Behringer XM8500 v Shure SM58

A look at the XM8500 from Behringer compared to the old standard: the Shure SM58

[@roberttjohnson]

I've purchased both mics the Shure Sm58 and Behringer XM8500, after watching many reviews I made the purchase. During my comparisons I returned the Shure SM58 and purchased another XM8500, the two mics were so much alike in build, weight, grill and sound with the XM8500 a bit more sensitive and required less gain and a bit brighter, they both handled the plosives equally, I also purchased foam pop filters for both, but why pay more for one than the other. For the price of the SM58 I could purchase 5 XM8500's.

[@congthanhdinh4807]

Sorry, but I think the voice bass of sm58 is very good when comparing with an other one.

[@roberttjohnson]

Thanks for the comment. Yes I agree but the Shure SM58 lacked the brightness that I needed and using the XM8500 gave me the brightness that was missing. The XM8500 was $19 while the Shure was $100, so why pay more and the SM58 was overkill for voice overs. I am also using Adobe Audition for post processing.

[@rophlcopter]

Hey, can you link or name me the popfilter you bought? :)

[@tablatom]

I have many XM8500's. Some are 17 years old. They are built tough. One just died yesterday. The first one after 1000's of hours of gigging. They are a no brainer. They sound great. Just notch out the low mids a little and they are good to go.

[@ale_filmmaker3513]

Man, I am by no means a audio expert and I was trying to fix the boomy voice I was getting out of my XM8500, since I am using it to record podcasts and gameplays I was trying to get rid of the bass by rolling off using HP and I wanst happy with the result, I did what you suggested, I notched the 280 by 2.6 and the 100 by 3 and man, I am ready for the Sunday Morning Radio program lol, thanks a ton dude!!!!

[@kingvideo-]

I would bet you, if you cover the label and make the screens look alike, the even most seasoned sound professional would pick the behringer for clarity, volume, response range and all of the above.

[@PotatoflakeJake]

Hahahaha what thats so not true

[@jimmy5634]

@@PotatoflakeJakeactually it is true. I use the Behringer for exactly that reason. I have a Sennheiser 835 too.

[@MaximumMindPower]

XM8500 sounds pretty good to me according to the price.

[@FreeThePenguins]

I think if you drop the gain a bit, like -4db, it will sound amazing. What surprised me was the texture of the sound it captured.

[@hanseelsing755]

. ùģäm

[@bikboi3292]

xm8500 cost 2x in my country compared to sv100

[@cliffschaumburg1961]

Good honest review. I was given an SM58 in '71...I still have it. It has been back to Shure once for repair and still works very well. I recently bought a couple of the Behringer XM8500 mics...don't know about durability, etc. but, they sound great and they're $15 to $20 each.

[@fetahmentouri8912]

Nino

[@TheSpallanzani]

Thank you maaan! Your review is so serious and professional.

[@roberttjohnson]

Great video and review, you've help me make up my mind, I am going with the Behrigner. Thanks

[@DarkOakBlogTv]

Great review :) I picked up the Behringer as an additional part of some sort of package i got. Can't remember what I bought exactly, but the mic was more or less a free addition just thrown into the deal. I was pleasantly surprised by its performance and reliability.

[@ProfessionalSutton84]

I appreciate your review. This is really going to help me as I am going to be doing a live event soon. I think the Behringer will suit me just fine, I am going to buy pop filters. Thanks again!

[@canaan_perry]

Have used the XM8500 for 10 years -- love mine.

[@DjSmoothNY]

I'm a radio personality and dj and decided to pick one of these up just for the heck of it. Sounds great

[@canaan_perry]

@@DjSmoothNY Yes -- they do the job.

[@DjSmoothNY]

@@canaan_perry I've been using the patriot 990 mic which is fantastic for radio breaks. For some reason that XM8500 sounds similar to the electrovoice industry standard for radio and better than the sure so when it arrives tomorrow I'll be testing it out with excitement.

[@endoffate5475]

Can you put phantom power on them? Thanks

[@DjSmoothNY]

@@endoffate5475 I tried it and it doesn't work with fathom power so i guess its not needed. You will have to turn the gain all the way up to around 9 just like i read on here somewhere.

[@christopheramos5351]

This is a great side-by-side review. I used to own one Sure SM58 plus an assortment of other microphones and a few years ago tried one Behringer XM8500 and have since purchased Behringer for all four of my vocal microphones my band uses. As you can hear by this video, the Behringer has much hotter pickup and slightly better tone than the Sure. This came into play when I subbed for a band and brought my own mic. The sound guy was frustrated trying to make the other singer's SM58 sound as good as my mic. The only thing you have to get over is the stigma of buying a $20 microphone as a professional. As for me, I proudly say I own Behringers and "My microphone can beat the hell out of your microhone!"

[@surenp66]

Beringer For Meeeeeeeeeeeeee. I have tested them side by side. It blows away the Sm58.

[@surenp66]

Beringer is a German Company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@amarecano]

would you say the XM8500 is good for recording vocals at home in an untreated room.?

hahahah what a great comment to leave.. you gave me confidence in seriously thinking for Behringer's XM8500! The only thing that still gives me doubts is he clicking it giver when we use it close to the mouth.. isn't that a problem for you?

