S.N. Shure was a seeker of order. The Shure Archive holds an example of his daily calendar, kept when he was a teenager. Entries recorded what he did in school, what homework he was assigned, his experiments in wireless and science, and which friends he met after school. Mr. Shure innately loved organization.
As our microphone line rapidly expanded in the 1950s, Mr. Shure made certain it was organized. Here is his “secret key.”
- 100 Series = microphones with carbon elements
- 200 Series = microphones with ceramic elements
- 300 Series = microphones with ribbon elements
- 400 Series = microphones with controlled magnetic/controlled reluctance elements
- 500 Series = microphones with moving coil dynamic elements
- 600 Series = not used as Electro-Voice employed model numbers in the 600s
- 700 Series = microphones with crystal elements
- 800 Series = microphones with condenser elements
Do the above numerical prefixes still apply today?
In 2022, only the 500 Series is still in use; all models in this series employ a moving coil element.
What about Shure mic lines with letters as the prefix?
- BETA = Beta, as in the product line that followed the “alpha” SM line
- BRH = Broadcast Reference Headsets
- CVB = Centraverse Boundary
- CVG = Centraverse Gooseneck
- CVL = Centraverse Lapel
- CVO = Centraverse Overhead
- DH = DuraPlex Headset
- DL = DuraPlex Lapel
- KSM = Kondensor Studio Mikrophon, as in “this sounds European”
- MV = Motiv
- MX = Microflex, as in small mics with flexible designs to handle multiple applications
- MXA = Microflex Advanced
- MXC = Microflex Complete
- PGA = Performance Gear Alta
- SM = Studio Microphone, not as in Shure Microphone
- SV = Shure Vocal
- TH = TwinPlex Headset
- TL = TwinPlex Lapel
- VP = Video Production
- WB = Wireless Beta
- WBH = Wireless Beta Headset
- WCM = Wireless Countryman Mic
- WH = Wireless Headset or Wired Headset
- WL = Wireless Lapel
Related information: Shure OEM Mic Models – Prefixes
Arcana – mysterious or specialized knowledge
To say S.N. Shure was determined to be successful is an understatement. Below are two pages from his 1917 calendar book, a gift from his uncle Nathan. The cover is emblazoned in gold ink – The N. Shure Company. Note the three mentions of “Wireless” (March 7, 8, 15) and the intriguing entry “Installed Trans(mitter) set at H.G. Went on his roof,” (March 17.) At the tender age of 11, Mr. Shure obtained his amateur radio license in 1913.
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Our historical roots are firmly planted in radio/wireless. One of the first manufactured products from Shure Brothers Company was the Model 99 Radio Modulator, introduced in 1933.
