Shure
Shure SM81
Small-diaphragm cardioid condenser for acoustic instruments, piano and drum overheads
Power Phantom, 11 to 52 V DC.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −45 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 18%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 42%
- Self-noise
- 16 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 45%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 46%
- Max SPL
- 136 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 45%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 42%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 1978
vs 75 end-address condensers
More output than 8% of 75 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 48% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 46% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
5 of 35; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 7.
Titled "Frequency Response", marked "1 Meter"; relative dB. Anechoic or not, smoothing and typical-vs-individual are 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, p. 7.
Titled "Polar Pattern, Measured at 1000 Hz" (as printed, though it shows six frequencies); two plots, 100 Hz to 1 kHz and 2 to 10 kHz; 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring down to -20 dB. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −45 dBV/Pa (5.6 mV/Pa)open circuit voltage, 1 kHz | p. 7 |
| Self-noise | 16 dB(A)typical, A-weighted | |
| Max SPL | 136 dB SPL1 kHz, 800 ohm load, attenuator at 0; also 146 dB SPL, 800 ohm load, attenuator at -10; also 128 dB SPL, 150 ohm load, attenuator at 0; also 138 dB SPL, 150 ohm load, attenuator at -10 | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 78 dBIEC 651, at 94 dB SPL | |
| Output impedance | 150 ohmrated (85 ohm actual) | |
| Rated load impedance | 800 ohmrecommended minimum | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom, 11 to 52 V DC"Phantom powering (DIN 45 596 voltages of 12 to 48 Vdc)" under Features. | |
| Current draw | 1.2 mA | |
| Low cut | off, 6 dB/octave, 18 dB/octave"Selectable low-frequency response: flat, 6 or 18 dB/octave rolloff". The corner frequencies are not given on this sheet. | |
| Pad | −10 dB"0 dB/10 dB lockable attenuator switch". | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male | |
| Weight | 230 g | |
| Dimensions | 23.5 × 212 mmDiameter × length ("212 mm L x 23.5 mm W"). | |
| Finish | steel, vinyl metallic paint, stainless steel screens | |
| Supplied accessories | stand adapter; zippered pouchSM81-LC. | |
| Self-noiseDIN 45 405 | 19 dB typical | |
| Output clipping level | -4 dBV (0.63 V) into 800 ohm; -15 dBV (0.18 V) into 150 ohm | |
| Hum pickup | -3 dB equivalent SPL in a 1 mOe field (60 Hz) | |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 1978 | |
Documents
- SM Wired Microphonesspec sheet for the SM range; SM81 on page 7
- Shure SM81 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.
- Acoustic guitar
- Bansuri
- Barbershop quartet
- Bass clarinet
- Bouzouki
- Bowed strings
- Concertina
- Cymbals
- Diatonic button accordion
- Didgeridoo
- Double bass
- Drum kit
- French horn
- Glockenspiel
- Great Highland bagpipe
- Guiro
- Hammond organ and Leslie speaker
- Handpan
- Harp
- Hi-hat
- Mallet percussion
- Mixed choir (SATB)
- Oud
- Piano
- Piano accordion
- Pipe organ
- Santur and hammered dulcimer
- Sarod
- Steelpan
- String section
- Triangle
- Viola
- Vocal consort
- Voice
- Women's choir (SSAA)