[@robfriedrich2822]

@@surenp66 Founded in Germany but now based in China.

[@honkhonkler7732]

For some reason, the SM57 (with big pop filter) and 58 sounded much worse on my voice than this thing (sounded grainy and harsh). I bought this thing and paired it with the Cathedral Pipes Durham I already had and it sounds great. I think the slight mud actually rounds off my voice a bit. All I have to do to get a pleasing sound on this is roll off the base a tad on my mixer to curb the proximity effect (I like eating the mic) and it was good to go. Great review!

[@uncommonground1532]

Hi Scott great video mate, my sm58 just all of a sudden died, mind you it’s been gigging with me for the last 15 odd years (great value) so I just came across one of the xm8500 at a yard sale in good condition (like new) for $10, I couldn’t leave it there for that price. Anyhows I feel a little more comfortable with my purchase after watching your video, I can’t wait to try it at practice ✌️

[@MyExStacyOfficial]

I am a musician for 15 years and, as an amateur musician, I rely on a budget. I own and use a lot of behringer stuff and it has NEVER let me down. I get a lot of angry looks of fellow musicians when I talk about some of my gear and it usually takes a few minutes to convince them that it aint all bad. XM8500 is the best example so far. I even prefer it over the Shure in this case.

[@scottlamp3097]

There's a lot of gear snob-ery out there. Just like your instrument. It is far more important how you use it than what you use. That's not to say there is no advantage to higher end stuff. sometimes there certainly is, but when you are supplying gear out of your own pocket, the cheap stuff is worth a try for sure. I have had great results with some Behringer gear, but some of it is really not usable IMHO.

[@MyExStacyOfficial]

@@scottlamp3097 I agree! You said in the review that you did not hear any footage yet of the mics. Now some 2 years later, do you still have/use/like the behringer mic?

[@maxstetsen]

Thank you for the video! Can you please tell the Behringer XM8500 microphone cardioid or supercardioid?

[@994Mauser]

Thank you, your review made me see the differences between the two mics! BARELY NONE. I'll buy the Behringer. THANK YOU

[@kimberlybaker5466]

For twenty dollars ya can't beat it

[@mattcero1]

Very good video guy. I am using the XM8500 and love it for my ham radio as I don't have to add too much, if any gain, on my radio transmit. Plus I have $80 dollars in my pocket.

[@mikeybugguns]

ka0zlg

[@wildnites558]

Best $20 mic I ever heard. Hell, I'd buy 3 of them and use them as my backups to my goto's Audix, Senheiser and Telefunken. I have 2 58's I really like and have had for over 2 decades. They don't look that pretty anymore because they've been through literally hundreds of gigs -- but they still sound the same as they did the day I first took them out of the wrapping in the mid-90's. I also have a really old 58 from the mid-70's that still works beautiful which I only use at home or for occasional rehearsals. One thing I can say about the venerable old SM58 --- they may be only a good basic sounding mic at best, but they sure hold up over time and their sound is always consistent. For a musician who sings only occasionally or sings strictly backgrounds such as harmonies or just oohs and ahhs, the SM58 is probably the best choice. For the lead singer or an important harmony singer, it's best to move up to a more sophisticated mic like the Audix OM6 or 7 or the Telefunken M80. I also use the Senheiser e945 and use the e965 (which I don't own) and they are superb vocal dynamic mics for full time lead singers. Actually in the last segment, the X8500 sounded noticeably stronger than the 58.

[@jasonbodden8816]

The e-965 is a large diaphragm condenser microphone.

[@FabioBrazilil]

listening on my cell phone, Behringer sounds better. SM58 sounds softer, smooth and low volume.

[@timchard]

Nice review, what prevents feedback though? It looks as though there is no "off" switch - so the microphone is always on? I DJ and would need a microphone behind the decks, but with monitors blaring at me, I'd worry that - when not in use- it would pick up all that sound.

[@scottlamp3097]

Tim Chard ok, where do I begin? Yes, pro mics (other than wireless) seldom have switches. Both of these mics come in a switched version if you think you really need one, but switching a hot mic on and off will thump your speakers which is bad for your equipment and for your clientele. You should be muting your mic at the mixer. BTW the Switched Behringer is XM1800s the Shure is SM58s Also, in my experience DJs don’t use monitors (it’s fine if you do, that’s totally your choice) they use headphones and stand behind their FOH speakers. This cuts down on feedback considerably. Hope that helps! Happy Mixing

[@timchard]

Scott, this is literally one of the most thorough replies I've ever received on KZbin! Thank you. Especially the idea of On/Off giving it a "Bump" - never would have thought of that! Controlling from the microphone while out makes sense. Thank you again for this reply!

[@unicornparade6159]

The Shure SM58 is made in Mexico. The extra equipment inside of the Shure handle is a transformer. The body of the Shure is made out of zinc.

[@camilo8cheryl]

ive seen a big ass building in chicago niles with a big logo SHURE..i dont know if that is one of their R&D building or a production factory.my daughter tried to apply for a job at that chicago niles building but sadly they only accept college grads to work there..

[@thesuccessfulbarber]

Take the transformer out and it sounds pretty smooth

[@Rompler_Rocco]

Knowing the public isn't well-versed in the intricacies of their transformers, Shure is adopting the new KZbin language to beat the competition, with their new slogan: "SHURE: You can see there's a little more junk in there".

