The Best Kalimba Pickups : Comparative Guide 🤔
The kalimba is a fascinating instrument that inspires many musicians to make music. If you're looking for the best pickups for your kalimba, you've come to the right place! This guide highlights the best kalimba pickups, with the pros and cons of each.
We'll then take a look at the best microphones and their features, followed by a more detailed discussion.
Best microphones for Kalimbas : Comparison
- Shure SM57: a rugged, reliable cardioid directional microphone
- Sennheiser MD421: a wideband microphone with cardioid polar pattern
- Audio-Technica AT2035: an entry-level microphone with a wide sound field
- AKG P170: an exceptionally clear condenser microphone
Shure SM57: the best all-round microphone
The Shure SM57 is a rugged, reliable microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. It is the most popular and versatile pickup for kalimba. The Shure SM57 offers an instrument-specific frequency response, making it ideal for acoustic instruments such as kalimba. It is highly sensitive to the sound source, resulting in crisp, natural recordings. Humanized low-frequency level reduction helps you eliminate background noise.
Sennheiser MD421: an excellent option for acoustic instruments
The Sennheiser MD421 is a wideband cardioid directional microphone. It is designed to capture a wide range of sounds in detail, making it ideal for acoustic instruments such as the Kalimba. What's more, its cardioid polar pattern and wide bandwidth make it sensitive enough to capture every nuance of the sounds you play. The Sennheiser MD421 also offers excellent frequency response and signal-to-noise ratio.
Audio-Technica AT2035: an excellent choice for new users
The Audio-Technica AT2035 is an entry-level, wide-field microphone. It is designed to deliver superior sound performance at a very affordable price. It features a large-diaphragm design that captures high levels of detail and sound pressure levels. Its wide sound field lets you easily capture the full range of sounds your kalimba produces. It's also a very durable microphone, and its affordable price makes it an excellent choice for first-time users.
AKG P170: the best choice for exceptional clarity
The AKG P170 is a high-quality condenser microphone designed for exceptional clarity. Featuring a lightweight, tape-free body, this mic captures the subtlest nuances without distortion. It offers excellent sensitivity and comes with built-in phantom power to power the microphone. The P170 features a built-in hi-cut switch, which attenuates the lowest frequencies to reduce noise and ensure evenly controlled power. It's an excellent option for those seeking exceptional, rich clarity.
Conclusion
Choosing the right microphone for your kalimba is essential to achieving the perfect sound quality. The optimum choice depends on your needs and your budget. If you're looking for a versatile, reliable mic, then the Shure SM57 is the best on the market. If you're looking for something more precise and better at capturing detail, then the Sennheiser MD421 is just right. If you're looking for an affordable but robust microphone, then the Audio-Technica AT2035 is the best choice. Finally, if you're looking for a high-end microphone for your kalimba, then the AKG P170 is an excellent option. In any case, you won't be disappointed by any of the microphones we've mentioned.
And while this guide is very useful for comparing different options, it's always advisable to try out several mics and meet the seller to make sure that the one you buy is the perfect one for your style of music and sound. Don't forget that at thekalimba.com, we have a very wide selection of microphones to choose from.