Shure PGADRUMKIT7 Drum Mic Kit Review

Practical Buying Guide

Introduction:

Shure is one of the best audio companies in the music business, and a lot of pro drummers and audio engineers love using Shure mics on drum kits. 

While there are plenty of high-end Shure options, the brand is also known for making a few fantastic affordable ones. 

The PGADRUMKIT7 is an affordable set of mics to set up on an entire 5-piece drum kit. If that’s something you’re looking for, keep reading to see if this mic set is for you. 

Build Quality
92%
Performance
90%
Price to Value Ratio
98%

Key Features: 

You get a total of seven microphones with this set. This includes a PGA52 for the bass drum, a PGA57 for the snare drum, three PGA56s for the toms, and a pair of PGA51s to use as overheads. 

This package also comes with XLR cables for each microphone, rim mounts for the PGA56s, and mic holders for the rest of the mics. 

Lastly, it comes with a carrying case to hold all the mics and clips inside. The case has a foam insert that comfortably houses everything in a dedicated spot. 

PROS: THINGS WE LIKED
  • Really affordable option for drummers needing a full microphone set
  • Optimized to work well for drum kits
  • Comes with XLR cables for each mic
  • Good option for live gigs and home studio recording
CONS: THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
  • XLR cables are a bit short
  • The bass drum mic is one of the weaker mics of the set

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Shure PGADRUMKIT7 Drum Mic Kit Review:

What To Expect from This Mic Pack

 

Quality 

These aren’t the best drum microphones in the world, but they’re a great option for drummers on a budget that still want something decent. 

Each microphone in the set is optimized to work well for specific drums. The PGA56s are fantastic tom mics, as they bring out plenty of boom and resonance from the toms. 

The PGA51s are also great overhead mics. They do a good job of getting shimmering tones from your cymbals, and they’re relatively easy to mix with. 

The snare and bass drum mics are perhaps the weakest. The snare mic is okay, but most people who get this set replace it with an SM57 quite quickly. 

The bass drum mic is the one that we question the most. While it brings out okay tones, we expected a bit more oomph from it. It requires a bit of work in the mix to get a solid thump from your kick drum. 

Construction

All the microphones in this set are brilliantly built. We wouldn’t expect anything less from Shure. The sound quality of each mic may have mixed reviews, but everyone agrees that the build quality is top-notch. 

You’ll be using these microphones for many years without them ever giving you any design issues. 

Performance

These microphones tend to work best in live gigging situations. They bring out clear and accurate tones from your drums, and that can make your kit sound seriously lively. 

They’re also good for drummers who want to record the drums in their practice rooms. 

We just wouldn’t recommend using these in a professional recording studio. They don’t offer the same detail as higher-end mics, and it’s those details that can be missed. 

Price Value Ratio

The price is perhaps the best part of this mic kit. You’re getting a full set of drum mics with XLR cables and clips for just over $500. That’s incredible value for the money you pay, and most casual drummers will be very happy with the quality that these mics offer. 

You’ll just need to pay more if you work in a professional environment, as these microphones won’t cut it. 

On the flip side, you could get this pack and then swap the snare and bass drum mics out for a Shure SM57 and Shure Beta 52A. The tom and overhead mics are great, so adding those mics in would give you a professional mix. 

Price Value Ratio

The price is perhaps the best part of this mic kit. You’re getting a full set of drum mics with XLR cables and clips for just over $500. That’s incredible value for the money you pay, and most casual drummers will be very happy with the quality that these mics offer. 

You’ll just need to pay more if you work in a professional environment, as these microphones won’t cut it. 

On the flip side, you could get this pack and then swap the snare and bass drum mics out for a Shure SM57 and Shure Beta 52A. The tom and overhead mics are great, so adding those mics in would give you a professional mix. 

Conclusion

We’re big fans of the PGADRUMKIT7 Drum Mic Kit, and we highly recommend getting it if you don’t own any drum microphones yet.

There aren’t too many microphone packages that come with XLR cables for all the mics. That adds more value to this pack than what you get with many others. 

We just wouldn’t recommend getting these microphones if you need professional work done. You may need to get something better for that. 

Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London  has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.

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