About the Shure Beta 87A Supercardioid Condenser Handheld Microphone
The Shure Beta 87A is a premium supercardioid condenser handheld microphone engineered for professional vocalists who require exceptional clarity, feedback resistance, and detailed sound reproduction in live performance and studio recording. It features a true condenser transducer with a tailored supercardioid polar pattern that provides a tighter front pickup angle and greater rejection of sound from the sides and rear compared to a standard cardioid microphone. This focused directionality is a critical tool for live sound, as it significantly improves gain before feedback, allowing higher monitor levels on stage and reducing bleed from other instruments, which gives the sound engineer greater control over the vocal mix.
Sonically, the Beta 87A is renowned for its bright, articulate character with a pronounced presence boost in the upper midrange. This tailored frequency response ensures vocals cut through dense instrumental mixes with clarity and intelligibility, while a controlled low-end minimizes proximity effect and boominess when singing close to the microphone. The microphone incorporates an effective internal shock mount to isolate the capsule from handling noise and a sophisticated spherical windscreen with an integrated pop filter to suppress plosives and breath sounds without attenuating high-frequency detail. This combination delivers a clean, present, and professional vocal tone suitable for a wide range of musical genres.
Constructed for durability on the road, the Beta 87A features a rugged housing with a hardened steel mesh grille. It operates on standard 48V phantom power, supplied by the connected mixer or wireless transmitter. Its standard-bore design allows it to fit most common wireless transmitter bodies and standard microphone clips. Favored by lead vocalists across rock, pop, theater, and corporate speaking, the Shure Beta 87A offers a balance of studio-quality detail and the ruggedness needed for the stage, providing a reliable and sonically superior tool for any vocalist seeking to maximize their presence and performance.