Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 9 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (20)
$189.00
Guitar Center
5.0 (4)
$189.00
Amazon
4.7 (141)
$189.00 New
$152.10 Used (Like New)
Reverb
5.0 (9)
$162.00 New
$109.99 Used
Musician's Friend
5.0 (11)
$189.00
B&H
5.0 (2)
$189.00
Thomann
4.8 (138)
$183.00 $179.00 $4.00 · All time low
Gear4Music
£162.00
Vintage King
5.0 (1)
$189.00

Average Price: $176

Standard/Professional

$75

$201+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Shure Beta 56A". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Shure Beta 56A, a dynamic microphone specifically designed for instrument miking. It's your ideal companion for capturing the best sounds of your toms, snares, and percussion. Its supercardioid characteristic ensures high feedback immunity, maximum gain, and superior suppression of ambient noise, offering you a clean and crisp sound experience.

This microphone is not only known for its top-notch performance but also its convenience and durability. The built-in adjustable stand adapter and XLR connector make for easy installation and maximum flexibility. The compact design of the Shure Beta 56A saves you valuable space on stage. And don't worry about wear and tear. This microphone is housed in a hardened steel basket that protects it against damage.

Incorporated with a neodymium magnet, this dynamic microphone guarantees high output levels with minimal noise. It also features an air-cushioned shock absorber to protect against impact noise and vibrations. Get ready to embark on a journey of superior sound quality with the Shure Beta 56A.

Key Features:

  • Supercardioid characteristic for high feedback immunity
  • Ideal for instrument miking such as toms, snare, percussion
  • Built-in adjustable stand adapter and XLR connector for easy installation
  • Compact design for stage space efficiency
  • Hardened steel basket for enhanced durability
  • Neodymium magnet for high output levels and minimal noise
  • Air-cushioned shock absorber for protection against impact noise and vibrations
  • Frequency response: 50 - 16,000 Hz
  • Output impedance: 150 Ohm
  • Open circuit sensitivity: -51 dBV/Pa (2.8 mV)

Product specs

Microphone Type Dynamic
Polar Pattern Supercardioid
Frequency Response 50Hz-16kHz
Output Impedance 150 ohms
Connector XLR
Weight 1.03 lbs.

FAQs

What instruments is the Shure Beta 56A best suited for?

The Shure Beta 56A is ideal for close miking of tom-toms, other percussion instruments, guitar amplifiers, brass instruments, and woodwinds due to its tailored frequency response and supercardioid pattern.

What is the polar pattern of the Shure Beta 56A, and why is it important?

The Shure Beta 56A features a supercardioid polar pattern, which provides excellent isolation from unwanted sound sources, making it perfect for live sound and studio recording environments.

How does the Shure Beta 56A connect to audio equipment?

The Shure Beta 56A uses a standard XLR connector, ensuring compatibility with most professional audio equipment and mixers.

What is the frequency response of the Shure Beta 56A?

The Shure Beta 56A has a frequency response of 50Hz to 16kHz, providing a balanced sound that captures the nuances of various instruments effectively.

Is the Shure Beta 56A suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Shure Beta 56A is well-suited for live performances due to its durability, supercardioid pattern for feedback rejection, and tailored frequency response for clear instrument capture.

Urban Sound Studio

Urban Sound Studio

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Urban Sound Studio

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Perkusjonaci

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Video thumbnail for Shure Beta 56a Review, Demo and Shootout | Rapture Review #11 (2019) by OwenAlec

Shure Beta 56a Review, Demo and Shootout | Rapture Review #11 (2019)

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In The Tech Hatch | ACM vs. Shure - BETA 56A

ACM, Academy of Contemporary Music

ACM, Academy of Contemporary Music

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Kraft Music - Shure Beta 56A Instrument Microphone Presentation

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Kraft Music

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Test microphones Shure beta 56 a vs Lewitt DTP 340 TT

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Reviews

PROS

  • Excellent for singing drummers, avoids hitting mic with drumsticks

  • Compact design reduces space needed

  • Top mounting XLR and shorter body for easy setup

  • Ultra sturdy, handles knocks without damage

  • Super cardioid polar pattern isolates sound, handling high SPLs

  • Versatile, great for drums, guitar amps, and vocals

  • Recognizable sound with strong attack and bright tone

  • Compatible with Shure A56 rim mount for flexible positioning

  • Simplifies setup with bottom XLR connector

CONS

  • May miss the freedom of a headset for some users

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Shure Beta 56A.

Features and functionality

  • The Shure Beta 56A's tight supercardioid pattern effectively rejects surrounding noise, making it ideal for both vocal and snare applications.

    Source
  • The Beta 56A has a 90-degree design that helps keep the mic cable out of the way for drummers who also sing.

    Source
  • The mic's supercardioid pattern excels in live settings by rejecting surrounding cymbal noise, making it suitable for drummers.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Beta 56A's low-profile design is particularly useful for singing drummers, as it keeps the mic and cables out of the way.

