The Sure KSM9 microphone is a handheld condenser mike with a dual gold layered mylar diaphragm. It is advertised as a step up from Sure’s bread and butter dynamic microphone series including the SM57 and SM58. I have never used this mike before but through some unbiased research of this sibling rivalry I am going to attempt to see how it stacks up against its little brother and sister.
Shure KSM9 for Vocals
The Sure KSM9 is a condenser microphone making it quite different for the others from the start. Condenser microphones are known for their great vocal response but are often confined to the studio as they also tend to pick up a lot more sound in general. This mic bucks that trend as it is designed specifically for live use. It features two modes Cardioid and supercardioid switched directly on the mike by a button on the side. These options are important in making this a great live microphone, the cardioid option picks up sound from all angles as it is unidirectional where as the supercardioid is omnidirectional. So if you are looking to get a straight shot signal from an instrument or vocal you would choose the supercardioid, but if you are looking for more of a room sound you would choose the cardioid. It features a three stage grill to reduce those nasty pops you will no doubt encounter in vocals and a built in shock mount to rid your sound of the rumble of a moving mike stand.
As far as I have read people love the KSM9! I have read a lot of reviews from singers who were set on a specific mike (often the SM 57 or SM 58) that were blown away by how good they sounded through this mic. There were some negative reviews, one that said the clarity was not the best. But for the most part they are overwhelmingly positive. It is described as a great overall mike and is considered indispensable in many of these peoples rigs. Of coarse this is not a cheap microphone so you would expect the best, but there are many mikes in this price range and it seems this one has a lot of devotees. So if you are looking for a top quality live condenser mike this would definitely be one to try out.
Its all about money here, if you have it go check this out try it against some other similar products and make a choice. If your still not up to this level there are many much cheaper mike’s that can do the job, but you will certainly notice the quality difference when you move up from an SM58 to the KSM9.
