Apex vs Shure

[James Buss]

I have always used Shure's SM58's or SM57's and they have given me the
results I've been looking for.

Now, my local shop only has Apex brand and a couple other high end
(read expensive) mics. From reading descriptions on Apex's website, I
can't really seem to make sense of the differences between the mics and
considering the price range goes from $20 to $200, I am at a loss to
know what to pick.

I'm looking for something equivalent to the SM57 and SM58...a vocal mic
that will do instruments almost as well, or an instrument mic that will
do vocals almost as well.

Any suggestions as to which Apex mics to look at?

[Scott Dorsey]

James Buss > wrote:
>I have always used Shure's SM58's or SM57's and they have given me the
>results I've been looking for.

Then use them.

>Now, my local shop only has Apex brand and a couple other high end
>(read expensive) mics. From reading descriptions on Apex's website, I
>can't really seem to make sense of the differences between the mics and
>considering the price range goes from $20 to $200, I am at a loss to
>know what to pick.

Borrow some from the store. Record some things. Listen to them.

>I'm looking for something equivalent to the SM57 and SM58...a vocal mic
>that will do instruments almost as well, or an instrument mic that will
>do vocals almost as well.

Do you want the huge presence peak of the SM57? And what is wrong with
just mail-ordering some 57s if you like that?

>Any suggestions as to which Apex mics to look at?

For the most part, the Apex stuff I have seen has been rebadged Chinese
trash. If the store actually wants to sell you one, though, they will
let you borrow one for a weekend on a deposit and let you compare it
with an SM-57.

I'll tell you that if you want an SM-58 replacement for cheap, the AKG D880
actually has some top end to it (unlike the 58), and is a good bit more
directional (for reduced feedback), but is almost as hard to pop as the 58.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[geezer]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

>
> I'll tell you that if you want an SM-58 replacement for cheap, the AKG D880
> actually has some top end to it (unlike the 58), and is a good bit more
> directional (for reduced feedback), but is almost as hard to pop as the 58.
> --scott


HARD to pop? A 58? All I ever hear from 58s is plosives and that
horrid, 8dB double peak between 5 & 8 kHz. In my experience, the 58 is
one of the most plosive prone mics commonly used for live sound.

Go snag a used RE11 or RE16 on e-bay. That's a mic that's hard to pop.
And sounds decent on most folks, to boot.

-glenn

[Ty Ford]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:55:47 -0400, James Buss wrote
(in article . com>):

> I have always used Shure's SM58's or SM57's and they have given me the
> results I've been looking for.
>
> Now, my local shop only has Apex brand and a couple other high end
> (read expensive) mics. From reading descriptions on Apex's website, I
> can't really seem to make sense of the differences between the mics and
> considering the price range goes from $20 to $200, I am at a loss to
> know what to pick.
>
> I'm looking for something equivalent to the SM57 and SM58...a vocal mic
> that will do instruments almost as well, or an instrument mic that will
> do vocals almost as well.
>
> Any suggestions as to which Apex mics to look at?

Audio Technica AE5400
Sennheiser MD 431
Sennheiser MD 441
Shure SM7
EV RE20
Audix OM 5? I forget, OM5 or 6

Regards,

Ty Ford



-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com

[Steve House]

On 18 Aug 2006 15:55:47 -0700, "James Buss" > wrote:

>I have always used Shure's SM58's or SM57's and they have given me the
>results I've been looking for.
>
>Now, my local shop only has Apex brand and a couple other high end
>(read expensive) mics. From reading descriptions on Apex's website, I
>can't really seem to make sense of the differences between the mics and
>considering the price range goes from $20 to $200, I am at a loss to
>know what to pick.
>
>I'm looking for something equivalent to the SM57 and SM58...a vocal mic
>that will do instruments almost as well, or an instrument mic that will
>do vocals almost as well.
>
>Any suggestions as to which Apex mics to look at?

Just FYI - Apex are chinese import. The same company is Canada's Long
& McQuade music store chain, Yorkville Sound speakers, Traynor guitar
amps. If you're in Canada, L&M is real good about returns and
exhanges so if one of their mics looks right at the right price, try
it for a couple of weeks and see. Worse thing that could happen is
you decide to take it back.