    Source
  • The Beta 56A is favored for snare miking due to its ability to minimize hi-hat bleed, which is a common challenge in tight drum setups.

    Source
  • It's reported that the Beta 56A performs well with little to no issue of picking up drum kit noise, making it suitable for singing drummers.

    Source
  • A cymbal stand mic adapter is recommended for stability when using the Beta 56A, especially for singing drummers with extended boom arms.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Some users prefer the Audix i5 for snare because of its superior rejection capabilities compared to other Shure models.

    Source
  • The Telefunken M80-SH is highlighted as a strong alternative to the Beta 56A, offering great punch and similar rejection in a compact form.

    Source

User experience

  • Drummers appreciate the Beta 56A for vocal performance due to its ability to project well when singers adjust their distance and volume dynamics.

    Source
  • Owners note the Beta 56A is based on the BETA58A capsule, providing a great vocal sound for singing drummers.

    Source
  • Users note the Beta 56A requires close proximity when singing to effectively utilize its supercardioid pattern for cymbal rejection.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • A basic cymbal boom stand is more effective than most mic stands for supporting the Beta 56A, preventing sagging when extended.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 5 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Sameer Gadhia uses Shure Beta 56A

Sameer Gadhia

Guitarist, Singer

Young the Giant

...
Verified via Shure

Shure endorsed Young the Giant's Sameer Gadhia uses Shure's Beta 56A, according to Shure's artist page.

See how Kenny Aronoff uses Shure Beta 56A

Kenny Aronoff

Drummer

Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

...
Verified via Shure

As mentioned on Shure's official website.

See how Derek Grant uses Shure Beta 56A

Derek Grant

Drummer

Alkaline Trio

...
Verified via YouTube

For this guitar center sessions performance, Derek uses a Shure Beta 56a mic for his backing vocals

See how Neal Smith uses Shure Beta 56A

Neal Smith

Drummer

Alice Cooper

...
Verified via Shure

Neal Smith, drummer for Alice Cooper, is listed on Shure's artist page as using the Shure Beta 56A microphone for miking toms.

See how Jim Riley uses Shure Beta 56A

Jim Riley

Bassist

The Ghost Inside

...
Verified via Shure

I use two other microphones: the Beta 56 and the SM58. We use the 56 as my vocal mic because of it's great ability to reject unwanted noise, which in our case, would be the drums! The 58 is used as my talk back mic that can only be heard by the band, sound crew and video director.

See how Brian Rosenworcel uses Shure Beta 56A

Brian Rosenworcel

Drummer

Guster

...
Verified via Forest City Magazine | Guster on the Ocean

Visible in this photo from Guster's On the Ocean 2018 show.

See how Brendan Hill uses Shure Beta 56A

Brendan Hill

Drummer

Blues Traveler

...
Verified via Shure

According to Shure's artist page, Blues Traveler's Brendan Hill uses Shure's Beta Beta 56A to mic his toms.

N

Nico Kaukinen

Drummer

Amon Amarth

...
Verified via Shure

Nico Kaukinen uses the Shure Beta 56A, a compact drum microphone designed for close miking of snare and toms, as noted on the Shure Americas website.

See how François Comtois uses Shure Beta 56A

François Comtois

Drummer

Young the Giant

...
Verified via YouTube

This Shure Beta 56A Instrument Microphone can clearly be seen in front of François at around 02:30 in the live performance source video from Pinkpop 2014.

See how Christina Perri uses Shure Beta 56A

Christina Perri

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Shure

According to Shure's artist page, Christina Perri uses Shure's Beta 56A for her backing vocals.

See how Mila de la Garza uses Shure Beta 56A

Mila de la Garza

Singer, Drummer

The Linda Lindas

...
Verified via Photo

In this photograph taken by Wendy Davis during the Riot Fest 2025 performance you can see Mila de la Garza using a Shure Beta 56A as a vocal mic.

See how Kahokiss uses Shure Beta 56A

Kahokiss

Drummer

Otoboke Beaver

...
Verified via Photo

Can be seen using Shure Beta 56A in this photo.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Shure Beta 56A, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Shure SM57
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphones
10
Shure Beta 57A
Shure Beta 57A Dynamic Microphones
6
Shure Beta 52A
Shure Beta 52A Dynamic Microphones
4
Shure Beta 91A
Shure Beta 91A Condenser Microphones
4
Shure SM81
Shure SM81 Condenser Microphones
3
Shure SM58
Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphones
3
Shure Beta 27
Shure Beta 27 Condenser Microphones
2
Shure KSM137
Shure KSM137 Condenser Microphones
2
Shure KSM32
Shure KSM32 Condenser Microphones
2
Remo Ambassador Clear Drumhead
2

Community setups

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adamjaugeri

adamjaugeri

Gear IQ 81

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