Shure PGA31 vs SM35: Head To Head Microphone Comparison

There were many people who were confused between Shure PGA31 and Shure SM35 headset microphones after reading my post on 5 Best Headset Microphones For Singing and they were asking me the questions.

There is not proper guide available on the internet, especially for the wireless headsets like Shure pga31 and sm35 microphones.

That’s why in this post, I am going to compare Shure PGA31 vs SM35 headset microphones to find out which one is better or which is best for you.

I will compare both the microphones head to head based on different factors and features such as design, sound quality, frequency response, SPL, power supply, type, budget, etc.

If you are confused between both microphones then you must stick till the end to find out which one is the best to pick for you.

Shure is one of the most trusted and reputable brands in the microphone and sound industry for a very long time. If you have checked out my post on the best headset microphones, most of the microphones are from the Shure brand. They are very keen on producing the best quality headset microphones.

Shure PGA31

Shure PGA31 is the unidirectional wireless condenser microphone. If you are looking for a budget-friendly headset microphone then Shure PGA31 is one of the best picks for users.

The design of the microphone is really simple yet classical. It does not have any fancy thing on it which grabs the attention, yet the built quality of the microphone is best as well.

No products found. has a unidirectional polar pattern which records the sound only from the front direction of the microphone. It won’t record anything from the other directions. That makes it perfect for live streaming, vocals, singing, etc.

The sound quality of the Shure PGA31 is really impressive with the perfect noise cancellation from the background. The microphone does a much better job at canceling background noise than what you can expect from any normal headset microphone.

The frequency response of Shure PGA31 is 50Hz to 20KHz and the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) is 145dB which is quite impressive. The microphone can even record the sound from high sources like instrumentals or drum.

If you are tight with the budget and want the microphone with the quality output then Shure PGA31 will not let you down. It is one of the best choices in the budget headset microphone.

Shure SM35

Shure SM35 is a unidirectional condenser microphone made with the sole purpose of singing. If you are a hardcore music practitioner, then this can become your choice. Shure SM35. is popular for the flexibility and the locking snap of the microphone. It does have that unique feature in this mic that makes it stand out. The design of this microphone is very classical and normal like any other headset microphone. It looks good!

The frequency response of this microphone is 40Hz to 20KHz and the maximum sound pressure level (SPL) of this microphone is 153dB which is quite more. You can count on all the instruments you want in your song. SM35 has a unidirectional cardioid polar pattern, meaning it can only record the sound from the front side. SM35 does the best job at noise cancellation as well. One of the best things about Shure SM35 is the options you get. You get the options to choose if you want a wireless headset or wired headset. In my opinion, that’s a great option for the users to choose from both.

Shure SM35 is the best headset microphone for singing drummers. SM35 is a very comfortable mic. You will not feel anything hard on yourself while recording but it is a bit heavy for some of the users. It does have the locking snap-fit windscreens with this microphone that avoid some tangible sounds like your breath or wind noise. That is one of the unique features you get in this microphone that helps in your song recordings.

If you are looking for a microphone that does have the best sound quality with some extra functionalities then Shure SM35 is the best choice.

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Shure PGA31 vs SM35

Let’s make a clash. Now it the time. We’ve discussed the microphones individually, now let’s compare each of them together.

In terms of the microphone’s design, to be honest none of the microphones I felt attractive. Both of the microphones are quite classical old-style normal headset microphones. So, you can choose with anyone which you think is better.

In terms of sound quality, both microphones do the best job. If you have the studio then you won’t regret getting any of the above microphones. Both of them do provide you the best quality sounds. In sound quality, if I have to choose one over the other then I will go with Shure SM35 for being more natural.

When it comes to noise cancellation, Shure PGA31 is the winner. PGA31 does the best job at canceling noise from the background.

If you want more features, then Shure SM35 is the clear winner with more options and more features. Shure SM35 gives you more options and more features as well. That ultimately makes it more controllable.

When it comes to the budget, Shure PGA31 is a much better choice for the pocket-friendly microphone.

If you want the overall winner, then it will be based on sound quality. But both microphones will give you the best sound quality.

The only thing that I will suggest is, if you are tight on the budget then go with the Shure PGA31, or else you can pick Shure SM35 which gives you more features and the best sound quality.

Final Words

Now you have gone through the reviews of both the individuals and the comparison of both microphones and you might have some clear idea of which one to pick.

Both of the microphones are best in terms of quality. You can choose whichever you are good with based on the things you need. You won’t regret choosing any of the above microphones.

If you still have some questions in your mind, I will love to help you out. Do let me know in the comments below.