Shure SM57

Shurebeginnerall critical fields sourced

Specifications

mic type	dynamic	high confidence
connection	xlr	high confidence
phantom power required	no	high confidence

Best for

Guitar amps/snares — the instrument-mic constant ($109)

Not ideal for

Airy vocal detail

Sources (4)

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Every product carries its receipts. Field-level sources pin individual specs; flagged fields say so instead of guessing. Last researched 2026-06-10.

primaryBest XLR mics guide (SM57 $109)review · medium
connectionXLRreview · high
mic_typeDynamic per guidereview · high
phantom_power_requiredDynamic — nonereview · high

Scores

Overall68

Weighted blend: value 20%, confidence 20%, compatibility 15%, upgrade path 15%, audience fit 15%, use-case 15%.

Beginner Friendliness85

Mapped from upgrade tier 'beginner' (v1 heuristic).

Compatibility50

No ecosystem requirements declared for this category.

Confidence68

4 sources (3 high-confidence); 0 field(s) flagged for verification.

Pro Readiness35

Mapped from upgrade tier 'beginner' (v1 heuristic).

Upgrade Path60

Tier 'beginner' baseline with 0 ecosystem(s) carrying into higher-tier setups.

Use-Case Fit50

Neutral v1 baseline — per-use-case editorial scoring is a later pass.

Value86

Priced in the 9th percentile of its category range.

Where to buy

List price $109

Sweetwater
$109price checked today
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