Shure SM58 vs SM57: Which Shure Mic Do You Need? Canada 2026
The Shure SM58 and Shure SM57 both cost $139 CAD and share the same legendary durability. The SM58 is built for vocals, with a bass rolloff and built-in pop filter that make it the default handheld for live singers. The SM57 is the instrument workhorse, the mic you put on a snare, guitar cab, or brass section when you need high SPL handling and a tight cardioid pattern. Same price, same family. Different jobs.
Quick Verdict
Buy the SM58 if you sing into a mic on stage or need a reliable handheld for spoken word. Buy the SM57 if you mic instruments, drums, or guitar amps. The SM57 is not a dedicated vocal microphone, even though it can handle speech and some vocal work in a pinch. If you only own one mic and mostly record or reinforce vocals, the SM58 is the safer pick. If your work is mostly studio tracking and stage instrument capture, grab the SM57. Plenty of Canadian engineers own both. At $139 CAD each, that is not a hard decision once you know what you mic most often.
Spec Comparison
| Spec | Shure SM58 | Shure SM57 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Live vocals | Instruments |
| Type | Dynamic (moving coil) | Dynamic (moving coil) |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid | Cardioid |
| Frequency shaping | Brightened midrange, bass rolloff | Bright midrange presence rise (peak between 5-10 kHz) |
| Pop filter | Built-in spherical windscreen | None (grille only) |
| Shock mount | Internal shock mount | Standard dynamic mount |
| SPL handling | Standard dynamic vocal levels | Extremely high SPL (amps, snare, brass) |
| Street price | $139 CAD | $139 CAD |
Sound and Performance
Both mics are dynamic cardioid designs, but Shure tuned each capsule for a different job. The SM58 has a tailored vocal response with a brightened midrange for presence and clarity, plus bass rolloff that keeps proximity effect under control when a singer works the mic up close. The built-in spherical windscreen cuts breath pops and wind noise without an external foam cover, which is why it works so well as a handheld on stage.
The SM57 takes a different approach. Its contoured frequency response uses a bright midrange presence rise, with a presence peak between 5 and 10 kHz that helps snare drums, guitar cabinets, brass, and woodwinds cut through a live mix or sit clearly in a recording. Shure rates it for extremely high SPL, so you can park it in front of a cranked amp or against a snare rim without worrying about distortion. The tight cardioid pattern isolates the source on crowded stages. That same pattern and midrange lift also explain why it has served as the lectern mic for U.S. presidential addresses since 1965. Still, the SM57 is not a dedicated vocal mic. It can cover speech and some vocal styles, but it lacks the SM58's vocal-specific bass rolloff and built-in pop filter.
In practice, the SM58 sounds smoother and more controlled on a singer. The SM57 sounds more open and aggressive on instruments. Neither needs phantom power. Both plug into any standard XLR preamp or interface.
Design and Build
Pick either one up and you feel the same Shure touring DNA. The SM58 uses a steel mesh grille with that familiar ball shape and an internal shock mount system built to survive years on the road. The spherical grille is not just cosmetic. It houses the pop filter that makes the mic usable as a handheld without extra accessories.
The SM57 has a narrower, more utilitarian grille without a built-in windscreen. That shape lets you place it tight against a snare rim or guitar cab grille where a ball-end mic would get in the way. Both bodies are built for rental fleets and nightly load-ins. You will not baby either of these. If you need a windscreen on the SM57 for speech or occasional vocals, you add a foam cover. On the SM58, that protection is already there.
Who Should Buy Each
Shure SM58 ($139 CAD)
- Live vocalists who need a durable handheld with a built-in pop filter
- Speakers, MCs, and houses of worship running spoken word
- Anyone who wants one mic that works for karaoke, open mics, and small gigs without fuss
Shure SM57 ($139 CAD)
- Drummers and engineers miking snare, toms, or guitar cabinets
- Studio and live techs who need high SPL handling on brass, woodwinds, or amps
- Producers building a core mic locker who want the industry-standard instrument dynamic
Alternatives Worth Considering
If you want more output and tighter rejection than the classic SM pair, Shure's BETA line and the SM86 condenser are the logical next steps.
The BETA 58A at $239 CAD swaps in a neodymium element and a supercardioid pattern for higher output and more gain-before-feedback on loud stages. The BETA 57A at $209 CAD does the same upgrade for instrument and vocal work, with extended high-frequency response and strong off-axis rejection. The SM86 at $269 CAD is a cardioid condenser in a touring handheld body, aimed at singers who want more high-end detail than a dynamic can deliver. It needs phantom power and costs more, but it bridges live and studio vocal tone in one mic.
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Conclusion
The SM58 and SM57 cost the same $139 CAD and come from the same durable Shure playbook, but they are not interchangeable. Choose the SM58 for live vocals and handheld speech. Choose the SM57 for snare, guitar cabs, brass, and other high-SPL instrument sources. The SM57 can cover vocals in a pinch, yet it is not a dedicated vocal microphone, and the SM58 remains the clearer pick for singers. If your budget allows, own both. If it does not, buy for the source you mic most often and add the other when you can. Free shipping in Canada kicks in at $199 CAD, so pairing either mic with a cable or stand is an easy way to clear the threshold.
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FAQ
Can you use an SM57 for vocals?
Yes. The SM57 can handle vocals and speech, and many people use it that way. It is not a dedicated vocal mic, though. You lose the built-in pop filter of the SM58, so add a foam windscreen for close handheld use. The SM58 still sounds more natural for most singers.
Can you use an SM58 on instruments?
You can, but the ball grille makes tight placement on snares and cabs awkward, and the bass rolloff is tuned for vocals rather than full instrument body. The SM57 is the better tool for that job.
Are the SM58 and SM57 the same price in Canada?
Yes. Both are $139 CAD at Blackout Audio. Free shipping in Canada applies on orders of $199 CAD or more, so pairing either mic with a cable or stand clears the threshold.
Which mic should I buy first if I can only afford one?
If you sing more than you mic instruments, get the SM58. If your priority is drums, amps, or general studio tracking, get the SM57. Most working setups eventually include both.
