Mic Archive
Shure KSM353
Photo: Shure, from its spec sheet, p. 1.

Shure

Shure KSM353

Passive ribbon (Roswellite), figure-8, side-address; hand-assembled premium studio mic with wire-rope shock mount

Type
Ribbon
Pattern
Figure-8
Sensitivity
−53.5 dBV/Pa
Max SPL
146 dB SPL
Impedance
330 Ω
Rated range
30 – 15k Hz

Frequency response

Angle
Distance

Frequency response: from the user guide, p. 7. "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

Polar pattern: from the user guide, p. 7. "Polar Pattern", two circles (125, 500, 1000 Hz; 2, 4, 8 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring. Distance and room not stated. The rear lobe is opposite in polarity (guide p. 4: invert the polarity when addressing the back).

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All specs

From the user guide
CapsuleRoswellite ribbon (in place of a foil ribbon); patented ribbon motor assembly. Page 3: "The Roswellite ribbon material replaces traditional foil ribbons with high tensile strength, toughness, and shape memory"; "Patented, custom ribbon motor assembly".p. 3
Sensitivity−53.5 dBV/Pa (2.11 mV/Pa), 1 kHz, open circuit voltage, typical. "-53.5 dBV/Pa (2.11 mV)".p. 6
Max SPL146 dB SPL. No condition given.
Output impedance330 ohm. "Output Impedance 330 Ω"; the spec sheet: "Transformer, balanced, actual 330 Ω".
Rated load impedance1000 ohm, recommended, or more. "Shure recommends using preamps with impedance settings of 1000 Ohms or more, although different load impedances may be used for a desired sound quality."p. 3
Rated frequency range30 Hz to 15 kHzp. 6
Poweringnone (passive). "Phantom power is not necessary and should not be supplied when connecting or disconnecting the microphone. However, properly supplied phantom power will not harm the microphone."p. 5
Weight633 g, microphone; 950 g with shock mount. "Microphone: 633 g (1.4 lbs)", "with shockmount: 950 g (2.1 lbs)".p. 6
Dimensions48 × 158 mm. Drawing: "1.9 in (48 mm)" across, "6.2 in (158 mm)" long (diameter × length). The spec sheet: diameter 4.83 cm, height 15.75 cm.p. 7
FinishMachined stainless steel housing. "Housing: Machined stainless steel".p. 6
Supplied accessoriesA300SM ShureLock wire rope suspension mount; A353SC aluminium carrying case; A353VB velveteen pouch; A300PC polishing cloth. "Furnished Accessories". The 2015 spec sheet lists an AK353C zippered carrying case instead of the A353SC, while its overview still mentions an "aluminum flight case".
PolarityPositive pressure on front side of ribbon produces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin 3
TransformerCustom-wound, double-shielded, full-size transformer, positioned perpendicular to the ribbonp. 3
ConstructionHand-assembled in the USA from machined steel, silver, gold and aluminium components
Optional accessoriesA300M ShureLock stand mount; A15PRS switchable phase reverser; PS-6 Popper Stopper windscreen; C25E 7.6 m (25 ft) cablep. 6
Rear pickupWhen addressing the back side, invert the signal polarity (A15PRS in-line polarity reverser)p. 4
Stereo use (Shure)Blumlein with a pair; mid-side with a cardioid such as the KSM137 or KSM32
Applications (Shure)Studio vocals, orchestra ensembles, acoustic instruments, ambient or room pickup, voice-over for film or broadcast
PatentU.S. Patent 7,894,619p. 8
From the spec sheet
ConnectorXLR-3 male. "Three pin professional audio (XLR) male".p. 1

Documents

Copies kept by Mic Archive, because manufacturers move and drop their documents. Each is © Shure, unchanged, with its original address.

Product page on shure.com

Recommended for

Instruments whose sources name this mic, or an earlier version or variant of it.

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