[@konjunto2477]

@@thesuccessfulbarber How and why does taking the transformer pour help the mic? Just curious because I am thinking of buying one. Thank you.

[@thesuccessfulbarber]

@@konjunto2477 you can Google it and find out why. It's smooths out the mic but you have to push way more gain to it

[@heyyitsultima]

I was just curious, do you think a pop filter in front of the microphone would mute out the plosives enough for commentary on videos? I'm looking to make an educational series here on KZbin and would like a more directional microphone, so that the sounds of my keyboard are quieter as well as my mouse. My main concern is the plosives, I'm otherwise pleased with what I've heard from this microphone in the videos I have watched.

[@scottlamp3097]

Yes, a foam ball type or a screen type will cut the plosives somewhat, better still is holding the mic a little off axis so the “wind” from those plosives doesn’t hit the capsule directly. Thanks for the question.

[@heyyitsultima]

Would positioning it around an inch under my mouth cut the audio too much if it was pointing upwards? I'm likely to be ordering this microphone soon. Thank you for your review and information :) consider me a follower.

[@scottlamp3097]

UltimaPlayer12 thanks for the endorsement, I am sure when you get the mic in your hands and get a chance to listen to yourself, you will find the sweet spot that sounds best to you.

[@miketype1each]

Bought my XM8500 from Sweetwater, and after some practice, realized I needed a foam cover. With a foam cover, 6" pop filter, and desktop stand, I found that speaking at a distance of the width of a fist away from the pop filter, and the filter positioned 1" away from the mic, plosives are virtually nonexistent. Those that pass through very slight and easy to live with.

[@scottlamp3097]

Mike S the mic placement can make a big difference to eliminate those plosives too.

[@RHProject11]

For vocal reccomend microphone behringer or shure?

[@RickHenderson58]

Thanks for the comparison. I'm getting a Behringer to serve as a mic for a small uke group that plays the occasional gig at a street fair. Sounds like it'll do the job.

[@scottlamp3097]

Will you be mic-ing the instrument or the vocals? just curious

[@RickHenderson58]

It’ll be connected to a Roland cube and the mic set back from the group a couple of feet just to boost the overall volume. Sorta like amplifying a small singing group. Our bass player has his own amp. If we were trying to highlight specific instruments or singers, we’d have a different setup.

[@smilingdog2219]

I have both mics and honestly love them both. Having spent a small fortune on equipment, I'm enjoying Behringer's budget gear.

[@paulogaviao5192]

Nice comparison Scott. Shure requires more gain than behringer? (it was my impression)

[@scottlamp3097]

Paulo Gaviao thank you. Yes, the Behringer does have a stronger signal, but just don’t assume that a strong signal is synonymous with quality. The SM7b, for example, has a very weak signal, but most people will agree it’s a wonderful sounding, excellent quality mic.

[@GiorgiLobzhana]

what? Behringer has -70db sensitivity, but sm58 has -54. And logic?

[@DavidHarry]

Nice review. I've used many 58s over the years and they're great, very dependable and you know exactly what you're going to get from one 58 to another. I bought the Behringer a couple of months back and have been completely blown away by it. If you filter the Behringer enough with shields, it can be used for various close mic stuff. Check my videos, I've done a comparison with the Behringer and an EV RE20. Cheers, Dave.

[@scottlamp3097]

David Harry thanks, I'll check those out. I imagine you could use some really think foam and still have more gain than the RE20

[@DavidHarry]

Absolutely :) The RE20 needs such a huge gain. I've also done a very in depth test of the Behringer that may interest you. Cheers, Dave.

[@MrDeeb8]

I have my hd-650s plugged into an amp/dac listening to this and even with youtube compression, the sound difference is massive.

[@ellisralph7318]

What is better in your opinion

[@NecronNb]

As a person who owns and uses both in a live situation I can tell you that other than the general construction, the biggest difference is that the behringer is much more prone to feedback and catching your breath. Still an excellent backup microphone however, but the SM58 wins out as you don’t need to be as careful in its positioning.

[@scottlamp3097]

NecronN00b 82 I have found the same results. I agree 100%

[@danmagoo]

Very nice comparison, thanks. Fair to say that the SM58 needs more gain?

[@scottlamp3097]

Dan Magoo correct, my guess is that the internals of the Behringer are lighter and more easily moved by sound, but I could be wrong.

[@opbinodyt4285]

Dan Magoo r we going to be ET 4yh

[@ianmartin2924]

@@scottlamp3097 did you have both mics at parity gain, or did you just match the input gain? I'm guessing that the hyped bass in the XM8500 could explain it being perceived as louder?

[@BirchiTV99]

Hey. what do you think.. is the xm8500 a good choice for beatboxing

[@Cromartie]

100% It's why I bought it years ago actually after seeing a comparison on a beatboxing forum back in the day.

