Comparison Beta91A vs SM91 (Raw Samples)

[Lasse Lammert]

so yeah, everyone says the beta91 sucks compared to the sm91....
but in 2010 or something Shure came out with the Beta91A, which is supposed to sound more like the sm91...
I didn't hear many opinions about the 91A vs sm91, so I had to take matters in my own hands and compare them myself...

And I gotta say the Beta91A is really nice, definitely nice enough to not justify spending that much on a used sm91 with that weird thin cable, the 91A is just fine IMO...
but hear for yourselves:

Kick Mic Comparison

in that folder you'll find raw and unprocessed samples of:
Beta91A Scoop Switch On
Beta91A
SM91

10 hits each, 24buts...so you even get nice raw samples of my Recording Custom kick

 

[Jaymz]

Clearly more oomph on the Beta...but they are surprisingly similar. I would bet my ass nobody would notice which one you used if you decided on either!

 

[derekmoffat]

Beta91A Scoop definitely sounds the best to me. Didn't like sm91 at all.
Flat still sounds great too. Solid mic!

 

[Mago]

Thanks a lot for that shootout Lasse!
I don't hear enough difference, makes me confident that I'd be happy with the beta91A instead of a sm91!
Cheers!

 

[~BURNY~]

Beta has more bottom.

 

[JeffTD]

They're dissimilar in areas where I would probably filter things out to use alongside another mic, so I'd be fine with either. That's cool to know, thanks for doing this comparison! I've always been slightly daunted by buying an older one with the external preamp and whatnot.

 

[Trevoire520]

The difference is exactly why I prefer the latest B91A, used the B91 in the past and it was all clack and no bottom end. The B91A is much more balanced and can be used without the need for an outside kick mic to catch the low end.

 

[Max Morton]

Beta 91a Flat was a winner for me. Meaty and well defined, just enough of everything and nothing irritating in it. Should add it to my wish list. Thanks a lot Lasse!

UPD: By the way, I've just sliced it and made TCI and NKI. Seems to be a great kick for blending to add fundament and click. If Lasse won't mind, I can upload it here.

 

[Trevoire520]

I'm sure Lasse would be cool with that, I might do a sample of my M Birch kick and 91A actually so we can compare kicks!

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Sure, go ahead

 

[amarshism]

i prefer the old one for the low end roll off. The attack sounds very similar to me though so it would make no difference ultimately, you could hi pass the beta easily. Didnt like the scoop, centre freq wasnt where id have it

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Sorry guys, I made a boo-boo....
Listening back to it I was surprised by how thin the 91 sounded in the clips I uploaded....
turns out I made a labeling error when I exported the files and I accidentally uploaded the SM91 clip with the low cut switch on the preamp engaged....ooooops-
So I've just re-upped the file and added the sm91 clip with the barrel-pre set to flat (same link).

Sorry, please re-download

 

[fdsaevad]

ya pretty close. sm91 is a just little fuller than the beta91aflat

... beta91ascoop and the sm91 are the same

 

[Max Morton]

Here's the TCI, NKI and sliced wav's:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10636494/Lasse's_Beta91a_flat_kick.zip

Re-downloading the raws to hear SM91.

 

[Mago]

Sorry guys, I made a boo-boo....
Listening back to it I was surprised by how thin the 91 sounded in the clips I uploaded....
turns out I made a labeling error when I exported the files and I accidentally uploaded the SM91 clip with the low cut switch on the preamp engaged....ooooops-
So I've just re-upped the file and added the sm91 clip with the barrel-pre set to flat (same link).

Sorry, please re-download

Still the same verdict for me, I didn't really recognize the lack of lo end, as I'd be using that one mostly for the attack and slap it captures!