Heil PR 40 vs Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Heil PR 40 vs Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone compared — specs, features, and which one to buy for your setup. See the full breakdown on CreatorConfig.
The Ruling
Heil PR 40 or Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone? Get the Heil PR 40, narrowly.
The Heil PR 40 wins Low-End Reach — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $70.
At a Glance
Where each one actually leads
Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.
| Category | Heil PR 40 | Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone |
|---|---|---|
| Low-End Reach | 10/10 | 8.4/10 |
| High-End Reach | 9.6/10 | 10/10 |
| Value | 10/10 | 8.2/10 |
The Split
What each one wins
Heil PR 40
Professional dynamic XLR microphone designed for rich voice capture in broadcast and podcast setups.
On paper the Heil PR 40 takes frequency response (28Hz-18kHz). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. It is the cheaper of the two, by $70.00.
Leads on
-
Frequency Response28Hz-18kHz50Hz-20kHz
Wider frequency response captures more of the audible spectrum, from deep bass to airy highs.
Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone
Broadcast-style microphone designed for vocal capture, podcasting, and treated streaming setups.
It gives up frequency response to the Heil PR 40. That costs $70.00 more than the Heil PR 40.
Leads on
- Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.
Where they’re identical
These 2 specs are the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
- Connection Type xlr
- Polar Pattern Cardioid
The Record
9 specs, grouped by area
A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.
Bottom Line
Who each one is for
The Heil PR 40 is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Heil PR 40 and Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone?
The largest gap is frequency response, where the Heil PR 40 leads — 28Hz-18kHz against 50Hz-20kHz. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 1 spec. They match on 2 specs, including connection type and polar pattern. Two microphones from Heil Sound and Shure, each taking a different approach to sound character and pickup pattern.
Which is better for streaming, Heil PR 40 or Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone?
Get the Heil PR 40, narrowly. The Heil PR 40 wins Low-End Reach — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $70.
Is the Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone worth the extra $70 over the Heil PR 40?
The Shure Super 55 Dynamic Vocal Microphone costs $399.00 against $329.00, a difference of $70. On the catalog's specifications it does not lead the Heil PR 40 anywhere, so the premium buys brand, build or something the catalog does not record. Whether that is worth it depends on which of those you would actually use.