[@mauresmorantes]

Hi friend, how should I connect this Berihnger microphone to my pc to make it sound this good, currently I connect it through an XLR to USB cable but it sounds very low and with a background hum Thank you very much for your advice

[@scottlamp3097]

I use a Zoom H5, Some people use a Focusrite Scarlett Solo or 2i2. If those things are out of your budget, you might consider a usb mic like the Samson Q2U

[@mauresmorantes]

@@scottlamp3097 Ok, thank you very much for your answer and for the advice

[@sleepless51]

Very good comparison. Feels like the top end is a bit harsh on the Behringer. Maybe it's because of the gain difference. Also, sounds like the Behringer is a bit more sensitive to "p" and "b" type of voices. Still a very good replacement!

[@scottlamp3097]

Psychosis 51 I had a chance to try the 8500 in a live sound setting. They are a little more susceptible to feedback. I have some of my own theories as to why that might be. Nonetheless for a $20 mic I can't really complain. Thanks for the comment.

[@WALLASHENRIQUEGERONIMO]

Por favor, você conhece algum microfone sem fio, de baixo custo, semelhante ao Behringer XM8500 em qualidade, para indicar? Agradeço se puder responder.

[@djonsmith4345]

Hi, thanks for comparison. I would like to know how much it gain the noise, I'm living in the street and its is little bit noisy. I've condenser mic but not useful, coz It gain too much noise.

[@larryhinze2557]

Save up your money and buy an SE V7. Super cardiod is better for background noise, too.

[@steezbots]

Thanks for the review! In my first year of broadcast school and was recommended the shure as an “out in the field” vo mic. But I’m on a tight budget and the behringer seems like a good substitute.

[@scottlamp3097]

steezbots for voice over work, your room tone is just as important as your mic. A cardioid dynamic mic like one of these is not a bad choice to start with. I wish you success in your career.

[@viniciushonorio]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@MrGalassi]

Would you use the behringer to mic guitar cabs?

[@scottlamp3097]

It would work well for mic-ing guitar cabs

[@maximo5737]

great review and test.

[@ShriyaAnupam]

That's a great review.. I have a question.. Please help if you can.. I record my songs on an app named Smule.. My voice has a thin texture and sounds quite kiddish.. Can you suggest a dynamic microphone that can make me sound better? What do you suggest Behringer Xm8500 or AKG D5? Or any other microphone? And will these mics work with my Tascam IXZ interface? Please suggest if you can.. Thanks! Waiting for a response!

[@scottlamp3097]

Thank you for the question. Let me start with this: Everyone dislikes the sound of their own voice. We are accustomed to hearing our voice from directly inside our own heads. Everyone else hears our voice traveling through the air and entering their ear canal. No device is going to dramatically effect the tone of your voice without degrading the quality in some way, so anything you do to color the sound of your voice should be subtle. Having said that, there are a few things you can do to get the most out of your voice. The frequency response of your typical dynamic cardioid or super-cardioid mic is going to have a low end roll off and a slight boost on the high end. You can get some of those low frequencies back by using the "proximity effect" In other words you will have a boost in the bass of your voice by holding the mic very close to your mouth. Some of the mics that I would recommend are the *SM58, AKG D5, Sennheiser e835, or the Electro-Voice N/D767a*(if you can find one) All of which should work fine with your Tascam iXZ and do not require phantom power. If you want to do more than that you will either be adding another device (such as a stand alone equalizer or a mixer with some built in features etc.) to your signal chain making your setup more complicated or by using some software that can color the sound of your voice. Live or in post.

[@ShriyaAnupam]

Scott Lamp : Thank you so very much for your quick response and that too such a detailed one. You have really helped me so much. Can't thank you enough. Will definitely keep all this in mind, specially your tip of keeping the mic very close to the mouth. Thanks a ton again!

[@scottlamp3097]

Shriya Anupam you are very welcome. I hope you have a great time with your singing.

[@ShriyaAnupam]

Scott Lamp : Thank you!

[@maheshkhuman2880]

You must use a condenser mic like. BM800 or Behringer c1(for best) instead of dianamic mic as they require equalizer or mixer otherwise they sound very worst bassy

[@stevensmith4099]

I am glad to see this comparison. I have use both mics many times and I think you nail its use case. Churches, camps, schools, etc. As a sound engineer I wouldn't be disappointed if I got handed either of these, I know them inside and out, and can EQ both to do just about anything (XM8500 makes a decent kick mic in a pinch even). That being said, I've had 3-4 SM58s die on me, granted, well abused 58's out of probably 200 or so that have passed through my care. I haven't had an 8500 cause any issues (yet). The one thing the 58 has going for it is the better handling noise. Sometimes it's a deal breaker, sometimes its not. Thanks for this video and being bold enough to utter the forbidden brand publicly.

[@scottlamp3097]

In my experience the SM58 (at least on basic systems with limited EQs etc.) has better gain before feedback. It's nice to hear from someone who has real world experience. Thanks for the comment

[@stevensmith4099]

@@scottlamp3097 Yes, especially if I don't have my cherished parametric EQ to fight the feedback!

[@guiguigodro]

Listening to your video I haven't noticed any difference. Of course the handling noise is terrible but overall I think they sound just as great

[@macuse2008]

Seems the "p"s pop more on the 8500? Not good for recording?

[@scottlamp3097]

Straight Up the 8500 is more vulnerable to plosives, but they can be overcome with corrective mic placement

[@macuse2008]

@@scottlamp3097 I just picked one up for $20 at a local shop. Seemed ok in the demo

@@scottlamp3097 hello! please, what would be the correct mic placement for live shows?

