recordinghacks

Shure SM27

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The SM27 is a large-diaphragm FET condenser with a fixed cardioid pickup pattern.

It is a revision and upgrade of the KSM27, and shares the same edge-terminated single-diaphragm capsule. The capsule membrane measures 25mm in diameter and is made of 2.5-micron, gold-plated Mylar. A dual-diaphragm version of this capsule can be found in the KSM44, KSM44A, and KSM42.

The mic has a 3-position high-pass filter:

• Flat
• -6dB/octave at 115Hz (rolloff)
• -18dB/octave at 80Hz (cutoff)

A second switch enables a -15dB pad.

The amplifier circuit is a Class A, discrete, transformerless design. It incorporates a non-switchable subsonic filter to remove audio noise below 17Hz.

How does the SM27 differ from the KSM27?

• The SM27 is a different color (charcoal grey, rather than champagne).
• The SM27 has 5.5dB greater dynamic range, due to improvements in the amplifier circuit.
• The SM27 has lower self-noise: 9.5dBA vs. 14dBA.

The mics’ capsules, 3-layer grilles, and most other specifications are otherwise identical. The mics’ frequency-response charts are identical.

The SM27 ships in two configurations:

• SM27-LC (Live Configuration) - includes ShureLock™ mic clip (Shure p/n A32M) and a padded, zippered storage pouch (p/n A32ZB)
• SM27-SC (Studio Configuration) - includes ShureLock™ rubber shockmount (p/n A27SM) and a black velveteen pouch

The shockmount, a foam windscreen (p/n A32WS), and a PopperStopper™ pop filter (p/n PS6) are available as accessories.

Electronic Musician, 2009

The SM27 offers an exceptionally quiet and transparent solution… Its generally flat response and low self-noise make it a great choice for acoustic instruments or vocals. Through placement and proximity, though, it also lets you add some flattering color…

Premier Guitar, 2010

The SM27 has a wide vocabulary. It is truly versatile and has a distinct character for every situation. Learning to use that to your advantage… is much more involved than slapping a trustworthy handheld dynamic in that familiar spot on the grill. So, I can’t say this mic is for just anyone. But, depending on your experience and willingness to experiment, this could be the ultimate microphone for a one-mic kind of person with a $300 budget, or a great third mic for someone looking to evolve a beyond the [SM57] and the [SM58]…

The Shure SM27 is also known as: SM27-LC, SM27-SC.

The mic was released in 2010.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (14.1 mV/Pa; 40 - 20,000 Hz)	Pad: -15dB (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -6dB/octave @ 115Hz (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -18dB/octave @ 80Hz (Via Switch)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm Diaphragm gauge: 2.5 microns	140 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 148 dB Self-noise: 9.5 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
642g (22.65oz)	156mm (6.14'')	53mm (2.09'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48v

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