Kick Drum Mic Comparison: Sennheiser e902, e602ii, Shure Beta 52A, AKG D-112 mkii 

I've never liked the Beta 52 and this video confirms that even more.

E602 🙌🏾 best bass drum mic IMO!

kick only In front of the air hole 0:50 e602 ii 0:58 e902 1:06 beta 52a 1:15 d112 1:21 sm58 grill inside of air hole 1:31 e602 ii 1:39 e902 1:46 beta 52a 1:55 d112 2:02 sm58 in the middle of the bass drum 2:10 e602 ii 2:18 e902 2:27 beta 52a 2:34 d112 2:42 sm58

I used to have a D112, was considering a Beta 52a but very impressed with the e602. This is the best video for comparison due to the quick scene flip. Good one guys.

Every mic comparison should be done like this. Proper demo sir. Gracias.

I like how the Beta 52 blends in with the whole drumkit.

E602 sounds great in different positions

e602 and e902 is my kind of tone. Even though I purchased an e602, I kind of preferred e902 a bit more

I really like the 902.

More importantly, your kick drum itself sounds amazing. A lot of times, people forget that’s the most important part of the equation. Great demo! 🤘

This is a great test, the Sennheiser's really lend themselves to metal and the others to rock.

The d112 have been a favorite for a long time because of it's versatility! It's easy to eq and can get you both metal and indie type sounds. It's also a killer for floor tom as the low end is a bit higher up. E602 as someone else said is really hard to eq but gives you such a ready to go sound. Beta52 was for a long time one of those "why is this even considered good" type of mics for me. But it has such a musical big low end and paired with another mic (for example the beta91) it's such a good mic! Really starting to love it. I'm starting to get interested in the e902. Seems like a less shaped version of the 602 but still super modern. Maybe best of both worlds?

This was very helpful. Overall, I thought the e902 was the one!

fell in love with e902

The Shure and AKG really hated that kick. I own the D112 MKI and MKII and they both sound great. Iv'e used a Beta 52 in a studio and had great sounds. Not really sure why they both struggle here. The Sennheiser e602 and e902 sound very similar e902 has more bass with the e602 having more click. Its just what I'm hearing with my studio monitors. Iv'e seen SM57's used as kick mic's and they sound pretty good so the SM58 did a good job. Nice comparison video you did a great job.

Kick Only In front of the air hole 0:51 e602 ii 0:59 e902 1:07 beta 52a 1:15 d112 1:23 sm58 Grill inside of air hole 1:31 e602 ii 1:39 e902 1:47 beta 52a 1:55 d112 2:03 sm58 In the middle of the bass drum 2:11 e602 ii 2:19 e902 2:27 beta 52a 2:35 d112 2:43 sm58 Whole Kit In front of the air hole 2:55 e902 Grill inside of air hole 3:13 e902 In the middle of the bass drum 3:31 e902

Great Comparison, thank you! I prefer the D112 as it is a good compromise for all styles, these Sennheiser's here I see more for metal & progressive - I own a e602 and it's very hard to EQ them to get a warm sound. Interesting how good the SM58 works - very focussed - with my Kick Drums (22") I couldn't catch the low frequencies as I wanted but for certain situations the sound will fit. In any case best to record with more than one mic and experiement with combination's. Keep on drumming!

the 602 on a floor tom is very very nice as well =) great video! thanks!

Love the Pearl bass drum combined with the Beta 52A just at the hole.

Really well done! Thanks for this! I have the e 602, and now I know it's my favorite (from these anyway). It sounded great.

A really genuinely useful video, giving me a lot of food for thought. Torn between the e602II and the Beta 52A for my uses. I'll doubtless be back to listen again as this is a superb reference source. Thank you!

best BD-Mic video i've seen / heard.. very good sounds, very nice playing

e902 seems to be the clear winner with the 602 closely behind

That Shure sounds great. Love how accoustic it sounds. E902 sounds awesome too

Thank you for this video. The 602 is a damn good mic!

602 FTW, glad I own 2 originals

I love blending an e901 inside with a Beta52a on the hole, it's a killer combination

That snare tho. Fantastic.

I liked 902 the most.

E602 ii for sure!!!

The e902 sounds like the e602 tonewise but with better detail.

E602 or e902?! Decisions, decisions! Thx for this very informative vid bro!

Great, GREAT job comparing the mics! Sad the Telefunken M-80 wasn't included. Or Beyerdynamic M-88.

I'm gonna say the 602. Lucky I bought one not long ago.

This is so helpful! Great job comparing them.

Great and informative shootout...well done! And that snare sounds amazing!

excellent shoot out ! We appreciated the time this took. I would do one step further and try all in the context of a song, because that's where it really matters...prolly add another week to your video (labour time) but would put a bow on the entire experiment.

I have an E602 and a B52. I generally like (or have liked) the Shure over the Sennheiser, cuz it's (usually) more boomy and has less attack (or click), which I prefer. This is the first video I've heard where I prefer the 602 over the 52!. What a trip, I guess I should give it another try!...Or at least NOT sell it, and maybe use it on my floor tom, or as a kick mic for certain rooms or situations. Side note: this is a great comparison, but it's missing what may be my favorite kick mic of all...The Audix D6...It's really got the BOOM 💥

Those Sennheisers!!! Damn! Then 2:52 came in, and I know this video is not about snares, but hot damn bro...that snare sound is the tits!!! Very nice vid, and congrats on having an amazing sound.

TIL you can get basically the same sound out of an SM58 as you can from a Beta52. I knew I didn't like them. SM58 < Beta52 < D112 < E602 < E902. It's only really the Sennheisers that are decent though.

