AKG P220 vs Shure SM58
A side-by-side look at AKG P220 and Shure SM58 for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
AKG P220
Professional AKG condenser sound at a budget-accessible entry price
See site
Check price on Amazon
Shure SM58
The world's most gigged dynamic mic, now in your home studio
See site
Check price on AmazonAt a glance
| AKG P220 | Shure SM58 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | See site | See site |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Home studio podcasters and voice-over artists who want AKG condenser character without the flagship price | Podcasters who need a dead-simple, road-proven dynamic mic that handles poor room acoustics |
Key features
AKG P220
- Cardioid condenser XLR, requires 48V phantom power
- Frequency response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, self-noise 16 dB(A)
- Switchable 300 Hz high-pass filter
- Switchable -20 dB pad
- Spider-type shockmount and hard case included
- Designed in Vienna by AKG
Shure SM58
- Dynamic cardioid XLR, no phantom power needed
- Frequency response 50 Hz to 15 kHz
- Output impedance 300 ohms
- Built-in spherical wind and pop filter
- Weight 298 g, all-metal construction
- Industry-standard clip and stand adapter included
Pros and cons
AKG P220
Pros
- AKG engineering at a budget-accessible price
- Aggressive 300 Hz high-pass filter helps home studio conditions
- Shockmount and carry case included
- -20 dB pad enables high-SPL recording
Cons
- Single cardioid pattern - no polar pattern switching
- Requires 48V phantom power
- Picks up room noise as readily as any condenser
Shure SM58
Pros
- Extremely forgiving of close-talking and plosives
- Near-indestructible build, lifetime warranty on cartridge
- Works with any interface, mixer, or preamp - no fuss
- Consistent off-axis rejection for noisy rooms
Cons
- Frequency response rolls off above 15 kHz - lacks airiness of condensers
- Needs a decent preamp for adequate gain at normal speaking distance
- Designed primarily for vocals, not instruments or acoustic sources
The verdict
Choose AKG P220 if
Home studio podcasters and voice-over artists who want AKG condenser character without the flagship price.
The P220 is a straightforward professional condenser that trades on AKG's engineering heritage at an approachable price. The 300 Hz high-pass filter is positioned higher than most condensers' 80 Hz alternatives, which more aggressively cuts room rumble and proximity effect…
Choose Shure SM58 if
Podcasters who need a dead-simple, road-proven dynamic mic that handles poor room acoustics.
You will not find a more field-tested vocal mic for the money. The SM58 rejects off-axis noise aggressively, which saves inexperienced podcasters from room reflections destroying their recordings. The caveat is its 15 kHz frequency ceiling - modern condensers go…