Today I review the original Shure SM7b, the SM5b! This is regarded as one of the best broadcast dynamics of all time, but it was too hard to build and didn’t sell well enough. This mic debuted in 1966, I think, although I did find it in the 1965 brochure from Shure and it was discontinued in 1986. It has been replaced by the SM7 and then the SM7b.

I missed this video while researching (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_hJSs7PoPM), and apparently the SM5 was originally developed in 1964, and it was discontinued in 1988.

Buy the Shure SM7b (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/shuresm7b
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/sm7b

Buy the Shure SM5b (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: N/A
Sweetwater: N/A

Buy the Focusrite 2i2 (3rd Gen)- Same Performance as 18i20 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/2i32rd
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/k6g4d

00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer
00:28 - Setup
00:49 - History of the SM5b
02:23 - What’s in the Box
02:37 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
04:02 - Specifications
04:18 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
04:39 - Plosive Test
04:48 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
05:11 - Background Noise Test
05:29 - Untreated Room Test
05:47 - Mic Mount Bump Test
06:06 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
06:22 - Intro to Comparison
06:51 - Shure SM57 Comparison
07:33 - Shure SM58 Comparison
08:07 - Shure SM7B Comparison
09:19 - Shure SM7 Comparison
10:10 - Electro Voice RE20 Comparison
10:52 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
12:11 - Music Test
13:20 - Pros & Cons
15:36 - Overall Thoughts
17:35 - Recommendation
19:02 - Outro