Mic Archive
Shure MX202
Photo: Shure, from its spec sheet, p. 1.

Shure

Shure MX202

Miniature electret condenser overhead mic on a 4-inch gooseneck, for choirs; interchangeable cartridges (cardioid, supercardioid, mini-shotgun; omni in the 2013 sheet), black or white

Approximate Some readings for this mic are uncertain; see the graphs.

Type
Condenser (electret)
Pattern
Cardioid / supercardioid / lobar / omni
Sensitivity
−35 dBV/Pa
Self-noise
28 dB(A)
Max SPL
124.2 dB SPL
Impedance
150 Ω
Rated range
50 – 17k Hz

Frequency response

Angle
Distance

Frequency response: from the spec sheet, p. 2. Figure 1, "Typical Frequency Response", cardioid; 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 spec sheet, p. 2. Figure 2, "Typical Polar Patterns", cardioid: two plots (250 Hz to 1 kHz, 2500 Hz to 10 kHz), 0° at the bottom, 5 dB per ring.

Compare with other mics

All specs

From the spec sheet
Sensitivity−35 dBV/Pa (17.8 mV/Pa), cardioid; 1 kHz, open circuit; also −33.5 dBV/Pa, supercardioid; also −27.5 dBV/Pa, omni; also −33 dBV/Pa, mini-shotgun (2026 user guide, page 9). "Cardioid: –35.0 dBV/Pa (17.8 mV), Supercardioid: –33.5 dBV/Pa (21.1 mV), Omnidirectional: –27.5 dBV/Pa (42.2 mV)". The 2026 guide rounds to -35 (18 mV) and -34 dBV/Pa (21 mV), and gives -33 dBV/Pa (22 mV) for the mini-shotgun.p. 1
Self-noise28 dB(A), cardioid; equivalent output noise, A-weighted; also 26.5 dB(A), supercardioid; also 20.5 dB(A), omni; also 26 dB(A), mini-shotgun (2026 user guide, page 9). The 2026 guide ("Self Noise"): 28, 27 and 26 dB SPL for cardioid, supercardioid and mini-shotgun.
Max SPL124.2 dB SPL, cardioid; 1 kHz, 1% THD, 1 kohm load; also 122.7 dB SPL, supercardioid; also 116.7 dB SPL, omni; also 121 dB SPL, mini-shotgun (2026 user guide, page 9). Printed "Cardioid: 124.2" without unit. The 2026 guide: 124, 123 and 121 dB.
Signal-to-noise ratio66 dB, cardioid; ref. 94 dB SPL; also 67.5 dB, supercardioid; also 73.5 dB, omni; also 68 dB, mini-shotgun (2026 user guide, page 9). Printed "Cardioid: 66.0" without unit. The 2026 guide: 66, 68 and 68 dB.
Dynamic range96.2 dB, 1 kohm load. One figure for all cartridges; it equals the cardioid max SPL minus its self-noise. The 2026 guide: 96 dB at 1 kHz.
Output impedance150 ohm, EIA rated; 180 ohm actual. The 2026 guide gives 180 ohm.
Rated frequency range50 Hz to 17 kHz
Poweringphantom 11-52 V DC
Current draw2 mA
ConnectorXLR-3 male on the in-line preamplifier (RK100PK); TA4F between the mic cable and the preamp. Wiring diagram. The plate-mounted preamp versions (MX202BP, MX202WP) have terminal blocks instead (guide, page 7).p. 2
Dimensions11.7 × 144.5 mm. Figure 3: head diameter × length of head and gooseneck. In-line preamp 19.0 × 101.6 mm; the text calls the gooseneck "101 mm (4 in.)".
Finishblack or white. "White or black finish that blends unobtrusively with most surroundings".p. 1
Common mode rejection45.0 dB minimum
Preamplifier output clipping level–6.0 dBV (0.5 V), 1% THD
Gooseneck101 mm (4 in.), attached
Cable9.1 m (30 ft)p. 2
In-line preamplifier19.0 mm diameter, 101.6 mm long; RK100PK (black or white)
Operating conditions–18 to 57 °C, 0 to 95% relative humidityp. 1
Replacement partsCartridges R183B/W (omni), R184B/W (supercardioid), R185B/W (cardioid); in-line preamp RK100PK/B or /W; stand adaptor 65B1752
From the user guide
Capsuleinterchangeable miniature cartridges: R185 cardioid, R184 supercardioid, R183 omni, R189 mini-shotgun. Drawing of the four cartridges with their part numbers; the 2013 sheet lists R183, R184 and R185 (page 1).p. 4
Supplied accessoriesRK183WS snap-fit foam windscreens, black (4); 95B2064 snap-fit windscreen, white; 65B1752 stand adaptor (MX202B and MX202W); RK202PK plate-mounted preamplifier kit (MX202BP and MX202WP). "Furnished Accessories".p. 10
Mini-shotgun versionSuffix /MS (2026 guide)p. 3
Pickup anglecardioid 130°, supercardioid 115°, mini-shotgun 100°, omni 360°p. 4
Output configurationActive balancedp. 9
RF immunityUse with the RK100PK or RK202PK preamp to optimise RF immunityp. 4
WindscreenSnap-fit foam, "30 dB of pop protection"
Placement (Shure)Choir: hang the mic 0.6-0.9 m in front of the first row and 0.6-0.9 m above the heads of the last row, aimed at the back row; bend the gooseneck into a "lazy S"
From the catalog
ModelsMX202B and MX202W (black or white, in-line preamp and stand adapter); MX202BP and MX202WP (plate-mounted preamp); suffix /C cardioid, /S supercardioid, /N no cartridgep. 4

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

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