Every situation is different, but I'd honestly go for the SM58 just outside of the hole paired with a subkick. I don't like scooped kicks, even though I know it serves a purpose in different genres.

I love the e902!

nice comparison! I liked the e902 best in all positions, e602ii second and D-112 third at least on this kick

Amazing work and comparison. Really appreciate all the work you put into making this video for all of us!

def not paying for a sure now. sennheiser sounds way better. thanks🤘🏻🍻

great video thank you for taking the time to do this it help a lot thank you

Gracias Jorge

Jorge Eduardo, un video muy interesante y bien realizado. La verdad es que el 58 no suena mal. Gracias y enhorabuena por el video! Un saludo!

Great video! Thanks for the comparisons. Solid drumming too

Proof that context is everything. B52a sounded like a wet fart on its own but in the mix it's great. However, e602 for the win in every Rock situation. D112 great for natural, low volume conditions as it sounds quite natural.

This is comparison how it should be👍 Thank you Jorge❤️

Pretty interesting how when the mic is inside the drum it really affects the snare sound quite a bit.

It's funny to notice that i like the Sennheisers a lot in the middle of the drum, but the Beta 52 at "grill inside of the hole" position.

I Prefer the Beta 52A, Probably because I Love that deep Low end crack on a bass drum, Not the hip hop mid to high crack - and probably a little influenced by the music in the past 50 years... many recordings used the Beta 52's very recognizable sound.

The e602 is legendary

Perfect method for comparison! very helpfull, thank you very much! I own 2 602 (like them on Floor toms too), 1 Beta52, I'll probably buy a 902 too after watching this video

Está buenísimo este video . Gracias. Estoy sorprendido por el sonido del sm58 , es un sonido poco profesional pero con un montón de presencia y le da Mucho ataque, así que para tocar rock o Metal en un lugar pequeño creo que es el ideal y mayoritariamente, la mayoría de los bateros tocan en lugares pequeños o con sonido no profesional masivo.

in this case, the 602 wins..... but all in all, it depends on how the drum is tuned, mic choice and mic positioning , to get the best result

Bravo!!!! excellent video!!!

To me d112 and sm58!! I feel more atitude with these two mics in this video. May blend the two we can get a very powerful sound! The bass from d112 and definition from sm58.

e602 takes it for the kick drum already has the low punch

e602 kicked ass!

3:10 Comparativa de varios micrófonos. ( 3:23 el último es el shure sm58.- que me parece que suena bien en esa posición.)

602 top🤘

Sennheiser only

Sennheiser e602 tremendo

Very good comparison video although only 4 mics compared.

Man, I love how the e 602 II sounds with your bassdrum but mine never sounds like that. Always lacks something.

Although the 602 sounds great too

For metal and harder rock music Sennheisers sound better I guess. But 52A sounds more natural. Better overall mic maybe.

D112 is the more natural sounding, but might not be the proper mic for every kick drum. Especially small ones

Buen video, de acá los Shure los dejo afuera, ni el SM58 (obvio) ni el Beta 52a me gustaron, el resto me gustó dependiendo las ubicaciones, en algunas me gustaron más los Sennheiser y en otras el AKG, cualquiera de las 3 serían buenas opciones

2:20 902 2:12 602

Gracias!

Excelente comparación felicidades

Very proper videos... nice

Buena comparativa man 👍

Simply sennheiser I think 902 and a sm58 combined.

I’m using the pearl compact traveler kit right now and using a Solomon lo freq, so I would be leaning towards something more mid to mid low. The beta 52 paired with my lo freq may not blend so well. I like the sound of the sennheiser mics and was also very surprised how the sm58 sound outside. Btw, my kick is an 18” single ply with an aquarium super kick 1 head. Really thumps for what it is. Thanks for the video.

Very good comparison. It definitely makes me go no wonder when I mix with somebody else's system I've never really liked the kick drum and could never get it the way I wanted it. I'm doing a gig which escalated from managing to possibly providing sound and hay guess what it might be time to buy drum mics sooooo. I like to buy things once and the Sennheiser's are kind of standing out and all the videos I'm watching with the other ones either sounding flat or lacking or almost feeling like they're getting over driven. The other ones definitely seem like they're picking up more of a drum resonant and air movement and less of a full body thump drum sound to me am I crazy?

902 def. for me

Neta 52a 👍👍

E602 II Amazing for metal Akg is more a folk sound

Sennheiser forever i use them last 12y next company i say Audix D6

Wow the sm58 doesn’t sound as bad as I thought it would sound.

602 all the way

902!

This was so helpful! What are you using on your snare? It sounds really nice. Thank you

E902 make easy work, awesome

AKG wins for clarity, e902 wins for punch, Beta52 looses all the way

buena comparación aunque creo que el d112 estaba en mala posición la line de color deberia estar en vertical.

E602 always been my favorite kick mic. I'd have to go d112 second. IMHO the beta 52 sounds horrible.

Mil gracias por esta valiosa información. Me suscribo a tu canal. Saludos✨️ 🎼🎶🎵🎺

The Audix D6 and Audio Technica ATM250 should be included here.

The 902 sounds amazing so do the 58(shockingly)

Should've added a Audix D6 to the list. Better then all of these.

I need the beta 52a

An I crazy or does the 58 in context sound the best.

Why are there so many comparisons with mics that aren't "low frequency"? The sm57, sm58, sm7B and the MD421 are all examples. They aren't kick mics and they all sound bad. Am I missing something?

sennheiser e602 has the "modern sound" to my ears 🤔 well i mean, it fits right for metal if may say