | p. 6 |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 | |
| Front marking | Four screws around the grille, the cardioid logo and the model number mark the front | p. 4 |
| PlacementShure | Voice 2-8 cm with a pop filter; acoustic guitar 15-30 cm; amplifiers 2-15 cm; drums 1-2 m; strings or horns 30 cm-2 m; full band 1-3 m | p. 5 |
| Optional accessories and parts | C25J 7.6 m cable; 95D2153 4.6 m cable; 31A1856 thread adapter; WA371 mic clip; PS-6 pop filter; A58WS foam windscreen | |
Documents
- PGA181 User Guide, PG Alta Series27A27346 Rev. 3
- PGA181 Cardioid Condenser Microphoneshure.com product page
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.