Shure
Shure SM48
Dynamic (moving coil) cardioid handheld vocal mic; the SM48S adds a lockable on/off switch
Power None (passive). Low output: it needs a lot of preamp gain.
- Type
- Dynamic
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −57.5 dBV/Pa
- Among 78 dynamics: more output than 21%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 7%
- Rated range
- 55 – 14k Hz
vs 25 handheld dynamics
More output than 0% of 25 handheld dynamics.
Each stripe is one handheld dynamic with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy), p. 1.
"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 spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy), p. 1.
"Polar Pattern"; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2500 Hz to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring. The caption under the plots reads "Measured at 1000 Hz", which does not fit the six-frequency legend.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −57.5 dBV/Pa (1.3 mV/Pa)at 1 kHz, open circuit voltage. "-57.5 dBV/Pa (1.3 mV)". | p. 4 |
| Output impedance | 150 ohmrated (EIA); 270 ohm actual. "EIA rated at 150 Ω (270 Ω actual)"; the sheet adds "for connection to microphone inputs rated at 19 to 300 Ω". | p. 3 |
| Rated frequency range | 55 Hz to 14 kHz | |
| Powering | none (passive)Not stated by the manufacturer: Dynamic; no power requirement is listed. | |
| Switches | on/off (SM48S only): on, off"Lockable On/Off switch (SM48S only)"; the plain SM48 has no switch. | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"Three-pin professional audio (XLR), male". | p. 4 |
| Weight | 370 gnet. "Net: 0.37 kg (0.82 lb) Packaged: 0.672 kg (1.5 lb)". | |
| Supplied accessories | A25D microphone clip; 95A2313 carrying/storage bagFurnished accessories. | p. 6 |
| Construction | Shock-mounted cartridge, steel mesh grille and handle, built-in pop filter | p. 3 |
| Response shaping | Presence rise brightens the mid-range; low-frequency roll-off controls proximity effect | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3 | p. 4 |
| Optional accessories | A58WS windscreen; S37A desk stand; A55M, A55HM isolation mounts; A26M dual mount; C25F 7.5 m cable | p. 6 |
| Replacement parts | Cartridge R136; grille RK248G; on/off switch RK81S and plug assembly RK40P (spec sheet) | p. 7 |
| From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Dimensions | 166 × 54.2 mm"166 mm (6-17/32 in.) L x 54.2 mm (2-9/64 in.) W"; the 2006 guide's drawing adds 21.4 mm at the connector end. | p. 1 |
| Variants | SM48; SM48S with a lockable on/off switch | |
Documents
- SM48 SM48S Vocal Microphone, online user guideVersion 3, 2019-D
- SM48 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone, Product Specifications
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.