Shure
Beta 58A
Dynamic · Supercardioid · 50–16,000 Hz · a rider regular
- A neodymium magnet gives it about 3 dB more output than an SM58 — the gain knob moves noticeably less.
- Supercardioid means the null is at roughly 126°, not behind the mic: point the back of a Beta 58A at a wedge and you are aiming the hot rear lobe straight into it.
Frequency response
Redrawn from Shure’s published response graph (approximate, ±2 dB) on the fixed MicSense scale — 20 Hz–20 kHz, −20 to +15 dB — so two microphones can be compared at a glance. No image is copied; it is a guide to the shape, not a measurement. Drawn for: solid curve at 606 mm (2 ft), no proximity effect; the dashed 3/25/51 mm proximity curves are not used. The maker’s graph (Frequency Response graph, spec sheet p.1).
Polar pattern
Generated from the first-order directivity formula for supercardioid. It illustrates the pattern type — it is not a measurement of this individual model.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Shure |
|---|---|
| Model | Beta 58A |
| Type | Dynamic |
| Form factor | Handheld |
| Polar pattern | Supercardioid |
| Frequency range | 50–16,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 2.6 mV/Pa · -51.5 dBV/Pa |
| Max SPL | — not published by the maker |
| Self-noise | — none (passive capsule) |
| Impedance | 290 Ω (rated 150 Ω) |
| Connector | XLR3M |
| Powering | None (dynamic) |
| Weight | 278 g |
Specifications: Shure datasheet · last checked 2 Oct 2026. These are the maker’s published figures for this model. A dash never means zero: “not published by the maker” means the maker’s documents give no figure; “not yet checked” means MicSense has not confirmed one yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.
MicSense notes
| Price tier | Mid |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1996 |
Price tier and “a rider regular” are MicSense’s own judgement, not the maker’s.
What it gets used for
- FOH vocal
- Monitor vocal
- Wireless handheld capsule
MicSense tags microphones by the job on a live stage, not by studio category — so you can filter for “kick in” or “monitor vocal” instead of working backwards from “large-diaphragm condenser”.
Beta 58A alternatives: closest in published specs
Based on published specifications only — always listen at soundcheck. These are the microphones in the MicSense library whose datasheet figures sit closest to the Shure Beta 58A’s for the same live job, with the reasons. It says nothing about how they sound.
Not compared for the Shure Beta 58A: max SPL not published by the maker.
-
Sennheiser
e 945
- Same job: FOH vocal, monitor vocal, wireless handheld capsule
- Same type: dynamic
- Same supercardioid pattern
- Same form: handheld
- Similar published response shape (≈ 0.8 dB apart on average, 100 Hz–10 kHz)
- About the same output — within the datasheets’ tolerance
-
sE Electronics
V7
- Same job: FOH vocal, monitor vocal
- Same type: dynamic
- Same supercardioid pattern
- Same form: handheld
- Similar published response shape (≈ 0.9 dB apart on average, 100 Hz–10 kHz)
- About the same output — within the datasheets’ tolerance
-
Sennheiser
e 835
- Same job: FOH vocal, monitor vocal, wireless handheld capsule
- Same type: dynamic
- Same form: handheld
- Similar published response shape (≈ 0.8 dB apart on average, 100 Hz–10 kHz)
- About the same output — within the datasheets’ tolerance
- Cardioid instead of supercardioid — deepest rejection at 180°, not ±126°: check where the wedge sits
Compare it against the alternatives.
MicSense lets you put up to four microphones side by side — spec table, overlaid response curves and polar diagrams on one screen. Free with a free Squaresmile account.