[@kellyrayburn4093]

The Behringer doesn't have a better signal. It has a wider pick-up pattern. This can cause more noise to be picked up as well. When you are using a Shure SM58, you need to "eat the microphone". Not literally eat it, but have it _very_ close to your mouth so it looks like you're about to eat it. The Pick-up pattern on the SM58 is that sensitive and narrow. Which allows for better isolation of ambient noise. The Beringer, on the other hand has a looser (read wider here) pick-up pattern allowing you to back off a bit and not have fall off. For professional musical voice recording/performance, the Shure SM58 is the gold standard. And the $100 price tag is a bargain. If you just want to play, then the Behringer is good enough and will allow you to sound very good.

[@EnriqueVlogs.]

Kelly Rayburn so if im just gonna use it for live performance it’ll work? I just want something that’s not gonna sound like shit, I mean as far as it goes I had been using a Samson condenser mic to practice but I’m playing for a party this week and it won’t be a good look so for now I’m on a budget and need an affordable mic to cover me

[@bharatafterhours9652]

I used XM8500 to record an entire EP. Guitar- acoustic and electric, bass part, vocals, backing and everything. Anyone who is curious may check my channel.

[@adelineinactivity]

my xm8500 sounds pretty aight and I don't even have an interface for it, just a sound card from sabrent.

[@thesuccessfulbarber]

Good mics! People act like shure is the only company that can make a mic.. Ive been under whelmed by sm58s my whole music career.. Sennheiser is smoother too

[@scottlamp3097]

I have so many. My wireless kit is all shure stuff. It just works. The AKG D5 is excellent, The Audix OM2, is also quite good, but my current favorite is a Lewitt MTP-250-DM. It's down to $65 on Amazon right now. Remarkable gain before feedback even without any EQ in the spaces and equipment I have been using.

[@ronaldhumphrey3798]

I find the XM8500 has a lot more gain and feeds back on stage plus I found the tone to be very bassy on vocals.. I use a lot of Behringer recording stuff and not one of their products have let me down. The Chinese Fake SM58 is very similar to the genuine one and doesn't cause trouble mixing or feeding back on stage. The big plus is if you get your Mic stolen, you won't cry. The sound quality of the fake is acceptable and almost impossible to compare the difference on stage

[@basilyousif3077]

I did a side by side test of a Brand new Sure SM58 and the Behringer microphone in a real life situation putting them in front of a quire at a church event . For the price the Behringer is excellent. There was a bit better frequency separation of the low and high frequencies of the singers from the SM58 but it still doesn't compensate for the huge price difference. I don't know how rugged they are Sure has a good name for taking a beating and still working.

[@agambhasin]

Behringer is german right? It sounds good too, i just ordered it! Thanks fr ur help!

[@vichobocho_archivo]

Yeah, but all their instalations are in china, beringher is kinda known for their products failing pretty soon, but I haven't had any problems, Its a case by case.

[@Stefan-]

@@vichobocho_archivo Behringer still lives with a somewhat bad reputation that was formed long ago, i believe they have become a lot better in later years. As with any company everything isnt good and Behringers products are in the lower price range so the risk of getting something bad is much higher in general then, That said i would say that they have many products that are absolutely fantastic for the price, so at least if you dont have a lot of money Behringers products are often your best bet. Im a person that likes a bargain in general and try to find things that are good but dont cost a lot and today there are a lot of things that are good even at low prices. There is a lot of "snake oil" in the marketing and promoting of brands, as a service tech for over 30 years i tend to see right through this when it comes to electronic products, i know how things are made and that it is often not as big difference as the price may lead you to believe. Behringer these days has their own big factory in China where most other dont and have to rely on subcontractors, it means that Behringer can actually control their production in a much better way and quality certainly has a possibility to be better than many other brands and you probably get more for your money since you lose a "middle man".

[@claudelmccauley3260]

Really great review. Hmmm gotta say that the behringer is kind of louder and that is just great. Both are really good products.

[@scottlamp3097]

Claudel McCauley thanks

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Loudness on a mic is not a buy consideration unless it's exceptionally low or high - you should also have a quality hi-gain preamp.

[@djmero4526]

Whoo is excellent video, I am from of Ecuador, no speak inglish, Soy Dj y compre el micrófono y se ve increíble y aquí haces una prueba completa

[@robfriedrich2822]

The case is a variation of a Cassette case, but without the compartments for the compact cassettes.

[@thetimahawk1]

I just ordered the Behringer xm8500 about an hour before I watched this . I am shocked !! It actually sounded better than the Shure sm58. It had a cleaner , more pure tone . I wrote Behringer off a while ago . I bought a KX200 keyboard amp and it stopped working in less than 6 months. I used it maybe a dozen times at home only. Junk period. I got the mic after reading some really good reviews of it and figured for $20 I would give it a go. This could turn out to be the best 20 bucks I ever spent . Unless of course it burns up in two weeks. We'll see.

[@scottlamp3097]

I believe the camp that I gave these to is still using them 2+ years later. They are under a roof, but otherwise outdoors 365 days per year, and handled by hundreds of teenagers, so I'm confident that if you take care of it, it will last you indefinitely.

