Shure Sm57 vs. Heil PR20 on Heavy Guitars

[JakeAC5253]

Both are very good mics that anyone should be able to achieve good sound with. The SM57 is a classic and many classic and modern guitar tracks have been recorded with them. The Heil PR20 is a different sound and sounds more balanced to my ear. Fuller on the low end, easier on the brightness, but one drawback is that it seems a little busy in the mids. Little EQ to fix this, not a big deal. I composed a very quick clip which I hope shows off each mics best characteristics.

https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9976438
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9976439

 

[Audioholic]

liked the PR20 better, though by a small margin

I think the PR30 and PR 40 have more of a wider sweet spot

 

[JakeAC5253]

Based on what I heard from a recording website, I wasn't expecting much, but I was quite pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded right off the bat. Much smoother and less 'gritty' than a 57.

 

[glassjaw7]

Nice comparison. The PR20 sounds a little more 3D to me or maybe just more full. I like em both! Thanks for the clips.

 

[daveg62]

I have several Pr20's here. I tend to use them more often than the sm57's I have for a lot of uses. They are great mics IMHO and a great choice if you're looking for something similar but a little different than a 57. Great rejection on the Heil mics makes them great for live tracking too.

 

[danhops]

liked the PR20 better, though by a small margin

I think the PR30 and PR 40 have more of a wider sweet spot

I compared the 20, 30 and 40 and found I prefer the 20 in most cases. The 30 and 40 had a bit too much top end to me. The 20 sounds thicker and has less fizz.