ShureSM81-LC Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphone for Guitar, Piano, and Cymbals, Includes Swivel Adapter, Attenuator-Switch Lock, Windscreen, Carrying Case, No Cable Included (SM81-LC)
Details
- Recommended Uses For ProductStreaming
- BrandShure
- Model NameSM81-LC
- Connectivity TechnologyXLR
- Connector TypeXLR
- Compatible DevicesRadio Speaker
Description
🎶 Capture Every Note Like a Pro — Don’t Let Your Sound Fall Flat!
- NOISE WHAT NOISE - Ultra-low self-noise ensures your recordings stay crystal clear and professional.
- STUDIO GRADE CLARITY - Experience pristine, flat frequency response for true-to-life sound capture.
- BUILT TO BRAVE IT ALL - Rugged steel construction withstands extreme temps and humidity—ready for any gig or session.
- PRECISION DIRECTIONALITY - Cardioid polar pattern minimizes off-axis noise, isolating your instrument perfectly.
- CUSTOMIZABLE SOUND CONTROL - Lockable 0/10 dB attenuator and selectable low-frequency rolloff for tailored audio capture.
The Shure SM81-LC is a professional cardioid condenser instrument microphone designed for guitar, piano, and cymbals. It delivers a flat 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response with low self-noise and high output clipping level, ensuring accurate and clear sound reproduction. Built with rugged steel housing, it performs reliably across diverse environmental conditions. Features include a lockable attenuator switch, selectable low-frequency rolloff, swivel adapter, windscreen, and carrying case. Requires phantom power and balanced XLR connectivity.
Specifications
| Power Source | PHANTOM POWER: All condenser microphones require phantom power to operate. Please refer to the User Manual for more details on power requirements. |
| Number of Batteries | 1 AAA batteries required. |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 78 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20 KHz |
| Audible Noise | 78 dB |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Polar Pattern | Unidirectional |
| Audio Sensitivity | 18 dB |
| Microphone Form Factor | Handheld |
| Connectivity Technology | XLR |
| Connector Type | XLR |
| Compatible Devices | Radio, Amplifier, Speaker |
| Item Weight | 8 Ounces |
| Item Dimensions | 0.94 x 0.94 x 8.34 inches |
| Material Type | Alloy Steel |
| Color | Black |
Reviews
J**Y
Hard to Beat at any price
The SM81 is a gorgeous mic with a dead flat response. The sound is transparent and absolutely accurate. As a drum overhead it is the standard go to mic for countless sound engineers, but stopping there would be selling this mic short! Mic an acoustic guitar and hear everything in clean clear brilliance. No it’s not a Neuman but it’s almost a required staple for any recording/sound engineer and worth having in your arsenal. I’ll be buying another for my drum mic kit soon.
J**R
For us real people no $2500 mike is necessary
The price is right and the sound is great. Plus I love the thin sleek design.
A**F
awesome microphone
fantastic microphone. super detailed. pretty neutral. very rugged. a Shure classic.
F**O
BUEN PRODUCTO Y VENDEDOR
BUEN PRODUCTO Y VENDEDOR
B**I
A wonderful recording mic!
The SM-81 has been around for decades, and I used it back in the 1990s, so I considered it for a large recording project at my church. But it's been around for decades ... surely there must be something newer that costs about the same but sounds better?Well, in a word, no, I found nothing better in its price range (under $400). I brought in five different mics (from a vendor that accepts returns with no restocking fees), and placed them all among the string players, the choir, the soloists, and the organ. The recording was digital, with 96 kHz sampling and 24-bit resolution. Then came two weeks of listening and editing.Guess what? The SM-81 mics were the most neutral (that's a very GOOD thing!), the most musical, the least distorted sounding mics of the group. Their sound pickup off-axis (where many mics add unwanted coloratio) was essentially indistinguishable from the straight-ahead sound. Wonderful! Since that project, we have bought 2 more SM-81s, and they continue to help us make beautiful recordings.
M**N
The standard for high-quality live sound for instruments.
These set the standard for high-quality instrument mics for live sound. Besides the obvious advantages of a superb frequency response and low distortion, the directional pattern is extremely smooth, which means you will have much less chance of feedback if you are using monitors. They are also much more rugged than they look. They are very sensitive to wind noise, so be sure to buy the A81WS windscreens if you use them outdoors. Shure A81WS Gray Large Foam Windscreen for SM81 and SM57, Black
I**7
Excellent Value for the $$$
It arrived before the due date!!!! Awesome product!!! Recommend Highly!!!
C**Y
it just sounds really good
i love this mic! i bought it for the purpose of recording acoustic guitar and it is killer at doing just that. the low-pass option on the mic really helps eliminate the appliance hum in my apartment and the build quality is superb. i would definitely buy this mic 10 times again if i needed to.
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