AKG D5 Professional Dynamic Live Vocal Microphone

Excellent mic that I bought after seeing a few video reviews of it online. It came down in an Amazon deal, I made a quick decision, and I feel it paid off. The first obvious thing is that there is a nice transparency to the sound the mic picks up, it feels very natural, and if the mic is far enough away there's a moderate but limited sense of the room ambience in the sound, which makes it pretty consistent. I normally use condenser mics (Audio Technica ATM-11 and AT-2020) and a PZM, but wanted a dynamic to mic up my guitar amps, for some vocals, and also for portable recordings I make in different spaces when I'm travelling. The stated frequency response, 70hz-20khz, suits my purposes for vocals, and guitar amps, but the roll-off in the bass above 70hz definitely changes the character of the bottom end if you're mic-ing up a bass part. If you were using a 5+ string bass this definitely wouldn't be the go-to mic (but then again you'd be DI-ing the bass anyway). The supercardioid pattern effect is really obvious, with a marked dropoff if you move off axis, so for bvox you'd be quite cosy with your co-singer if you both wanted to be heard, and "three's a crowd" - a third vocalist would be a bit of a tight fit and probably wouldn't be feasible, it really is that focussed. The upside is that you can use this to advantage once you get the feel for how it picks up off-axis sounds, and it works quite well at limiting the room ambience to what comes off the wall behind you. For my condenser mics I use a portable vocal booth, and while the D5 isn't that isolating, it is a decent compromise. It also seems to have a very low level of handling noise, less of an issue in my workspaces, but noticeably good for such a budget mic. The thing I have a love-hate feeling about is the almost complete absence of a proximity effect. Most of the time I love it, especially if mic-ing up amps, since I get a lot of leeway in mic placement (always bearing in mind the supercardioid directionality it has). Now and then, though, I'd like to just lean in when singing and get a bass lift, and it doesn't seem to happen. If you're used to the Shure SM58 line, you'll know how that can be quite effective when it's necessary, so for some people that may be a deal-breaker. Since I have a fairly light and airy voice this usually isn't important (in fact this mic "likes" my voice!), but the lack of proximity effect means that I don't have that extra artificial reach into the low end when I could really use it. The SM58 gives my voice an option that it doesn't have naturally. Then again, if the D5 was a close-up kind of mic it probably wouldn't have the pop-shield design it has, and go rounded instead. All that said, though, at the price it is a stellar mic, nice and solid, and professionally turned out. Its main physical shortcoming is the lack of an on/off switch, for which you need the D5S instead, but for home/project studio and location work it is less of a problem than for stage because you have other muting options.

Update: So, I've been able to use it live on a few occasions now and it hasn't disappointed. It's bright, rich and cuts through well without being overly harsh or lacking in balance across the range. I still reach for the Rode M2 more often than not, because as a condenser it gives me more to play with within the mix, but I would say that I have absolute confidence in the D5 to handle itself in any situation (much like many sm58 users would consider that mic - although personally I think the D5 is streets ahead compared to the Shure 'industry standard'. Only had a chance to use it in the house thus far for spoken word, with hopes that I’ll be able to use it Live for singing soon. Very well built, robust microphone that equals anything I’ve used before. I own and normally use a Rode M2, but was looking for a dynamic to give options. Sold my Rode M1 a few months back and then bought some of the T-Bone Beta mics, which were ok but still lacking. Then I bought a Tourtech vm50 from guitarguitar for £10 after watching an Andertons review on YouTube and having used it once Live (at a Christmas event) it was actually really quite impressive. But, having had an eye on the d5 for a number of years, I can honestly say that I’m somewhat frustrated that I didn’t opt for it years ago, rather than go round the houses. I’ve never been a fan of the Shure non-beta range (loved the Beta87 and 57) due to the lack of clarity but this AKG seems to have the openness of my M2 with an added presence boost that I was looking for. I’ll look forward to using it properly in the coming months when the world settles down!

