AudioChainsDB
Shure

Beta 87A

microphone

$259

Used market: $200*

Manufacturer datasheet

Specifications

5 of 7 values have a recorded source
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male·
Has Built In ADC
no·
Transducer Type
Condenser Electret✓
Sensitivity dBV
-52.5✓
Output Impedance ohms
150✓
Phantom Power Required
yes✓
Connection Architecture
XLR-Only✓

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal Profile

Supercardioid handheld condenser; the tighter pattern costs about 2.5 dB of sensitivity against the SM86 in exchange for a narrower pickup angle.

Gain Staging Advice

-52.5 dBV/Pa. The comparison worth making is with its own sibling: SM86 is -50.0, Beta 87A is -52.5, both handheld condensers from one maker, and the entire difference is the polar pattern. Anyone reading sensitivity as a quality ranking gets this exactly backwards.

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~77% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026