[@rafsza]

Behringer is not a Chinese company. Behringer is a German company and as you know Germans are known by their precise and quality products. Behringer products are produced in China to reduce production costs under strict German survellance. Their market segment is focused on quality but affordable products. After beginning hesitation I switched fully to their products and saved much money. Recommended.

[@richardpalmer8478]

The Shure is slightly better but in my neck of the woods it costs about NZ$250. You can buy a 3-pack Behringer M8500 for $99. If $$$ no problem get the Shure if it is, then get the Behringer. To my ears, the Behringer sounds bassier. I like the Shure's brighter sound. It balanced my 'lower than I would like' sounding voice--when singing lead.

[@KenTeel]

The SM58 has a bit more openness, but sounds more scooped in it's response. The XM8500 sounds like it has more mid range presence. For clarity of sound the SM58 has it. For "thicker" and a bit flatter sound, the XM8500 has it. The XM8500, with a bit of EQ, could sound closer in sound to the SM58, probably. No doubt, the XM8500 is a great deal. Addendum: "... Switches on mics are just evil.... " hillarious. When you have a feedback problem, being able to quickly turn off the mic that you're standing at (with a switch on the mic), is a real plus. I've used the XM8500 on gigs, and it works just fine. I don't have to be concerned with the inibriated proprieter of a venue, wants to grab the mic to make a dedication or to get his neice to sing. If they drop it or something else happens I'm not out a hundred or so dollars. That is a plus, too. No one at a gig cares about what mic you're using. They care whether or not you can sing. Keep that in mind. Most sub $100 dollar, dynamic mics, especially those above $30 will work just fine. They all kind of sound similar, anyway. With a bit of EQ, most any of them will do, for live performance.

[@loadi2865]

I bought the triple pack Behringer XM 8000S...THEY HAVE A SWITCH AND ARE JUST AS GOOD

[@scottlamp3097]

Switches on mics are EVIL

[@needsLITHIUM]

I use XM8500's for vocals and guitar recordings. I pair it with a Blue Bluebird or other condenser for vocals, for both screaming and singing, and a Sennheiser e609 in Fredman config for guitar. I replaced an SM58 and SM57 for both applications, respectively, because it sounds better for my purposes. YMMV; I play prog metal. Use whichever works best for you.

[@needsLITHIUM]

@Infernal 777 as does the BA 85A. I have gotten two of each since I wrote this comment. They both work phenomenal. And for $20 to $35 US for either mic, depending on sales and supply/demand, it's not a bad deal. Good enough to hang with the best. Durable enough to not break easily (I've dropped both mics on tile and concrete before - barely even dented the screen), and cheap enough where if it does break, they're easy to replace. Seems legit.

[@needsLITHIUM]

@Infernal 777 oh wow I thought that was you lol. I have videos up on my channel of me at karaoke using the BA 85A to sing slipknot - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGq2YamDfKacf7s It has a little less handling noise, and it is a little brighter and less dark/bottom heavy than the XM8500, but the boost is mostly in the upper mids and "air" frequencies so it gives a little more attack to the high end of false fold screams, and makes fry screams sound... bigger, I guess would be the right word. I can understand how this might sound harsh and "crackly" for some people's voices. As a high tenor, it works for me, and my fiancee also does those types of harsh vocals, and she's a wide range contralto. It works for her voice as well.

[@needsLITHIUM]

@Infernal 777 I'm doing stuff by those rules though lol. I am doing false fold screams and projected head yells, same as Corey from Slipknot. Those pig squeals at the end are vocal fry. I actually give lessons. My very first student, 10 years ago, is my fiancee, actually, and we're expecting. Gonna teach the kid how to brutal once it's born, for sure.

[@needsLITHIUM]

@Infernal 777 there is no wrong answer, as long as you don't hurt yourself. As a vocalist, your instrument is a part of your body, mi gente. Take care of it, and it takes care of you. If it sounds good and doesn't hurt, strain, or damage the flesh box in your neck, fuck it, I always say. There are some tricks to avoid injury, admittedly. The biggest issue these days is that everyone wants to sound the fucking same. You get 3 or 4 voice tones, because they all go strictly by the book on Melissa Cross. I learned how to do what I do from watching Melissa Cross's Zen of Screaming videos, too, but I go out of my way to experiment, find my own sound. Yeah, I started off by the book, or else mimicking the tones of other artists, but I didn't stay there. I moved forward - and as you said, I figured MY shit out for MYSELF, and found MY sound. More people need to do that, instead of trying to sound like the same 5 vocalists (all deathcore and slam bands try to sound like Ben Duerr, Dan Watson, or Dickie Allen; All metalcore bands do generic vocal fry or pitched screaming like Sam Carter; a lot of modern hardcore bands have vocalists that either all sound like Jamey Jasta rip offs, or they have that shouty, screechy high scream like Mike Hranica or Bryan Garris, etc). Some of these are GREAT bands, but I don't like them enough to listen to all the bands that copycat them lol.

