Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone

by Behringer

Product Features

• Dynamic vocal microphone with smooth mid-frequency presence rise for excellent voice projection
• Ultra-wide frequency response for a brilliant and transparent sound
• Extremely high signal output lets your voice cut through
• Cardioid characteristic minimizes background noise and feedback
• Shock mount system to cut down handling noise

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 5 inches ; 8.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0002KZAKS
• Item model number: XM8500
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #2 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Microphones > Dynamic Microphones > Multipurpose

Product Description

Few things are more essential to recording or live performance than dynamic microphones. The Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Vocal Microphone has the crucial features and durability to come through for your sound again and again, live or in the studio. Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Vocal Microphone Features Dynamic vocal microphone with smooth mid-frequency presence rise for excellent voice projection Ultra-wide frequency response for a brilliant and transparent sound Extremely high signal output lets your voice cut through Cardioid characteristic minimizes background noise and feedback Shock mount system to cut down handling noise Integrated spherical wind and pop noise filter Microphone stand adapter and impact-resistant carrying case included High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life Conceived and designed by Behringer Germany What is a Dynamic Microphone? Dynamic mics have several advantages that make them ideal for live vocal applications and for recording amplified instruments. They're robust, resistant to moisture and can achieve high gain before feedback. The XM8500's cardioid pickup pattern captures the source signal, such as a guitar amplifier or vocalist, while shunning off-axis sound. Why the XM8500? The Behringer XM8500 mic provides an amazing frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz, and includes a two-stage pop filter to minimize breath and pop noises. And with its tough metal construction and sturdy steel windscreen, you can count on it to come through after countless gigs and studio applications. We've even included a rugged hard case with a mic clip and stand adapter. Value Check out the Behringer XM8500 mic and find out why these mics are becoming so common in practice spaces, bedrooms, professional studios and stages all over the globe. Compare them to the competition. We're sure you'll be impressed by the XM8500's performance-and the amount of money you'll save.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as the Shure sm58, May 5, 2011

By 

dotcomsean (orange county, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone (Electronics)

Price and performance wise, this mic is as good or better than the sm58.

I have been using 3 the of Behringer xm8500 mics in my home studio for over 5 years now. The sound or 'flavor' of this mic is almost identical to an early 90's Shure sm58 that I also use in the studio. The only noticeable difference between the two (sound wise) is the xm8500 has a tiny bit more output, and the presence peak is slightly lower in the frequency scale - I would describe this as the sm58 peak being slightly airy and cutting, and the xm8500 being thick and meaty. If you are using this mic with a 3 band eq, you can bump the mids slightly and match the sound of the xm8500 to that of the sm58 with no problem.

Build wise, this mic is as beastly and tank-like as the sm58. It has a nice heft to it, solid metal housing, all that good stuff.

This mic excels on vocals, close mic'ing drums, bass cabs, guitar cabs,...basically anywhere you would normally use an sm58, you can use this mic there and it will perform like a champ. My favorite task for this mic is bass amps, and toms. The presence bump on this mic makes toms sit just right in the mix w/out having to fuss with the eq too much (you get the nice low end 'thwump' and the necessary mid range 'slap' to not only hear, but FEEL the toms in the mix).

Do yourself a favor and build some xlr patch cables with resistor(s) in them to better match the low impedance signal of this dynamic mic to the high impedance inputs of today's mic preamps. You will find that the mic will perform as it (or actually the sm58 it is modeled after) was designed to. Google 'taming the shure' for more info.

For about $20, this mic definitely beats out the sm58 in my book. Don't be a gear snob,...get your money's worth and try out this mic.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally have it working, May 21, 2011

By 

home "techie geek" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone (Electronics)

Using this with the cheap but good quality pre-amp from ART (around $30), see my review there as well. Before this purchase I didn't know a whole lot about the various types of Microphones and cabling and pre amps and amps and balanced versus unbalanced but finally have a setup that works though requires a pre-amp. Some things to consider:

1. Use a pre-amp for any dynamic cardiod mic (like Behringer xm8500). Low impedance microphones like xm8500 require pre-amps or perform better. Without the pre-amp, I had to turn my receiver full max to barely get any sound from it and I was afraid I was going to pop/blow the speakers if I switched inputs by mistake

2. Phantom power is NOT required for this Mic. This is not a condensor mic

3. Use XLR male to XLR female cable between Mic and pre-amp. I had ordered XLR to 1/4 headphone jack cable and even though it physically connected to the 1/4 input on the pre-amp, the gain was not sufficient (has to do with impedance, balanced versus unbalanced and so on)

4. The output from the pre-amp can be either 1/4 or XLR, I am using XLR to 1/4 cable (I had one so why not) and then a 1/4 female to RCA into my receiver. Of course if I wanted to, I could use a different connector to plug into my computer and record if I need to (haven't tried it yet)

Now that I know this, it all seems so trivial but I hope it helps someone who wants to just setup a decent Mic for vocals cheaply. The Mic is flawless and I am quite happy with it. It seems good quality for the price.

Happy singing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works Well Enough - While It Works., September 6, 2011

By 

Michael Simmons - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone (Electronics)

I purchased this mic for two reasons: One, I wanted to record guitar and vocals. Two, I was on a budget.

The Behringer XM8500 was recommend by a few sites as a decent budget microphone with good quality, so I decided to give it a try. I purchased it for $25 on eBay (as of writing it is now $20 on Amazon) at the end of January, and it felt like a solid mic that would last a while (this is foreshadowing, friends). While the description says the mic is good for both vocals and amplified instruments, that's only half true. When recording vocals, it sounded great - I don't have the best ear for recordings, but to me, it sounded clear and and uncolored. But when it came to recording electric guitar, the sound didn't hold up as well. I didn't experience any distortion, but my recordings turned out being very "muddy", and if I didn't palm mute perfectly, I would get a loud "WHUMPH!" sound from it. It's a good enough microphone to capture your rough ideas for later reference, but it wouldn't stand up to professional recording. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I could get high quality acoustic guitar tracks - I wouldn't be afraid to use them in my recorded music.

Now, fast forward to September. By this point, I'll be honest, I'd dropped the mic a few times - never higher than a foot, and never onto anything but carpeted floor - but I still had. I recently found myself having problems with getting sound from it, as it would cut out occasionally. Eventually it got to the point where it would not output sound at all - I'd tried several different cables and connectors, but no luck. All I get now is static from the microphone itself if I move it around at all. With the construction of this microphone, I expected it to be able to take a bit more abuse - since the description says it stands up to live performance. I did get 7 months of use out of it for $25, though, so I can't rate it any lower than three stars and be able to sleep at night.

The Final Verdict?

PROS
- Provides clear, clean vocals
- Able to record high quality acoustic tracks
- Good for demoing electric guitar tracks
- Low price

CONS
- Muddy, "whumph"-y sound on electric guitar tracks
- Lasted less than a year before breaking

All in all, this mic is fairly solid for the price - it'll serve you well for vocals and acoustic guitar, provide you a way to get rough sketches of electric tracks, and it's perfect for a budget musician. But be wary that it may not last all that long, because you do get what you pay for.