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Shure

Shure SM81

Small-diaphragm cardioid condenser for acoustic instruments, piano and drum overheads

Type
Condenser
Pattern
Cardioid
Sensitivity
−45 dBV/Pa
Self-noise
16 dB(A)
Max SPL
136 dB SPL
Impedance
150 Ω
Rated range
20 – 20k Hz

Frequency response

Angle
Distance

Frequency response: 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

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.

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All specs

From the spec sheet
Sensitivity−45 dBV/Pa (5.6 mV/Pa), open circuit voltage, 1 kHzp. 7
Self-noise16 dB(A), typical, A-weighted
Max SPL136 dB SPL, 1 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 ratio78 dB, IEC 651, at 94 dB SPL
Output impedance150 ohm, rated (85 ohm actual)
Rated load impedance800 ohm, recommended minimum
Rated frequency range20 Hz to 20 kHz
Poweringphantom, 11 to 52 V DC. "Phantom powering (DIN 45 596 voltages of 12 to 48 Vdc)" under Features.
Current draw1.2 mA
Low cutoff, 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".
ConnectorXLR-3 male
Weight230 g
Dimensions23.5 × 212 mm. Diameter × length ("212 mm L x 23.5 mm W").
Finishsteel, vinyl metallic paint, stainless steel screens
Supplied accessoriesstand adapter; zippered pouch. SM81-LC.
Self-noise (DIN 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)

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.comRecording Hacks

Recommended for

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

Other mics