[@needsLITHIUM]

@Infernal 777 "But well, we can agree that the entire extreme metal scene nowadays sounds more or less the same, in both aspects, instrumental and vocal." Truer words have not been spoken on this plane of suffering for some time

[@blow1906]

Well, I heard that the SM58 was build in America....than, later I heard that it changed and now they are produced in Mexico....now I bought one a few days ago and the box said "Made in China". Anyone knows whats right and where they are producing them now? Sorry for my bad english, I´m from Germany ;-)

[@scottlamp3097]

Good question. I have been through the same experience. There is a QA on Shure’s website. It is absolutely possible to have QC at just about any level from China, but it can be discouraging when you see that label service.shure.com/s/article/quality-of-shure-product-assembled-in-china-or-mexico?language=en_US

[@martinvalentini9420]

I subscribed because this was the best review ever, touching them, seeing inside, checking the range and finally talking into the mics, no bullshit, no explaining for 3 hours, just the necessary, Thank You!

[@scottlamp3097]

I appreciate the kind words. I guess I need to make some more KZbin videos some day...

[@martinvalentini9420]

@@scottlamp3097 I have this mic now, keep the videos coming man! best of luck!

[@Wildersport]

I was actually rather impressed by the sound of the Behringer. If you settings / gain etc... are equal, then yes, the Behringer really does give you a stronger signal... I am a bit of a reverse brand snob in that I hate the idea of paying for a name. I want the best product for my money. I own a bunch of Behringer gear, including different model mics, not because of the brand, but because it gives me the features I need for the money I am willing to part with... I have used the SM-58. And honestly, with my vocal ability, I would much rather use the Behringer... I really am liking the sound I am hearing from the XM8500, and considering my XM1800s (switch) grew feet and walked off, I am about to pull the trigger and buy one as my wife's Christmas present to me...

[@scottlamp3097]

Daves Workshop that’s a pretty cheap present. It’s nice of you to let her off so easy. 😉

[@terryhoffman2305]

If I was purchasing for the sound of the mic the Behringer would win.

[@competetodefeat4610]

Then your ears might need checked...

[@danielepizzuele7083]

It's not only about the transformer...Sure SM58 and 57 have patented air cushioning system in the capsule assembly carefully engineered to absorb longitudinal handling noise. Trust in me, on stage it's a huge difference.... they are not in the same ball park! However Behringer mics are "sonically" good and nice in the practice room.

[@scottlamp3097]

The handling noise and gain before feedback are the biggest advantages of the 58 over the 8500. the third one would just be that every sound guy in the known universe has mixed 58s from day one.

[@stevethebassman9740]

I have both mics and both sound very good. To me the difference is , the Behringer has much more handling noise. which for me is very irritating. But for the price I guess that I really can't complain too much. but my vote is "Shure"

[@TheTruthIsTheWay11]

Hey guys. Just wanted to mention: I bought the Behringer XM8500, and the mic clip it comes with doesn't actually fit the mic. So anyone wanting to buy the mic, make sure you have a different clip.

[@scottlamp3097]

I had 2 of them. they were both fine

[@niganools1501]

I needdd a 58!

[@corbindeleon3228]

Hello Hello Que Pasa Of Coars Is Better Than SM 58 4 The Price ...

[@robertkeller9828]

For the same price as the 58s, go with an EV ND76 OR vintage ND 757/767....OR an AKGD5...OR, the very impressive SE 7 or 7x?

[@Cubasenet33]

I agree. AKG D5 is just great.

[@mandelharvey3429]

Compare the pg48 or whatever Shure calls its budget stuff

[@guiguigodro]

I know that Shure microphones have balanced output but I don't think the Behringer has it. Balanced output is only needed when you run really long cables and have a compatible mixer.

[@mandelharvey3429]

From experience there's always going to be a cheaper microphone that matches your particular system better. Shure works overall better and clients and customers don't give you static. I prefer the old nady sp5 with my system but not on anyone else's.. The sm58 is pretty good on anything and performs better than the berhinger. The behringer allows for more personalization and most importantly can be 5 microphones vs 1. Excellent on a drum set although that's when experiment becomes fun. I've tried every cheap microphone i could find. The cheap pyle imitation Shure are bad about handling noise, but sitting still on a stand on a drum give fine service. I have cheap bad cordless that are only good being still i use as cymbal overheads. Anyway, that behringer has a little better off axis rejection than the Shure and can be made louder before feedback. Overall sound not as good. Both are tough. I've given away behringer. Reminder Shure makes microphones that cost 3 times that behringer that are garbage. Got a video comparing budget Shure microphones with recording through headphones?

[@balkansavage]

SM58 is a good old legendary mic, but as musicians we have to evolve. There are tons of mics in the same price range that outperform it ( AKG D5, Sennheiser e835, Audix OM3 etc.. ) As for the Behringer....for speaking it is ok. However, I would not use it as a vocal mic.

[@esotericaudiophile3884]

This really helps! I have a new mic invention and need to see the differences between mic companies. Seems that with my invention, I can transform a "less expensive mic" into something even better sounding than the most expensive studio mics. I can change the freq response naturally, even with no preamp. Thanks for these comparisons, appreciate it!

[@astrotheages2914]

Um, wow, hope I hear about it!

[@lucian6172]

I like the Behringer XM8500 more but the pop filter needs some work. Maybe it needs 3 layers instead of 2.

[@wesleypollard3058]

Great review.

