Shure
Shure SM94
Small-diaphragm cardioid electret condenser (end-address) for instruments, flat response, phantom or AA battery powered
Power Phantom, 11 to 52 V DC, or one 1.5 V AA battery.
- Type
- Condenser (electret)
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −49 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 10%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 36%
- Self-noise
- 22 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 16%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 15%
- Max SPL
- 141 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 71%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 69%
- Rated range
- 40 – 16k Hz
vs 75 end-address condensers
More output than 4% 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 10% 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 75% 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 8; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 10.
"Frequency Response"; relative dB. Distance, room and smoothing not stated (the user guides call it "typical").
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. 10.
"Polar Pattern"; two circles (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2500 Hz to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring, outer ring 0 dB. Distance and room not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −49 dBV/Pa (3.5 mV/Pa)1 kHz, open circuit voltage, phantom power; also −50 dBV/Pa, battery. "Open circuit voltage: –49 dBV/Pa (3.5 mV) (phantom) –50 dBV/Pa (3.2 mV) (battery)". | p. 10 |
| Self-noise | 22 dB(A)typical, equivalent SPL, A-weighted, true rms. "Output Noise ... 22 dB typical, A-weighted". | |
| Max SPL | 141 dB SPL800 ohm load, phantom power; also 123 dB SPL, 800 ohm load, battery. "800 Ω Load: 141 dB (phantom), 123 dB (battery)". The 2024 guide gives the same figures at "1 kHz at 1% THD". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 72 dBIEC 651, at 94 dB SPL. "72 dB (IEC 651)* at 94 dB SPL". | |
| Dynamic range | 119 dBphantom power; maximum SPL to A-weighted noise, 2000 ohm load; also 101 dB, battery | |
| Output impedance | 150 ohmrated; 200 ohm actual. "Rated at 150 Ω; 200 Ω actual". | |
| Rated frequency range | 40 Hz to 16 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom, 11 to 52 V DC, or one 1.5 V AA battery | |
| Current draw | 1.2 mAmax., at 52 V DC. "1.0 to 1.2 mA max. at 52 Vdc". | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"XLR professional audio 3-Pin". | |
| Weight | 250 gwithout battery. "250 g less battery". | |
| Finish | Steel and brass construction with grey finish and stainless steel mesh grille | |
| Output noise, DIN 45 505 | 25 dB typical, weighted per DIN 45 505 | |
| Output clipping level | 800 Ω load: –14 dBV (0.63 V) (phantom), 1% THD; –23 dBV (0.71 V) (battery), 3% THD | |
| Total harmonic distortion | < 0.25% (130 dB SPL at 250 Hz into 800 Ω load) | |
| Hum pickup | –3 dB equivalent SPL in a 1 millioersted field (60 Hz) | |
| Overvoltage protection | Maximum external voltage applied to pins 2 and 3 with respect to pin 1: +52 V DC; reverse polarity protected to 75 V DC | |
| Polarity | Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage on pin 2 relative to pin 3 | |
| Shock mount | Shock-mounted cartridge (internal shock mount) | |
| From the user guide (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Rated load impedance | 800 ohmrecommended minimum | p. 2 |
| Dimensions | 27.7 × 190.5 mmDimension drawing (Figure 3): "190.5 mm (7-1/2 in.)" long, "27.7 mm (1-3/32 in.)" across the grille, 24.1 mm (15/16 in.) at the connector end (head diameter × length). | |
| Cartridge capacitance | 24 pF | |
| Battery | 1.5 V alkaline, AA size (NEDA 15A); life up to 5,000 hours; no drain while phantom powered | |
| Output | Transformer-coupled balanced output | |
| From the user guide | ||
| Supplied accessories | A25D microphone clip; 95A2313 carrying/storage bagFurnished accessories (p. 6). The range sheet says "Includes stand adapter and zippered pouch". | p. 6 |
| Operating temperature | –6.7 to 49 °C (20 to 120 °F) | p. 4 |
| Variant | SM94-LC: supplied without a cable | p. 3 |
| Optional accessories | A15AS in-line switchable attenuator; A55M Shock Stopper isolation mount; A3WS black foam windscreen; C25J 7.6 m (25 ft) XLR cable | p. 6 |
Documents
- SM Wired Microphonesspec sheet for the SM range; SM94 on page 10
- SM94 Instrument Microphone, user guideversion 3.1, 2024-I
- Model SM94 User Guide27C2689 Rev. 5
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.