Shure ULX2 - BETA87A (M2, 662-698Mhz) transmitter microphone

General

The Beta series is well-known for its high-quality components and, more importantly, its high-quality sound! That's because the Beta 87A is equipped with a condenser diaphragm, with a frequency range that was optimised to offer excellent audio reproduction, both live and in the studio. Furthermore, it's a highly durable microphone with an advanced pneumatic shock mount system, meaning it's perfectly suited for use on stage. Its super-cardioid pickup pattern ensures feedback doesn't stand a chance, which means you'll end up with a beautiful, clean sound that's not tainted by noise or echoes. A low frequency roll-of further enhances the sound by reducing the proximity effect, which occurs when you're too close to the mic. As such, you'll be ready for anything, and as a cherry on top it's wireless as well!

Shure's ULX series has a few distinguishing features. Various settings can be locked, for instance, but there's much more to it. Before sound can be wirelessly transmitted, the signal has to be compressed first. Compressing the signal may result in loss of quality, though, as the receiver also needs to decompress it again. Luckily, the ULX series does not suffer from that problem, as Shure thought of a more efficient way of compressing and decompressing the signal, which results in much higher quality sound! Furthermore, the SLX series allows you to use up to 12 systems simultaneously, while the ULX series does not impose any limit. All these wonderful features work together to make the ULX1 a highly competitive product, which is excellently suited for sound technicians to use at both live events and in fixed installations.

The difference between the Beta 87A and the 87C is in their pickup pattern: the Beta 87A has a super-cardioid pickup pattern, whereas the 87C has a cardioid pickup pattern. As such, the 87A offers less chance of feedback, but it does require you to sing straight into the mic, so it may be better suited for more experienced microphone users. The 87C is a bit more forgiving, picking up some sound from the sides as well, but it's also more sensitive to feedback.