[@scottlamp3097]

wesley pollard thank you

[@delbert9357]

I have used this Mic in Ham radio against a Heil PR40 that costs over 300 bucks no difference nobody could tell which mic I was using. I would like to see just this mic on a set of drums. 2 Bass drums 4 rack toms 2 floor toms 402 snare and 2 overhead mics through a good mixing board. That's 11 mics on one drum kit. I bet you would be surprised at the results with this "cheap" mic. If you think these mics are made in the USA your are insane. Carry on.

[@javajoel08]

How long should a quality mic last?

[@scottlamp3097]

Joel Goodnough fair question. A good microphone especially a dynamic microphone like the SM58 is nearly indestructible and will out live all of us. However, there are factors that can send a microphone to an early retirement. Some newer budget mics have parts that can come unglued if left out in a hot car, other mics have some delicate internal components that can be harmed by moisture or by rough handling. An ear set mic (commonly used in lectures, speeches, sermons etc.) can have a cable, connector, or boom arm problems and may eventually need replaced. Wireless mics are more often phased out for new technology due to competing frequencies than actual part failure. (Although it is not unheard of for them to fail) Most mics with proper care can last you decades or longer. Hope this helps. Thanks for the question.

[@sayalaperbandel]

Scott Lamp can you help me, anybody know you can connect dynamic mic to smartphone with splitter and also with mic lavalier, it is also work with portable recorder and mic lavalier, but its seems doesnt work when i try to solder to make it work with my soundcard i make it to xlr male and it doesnt work

[@jasonbodden8816]

I actually prefer the sound of the XM8500 over the SM58. It sounds leaps and bounds better than a $20-$30 mic has a right to.

[@robfriedrich2822]

The Shure PGA is also an alternative

[@richardgoldman8761]

Heavier (Sure) usually equates to less handling noise.

[@scottlamp3097]

Richard Goldman I suppose it could, especially if the weight comes from a shock mount for the capsule.

[@Droidmaster1]

Excellent review KUDOS

[@ngzcaz]

Well, I'm glad to hear no bias from the git go.... HA !

[@From_A_Diverging_Timeline]

hey man, the behringer guitar pedals are great. Yeah they have a plastic case, which isn't as rugged as metal, but for home use, not touring that's fine. They are super cheap and give a lot of guitarist access to circuits they would have to spend twice as much money on something else to test out.

[@RobCamizzi]

Using a phone but sounded like the SmM58 had better rear sound rejection

[@diggerson88]

fair enough. good video.

[@masakikun]

look like the sm58 are less sensible than the beringer, the other thing I listen is beringer have more bass when I compre to the sm58

[@beauscott2617]

God Bless!

[@xrqkradio]

Shure mics are made in Mexico, just below the Arizona border.

[@neilburton8311]

a bit like fender..made in mexico by Mexicans or made in California....by Mexicans...uh.

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Shure still has the advantage all around though it's more marginal now. Problem is there are so many counterfeits coming out of that legalistic hypocritical snothole China, 💂‍♂️ that it's hard to know if you have a genuine one or not - except by the voice quality alone. Not gonna do the hammer test - LOL.

[@veryepicironoxideonly27pou78]

90% of the performance for around 20% of the price, can’t beat it

[@clayjones2370]

Fair review, sir! I'd say the SM sounds a bit smoother and the front to back ratio is much better. But for the money, Behringer wins hands down.

[@k_zildjian4460]

Buying a Behringer product is a lot like buying from Ikea: The price is almost always right, but the quality can be hit or miss, depending on what you want. Maybe someone should do a a video on which Behringer products are truly a good value and which you should avoid.

[@brianoshea1178]

, someone said something very similar earlier by saying "they suffer a lot from Monday Morning Productions!", took me a second to get what he meant, but so true

so I'll guess the mic here talked about IS one of these good ones?

[@obeduobedu8148]

tq sir

[@SirGregory]

Why are switches "evil"?

[@scottlamp3097]

Many reasons, My biggest reason is that a switch is off on stage and I am at the FOH, there is nothing I can do from back there to fix it that isn't disruptive to the performance. The second is that if it gets flipped off while the system is hot, it makes a very unpleasant noise and is bad for the equipment. The third is that they can go bad rendering your otherwise completely reliable microphone unusable. Happy new year friend

[@SirGregory]

@@scottlamp3097 Thanks, I understand now. Have a great 2020 yourself.

[@dailymemies]

I need the beranger for singing. Since my voice is so soft and low so i need my voice to be loud

[@balintnogrady2486]

It did not work with a shit cheap lead cable only with a proper high-quality mic cable! Be advised to be good to go!

[@williammusicman]

sm58's pouch is not leather :)

[@tlmultimedia3791]

He said "pleather" which is pretty much correct.

[@neilburton8311]

sorry but never met a 20 quid mike that can carry a live performance in a solo or band situation without a tremendous amount of feedback,used many many shure Sm58,s over the years and never let me down. been dropped thrown driven over and still worked....lets hear the cheepies at loud volume,...maybe ok for bedroom recording or guitar...maybe compare apples with apples...at the end of the day you can say a 50quid mobile phone does the same job as a 1000 quid smart phone...it makes calls and texts....

[@josegalicia9912]

its a good mic the behringer xm8500 ... i got one my self though its more bassy than the others more expensive ones... like akg, audio technica, audix om2, and ev mic that i have...