Shure MX202 Review

Shure MX202 is best used for choirs, presentations, and performances where only a part of the room needs to be sound. A microphone like MX202 is capable of reproducing high-quality sound coming from a large group of performers in close range to the mic.

The microphone has excellent audio reproduction for a reasonable price. Its audio quality is comparable with the audio quality microphones of the same type at a double or triple price.

At a Glance

Shure MX202 is a cable condenser microphone with a black or white finish. The mic has a minimalistic design that matches unobtrusively with different surroundings.

Shure MX202 stands out among its competitors with a 4-inch long gooseneck which helps to aim the mic at the performers perfectly.

The microphone has preamp options and can switch between cartridges with a different polar pattern. When buying the product, it is necessary to pick between the available preamp and cartridge options.

If you are unsure about the right options for your situation, check out the Audio Specifics section of this article.

Audio Specifics

The Shure MX202 is designed for recording or amplifying the sound of a single performer or multiple performers. It can be successfully used for both speech and singing.

MX202 is an overhead microphone, as it is stated in its spec. It is mainly used for choirs, presentations, and different kinds of performances. 

The presence of a gooseneck even broadens its scope of use. The MX202 can also be used as a standard gooseneck microphone, provided you put it on a table stand.

If you consider Shure MX202 as your buying option, you need to take a closer look at the available variations of this model so you pick the best version for your situation:

  • Preamp options. The microphone is available with an inline preamp or with a plate-mounted preamp. The inline preamp comes with a stand adapter. So the choice between the two depends on whether the microphone will be installed in a permanent location or it will be portable.
  • Switching between cartridges with a different polar pattern is another option to consider when choosing this model. There are cardioid and supercardioid options available.

Our recommendation goes for the cardioid MX202 /C version. It performs slightly better audio quality compared to its supercardioid twin. It is also best suited for a variety of situations.

It suits perfectly well for catching the sound of a single performer or a small group of performers. The cardioid capsule can capture sounds at a larger angle(130 degrees) than the super-cardioid capsule(115 degrees). 

Choosing the right cartridge type is not the only thing to do to improve sound quality. To get the most out of a microphone like MX202, keeping the microphone at an optimal distance from the sound source is most important.

As an overhead microphone, the MX202 is designed to be positioned simultaneously in front of the performers on the stage and above them. 

The microphone has to be positioned 2-3 feet above the performers in the last row and 2-3 feet in front of the performers in the first row.
If you use more than one microphone at the same time, make sure there is a distance of 6-9 feet between them.

With this microphone, you do not need to worry about radio-frequency interference or electromagnetic hum. We recommend choosing the plate-mounted preamp option of the MX202 model for optimal radio-frequency immunity.

Connectivity 

Shure MX202 is an XLR connected (with phantom power). It is connected to a mixer. Due to the relatively short range of the mic, 2 or more microphones can be used simultaneously for a larger group of performers.


Warranty 

Like most Shure products, the Shure MX202 comes with a 2-year warranty. It is valid only when the purchase is from an authorized reseller.

Final Words

The gooseneck is a good feature to aim at the sound source perfectly. For a larger group of performers, 2 or more microphones can be used simultaneously.

Shure MX202 is an excellent microphone for the price. For even better audio quality, you may need to look for a microphone at a higher price range, for example, DPA 2011C.

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