Microphones
In our hire fleetShure SM81
Shure SM81: the flat response cardioid condenser for acoustic sources, with a lockable 10 dB pad and a switchable low frequency roll off. Choirs, piano, strings, acoustic guitar and drum overheads, captured without colour. Hire from Kudos AV, London and UK.
- Broadcast quality capture
- Licensed wireless frequencies
- Prepped, tested & PAT certified
- Speeches, panels & performance
From £15 per dayWhat a quote includes →
Enquire about this kit
- Delivery & collection
- Technician support
Key specifications
- Type
- cardioid condenser microphone
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz, flat
- Pad
- lockable 10 dB attenuator
- Low frequency filter
- flat, 6 dB per octave or 18 dB per octave
- Maximum SPL
- 146 dB with the pad in
- Powering
- phantom power required
- Weight
- 230 g
- Supplied with
- swivel adapter, foam windscreen and carrying case
- Coverage
- London, South East and UK-wide from Uxbridge
Related products
Hire pricing
From £15 per day
Ex VAT, dry hire. Delivery, collection and crew quoted with your event.
Every hire quote includes
- Kit prepped, tested and cased before it leaves Uxbridge
- Delivery and collection quoted for your venue, or collect from us
- Technician support and crewed options on request
- Multi-day, weekend and weekly rates available
A published rate is a starting point, not a quote. The final figure moves with quantity, how long you need it and whether we crew it, and we confirm availability before we price.
Full product details
The Shure SM81 is the condenser to reach for when the source is acoustic and the sound has to stay honest. Its response is flat from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, so a piano, a string section or a choir arrives without the presence lift a vocal dynamic would add, and it stays clean at the top where cymbals and strings live.
What it is for
- Choirs and vocal ensembles, on a tall stand or flown over the group
- Acoustic guitar, live and for a recording or broadcast feed
- Piano, inside the lid or over the strings
- Drum overheads and hi-hat
- String, woodwind and brass sections
- Lecterns and panel tables where a natural voice matters
How it is used
It runs on phantom power from the desk or the stagebox. A lockable 10 dB attenuator holds it back when the source is loud, taking the maximum level to 146 dB SPL, and a three position switch sets the low end to flat, a gentle 6 dB per octave roll off, or a steep 18 dB per octave that clears stage rumble and handling noise from a flown position. It arrives in its case with the swivel adapter and foam windscreen.
What it pairs with
The Shure SM57 for close work on snare and guitar cabinets, the Shure Beta 91A inside the kick, and a desk from our console range. Our sound engineers will place and mix it, or you can dry hire it and do it yourself.
Delivery and support
Delivery, collection and technical support are part of every hire across London, the South East and the UK. Supplied with a stand and cabling on request.
Hire questions
Shure SM81 hire FAQs
Does the SM81 need phantom power?+
Yes. It is a condenser, so it needs phantom power from the desk or the stagebox. Every console we hire supplies it.
How many do I need for a choir?+
A pair on tall stands covers most choirs, spaced across the front of the group. For a large choir on risers, three or four. Tell us the size and the room and we will work it out.
Can it handle a loud source?+
Yes. The lockable 10 dB pad takes it to 146 dB SPL, which covers drum overheads and brass. The 18 dB per octave roll off also clears stage rumble from a flown position.
Need this kit for your event?
Same day quotes, delivery and technical support across the UK.