When looking at the Shure Super 55 Deluxe, one legendary name will immediately spring to most people's minds: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll and the man who made this microphone's ancestor (the SH55-II) famous. The Super 55 Deluxe combines the nostalgic looks and classic tonal characteristics of this illustrious microphone with modern components. New developments include a capsule with a modified polar pattern - now supercardioid as opposed to the original's cardioid pattern - as well as an expanded frequency response that the manufacturer states as 60Hz to 17kHz, and its sensitivity has been modified to 2.24mV/Pa. The Super 55 Deluxe is thus sonically in step with the modern era while still delivering that sought-after vintage sound.
The frequency response of the Super 55 Deluxe has been specially tailored for natural vocals and speech, and the mic also has a reduced bass response in order to lessen the proximity effect as well as Shure's typical presence boost to provide increased transparency and clarity of speech. In general, the Super 55 Deluxe's frequency response is a little more balanced than that of its brother, the SH55-II, which gives it a more modern sound. Purists need not worry, however: This microphone will still deliver a sound that is close to that of the original, complete with the latter's characteristic shifts in level and phase caused by diffraction in the housing - after all, the design has remained the same with the exception of the colour of the pop filter, which is now blue.
The Shure Super 55 Deluxe is an outstanding dynamic microphone that lends plenty of clarity and presence to the human voice, and thanks to its updated capsule design, it comes without the disadvantages inherent in its more affordable sibling. The sound still retains the classic tonal characteristics but is more modern and less "tinny", which is precisely why the Super 55 Deluxe is especially ideal for those who are looking for a combination of vintage sounds and understated style, and this mic's added advantages definitely justify the higher price compared to the SH55-II.
The American company Shure began developing microphones during the early 1930s and is one of the pioneers of the audio engineering sector. Models such as the 55 Unidyne - known to many as the "Elvis microphone" - and the SM57 and SM58 which appeared in the mid-1960s are still ubiquitous in live sound production today. They enjoy cult status among musicians and technicians alike. In the 1990s, Shure introduced the first wireless microphones and in-ear monitoring systems and became a market leader in this field. In addition to microphones, Shure offers a wide range of earphones and headphones for studio and live use, as well as various accessories.
The Super 55 Deluxe is primarily designed for recording speech and vocals, and its robust housing design and classic looks (a fitting tribute to the legendary 55 Unidyne mic) mean that it will be at home on any stage, where its updated polar pattern now also provides effective protection against microphonic feedback and unwanted background noise. At the same time, the mic has a greater on-axis focus, which facilitates its use by both vocalists and show presenters on stage. As mentioned above, the sound of the Super 55 Deluxe combines vintage characteristics with modern updates, and this blend of new and old also makes it perfect for use in radio and recording studios.