This is both cheaper and better than the SM58 which has a slightly muddy sound. To get the best out of this mic you need to be right up on the mic, and not go off-axis (the point of its cardio pickup pattern is to reject sound from the side and rear). This is a very well constructed mic. I suppose if compared to the SM58 it might not take such a battering. But unless you plan to use it as a hammer (!!!), it'll be just fine. The mic produces a very full sound and is surprisingly airy for a dynamic mic - it doesn't produce a major proximity effect - a bit more bass but not too much like cheaper alternatives. It comes with a good quality pouch. I haven't used the mic clip just yet, but it looks perfectly ok.

This is a well built microphone, seems solid enough and could weather a fair beating. The tone is a little off for my voice, and I sing mostly hardcore punk, so I understand the tone I'm looking for isn't perhaps what the mic is designed for. The Sennheiser e835 is better suited for my style and voice, it seems to have a much more well rounded tone with a better response to all the frequencies in my singing. However, for certain other voices and styles, I could see this being an excellent microphone, so while it's not quite for me, I feel a 4 or 5 star rating is accurate.

If you can sing, this is the best mic for you. But if you are not pitch perfect, there is no room to hide. I researched mics for jazz singers and this one came up on the geek forums as being suitable for quieter gigs, say folk, accoustic etc. My background is opera and jazz, I have a strong, clear voice and this mic reproduces my voice insanely well. It also masks background sound. Promoting the singer. It really gives you the best possible chance of carrying off a song. You will instinctively hear and feel the difference between this and say the SM58. (There is no way I will sing through a muddy mike again.) For lower notes, just get your lips to it, and for more power, stay a few inches away, but, regardless, this mic can handle any vocal blasts from any direction and proximity. It accentuates and boosts notes with less power, manages the bigger notes and it all sounds even. Its honesty takes a bit of practice to get used to, as I say, no room to hide. But! I highly recommend this mic for anyone who is a real singer. I also recommend it with the Van Damme Neutrik XLR cable.

Like some other users here, we run strictly acoustic events where artists demand accuracy and an extremely clean, natural sound. We run everything through an Allen & Heath desk and a dual Fishman SA-220 line-array based system. We also have to work with instruments that can be challenging to mic well, and where feedback can be a real issue. On all counts the D5 satisfies. It really does have amazingly good rejection of off-axis sources, and sounds much more 'condenser-like' than a typical dynamic vocal mic. I say "vocal" mic, because although it is indeed superb for vocals, we also find it knocks the spots off several well-known and very respected instrument mics! Great on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and dulcimer, etc. Really - I don't think you can go wrong with these. We now have four of them and have had not a single complaint from any performer. Quite the opposite! We often get asked where they can buy one! Highly recommended. Incredible value, too. They sound better than some mics at 3X the price.

I've been using Shure SM58s for decades. I have also used the beta version, but when I played a set at a friend's gig who used an AKGD5 I was very pleasantly surprised at the sound. For female vocals, I think you would have to spend a lot more money to get something better than this. The mic is very clear without being cold or harsh. I tested it side by side with my SM58 several times before finally admitting that the SM58 sounded positively muddy compared to the AKG. The AKG quality is as good as the Shure, I have now been gigging with it for almost a year and it hasn't let me down. I ended up selling the Shure and will not go back unless they significantly improve their products and keep the pricing low. I was a loyal Shure user and for years there wasn't a lot out there to compete, but if you are a female vocalist you owe it to yourself (and your audience) to at least try an AKGD5 out. I'm very glad I did!

What a brilliant microphone this really is. I have several mics and I used to favour the sm58, until last night when i used this for the first time. Just brilliant! The vocals were clearer, low end wasnt muddy or boomy. Absolutely no feed back issues. For £49 this mic is incredible. The build quality alone makes this stand out from many budget priced mics. This is built better, sounds better even feels better than the sm58 at literally half the price. My advise, dont waste your time or money on the sm58, its had its day. AKG are leaps ahead of shure in my opinion and I've used shure for years. Well done AKG!!