Audix i-5 5-stars Reviews

Good Snare Mic

I bought the Audix i-5 as a replacement for a Shure SM57 I was using on the drum kit (snare drum).... I read the reviews and thought I'd take a chance and so far so good.

Very solid and robust, it takes quite a few knocks and still sounds as good as it did on day one.

If I had to be picky I'd say that the mic holder is ok but not as adaptable as I wish - For example, if I want to place the mic on the edge of the snare I can't.

However, that doesn't diminish it at all - the mic is as good if not better than the previous SM58.

Fantastic sound!

OK, I know...the big debate...Audix I5 or SM57?

Well, I have sm57 as well and of course the sound is awesome. Now I got this one and for what I hear, it sounds a little smoother and this I like very much. It also looks cooler then the sm57 ). I use mostly for my guitar cab and sometimes I records vocals with it and I very like what's coming out of it!

Well done Audix!

Good utility dynamic mic

I have one of these, I use it for all the jobs you'd typically use a sm57 for (recording guitar cabs, snare drum, toms, hand percussion, etc.)

I like this mic. It's very well built and comes with a good, snug holder. It has no fragile plastic parts on the outside, it's been hit by a few over-enthusiastic drummers and there's not a scratch on it.

Soundwise, it won't blow you away or anything, but it does what it's supposed to. I can't think of any cons, it just does the job.

Soundwise, I find it a bit brighter than my sm57 (which I find a slightly murky-sounding mic), I like to use it on snare top and guitar cabs, it captures the top end of amp spring reverbs well. I've also used it on rack toms, it did the job much as expected.

I'll pick up another few of these when budget allows.

For me personally, an SM57 beater

I've always had a love-hate relationship with the SM57 - it does a great job for the money, but it always takes work and it's kinda harsh.

The i5 seems to be growing in popularity, and the moment I got one it was obvious why. It's even more solidly built than a 57, and it sounds better even before you use any processing on it. Much smoother high end, much punchier low end. It's the best snare mic I've ever used. On guitar cabs there's less nasty stuff in the high frequencies, though overall it might be a hair brighter.

This is my go-to on snare and guitar now, and it works on just about everything else too. Grab a couple of these for your mic locker, you won't regret it.

Awesome on snares and amps

I'm using the Audix i-5 in the studio, mostly for recording snare drums and guitar amps - this microphone shines on these sources. It provides a very balanced and nuanced sound without being harsh or too edgy. A great addition to any studio mic locker and it could surely cost more than it does judging by the sound and the build quality - the microphone is sturdy and rugged and can withstand all sorts of abuse - I definitely recommend this microphone for recording snares and guitar amps.

Audix i-5

I was really happy with this nice for a change instead of a 57 but I wouldn't compare it to it like some people do its a different mic and a different flavour great for all styles on guitar, snare, vox etc. Great price would defiantly recommend!!!

Great MIC

So this I use for my snare drum i i find it better then the sure 57, just because i simply but in on and it sounds great i dont have to go messing around with the desk. A great price and good quality.

very nice on snare!

I bought this as I was not happy with the SM57 as a snare mic, and needed some options. This one sounds fuller and crisper, and for my rehearsal studio / recording setup it really made the difference,

Build quality seems good, but I find it hard to imagine it being as sturdy as an SM57 or 58.

Great all round mic

This is a fantastic microphone. Small, robust and crystal clear sound. I use it mainly as a snare drum mic but it works great for vocals and on guitar amps. Highly recommended

The legend!

You cannot beat this mic for what it is!

It's a pure SM57 killer! No competition! I even have the beta 57 and that it terrible in comparison to this! Infact if somebody offered to trade for an old one of these I would take the trade in a heard beat.

These are sooooo much more clear than a 57, they've got a much more natural sound. I use them all the time at university and decided to buy myself some for home use.

I recommend them all the time to people, they're simply perfect. The only mic I have ever broke is a 57... they're not as reliable as people rave on about, I would prefer to use a 57 as a doorstop in all honesty. These are the real deal! They're the same price but they're literally four or five times better.

They sound better on snares and particularly guitars (without a doubt)

Mic winner

Used for recording bass or guitar amp.

Want to use something different from the shure;

And for me, the Audix is better sounding.

Adds clarity and definition to the sound.

Used for Home studio, playing Jazz, fusion and Metal.

Excellent for metal because of this clarity that will let high frequencies pop out.

GReat product

For me, this is the SM57 without it's flaws.

The i-5 is a straight up dynamic mic for use live/in the studio. Paired with a great mic pre, this mic sounds fantastic. After using an SM57 for many years, I was reluctant to give this a try at first, but having done a number of A/B's on various sources with the two mics, I'm confident to say that either mic will satisfy me on snare, guitar cabs and louder percussion.

If anything I prefer the i-5 for two reasons: firstly, the build is solid, no plastic spinning head on the end - and secondly, the mid range is just a little smoother, than high mid resonance within the 57 is gone.

Great job Audix.

Another great Audix mic.

Lovely microphone from Audix.

The build is solid and very resistant to stray drum stick hits, nice weight to it.

Comes with a mic clip which is comparable if not better than the Shure clips and fits the microphone well. The Audix cases are very nicely padded and keep the mics safe.

The size of the microphone is not much different to a sm57, so positioning is easy on snares, etc.

It has a much more fuller sound on snares than sm57's but have found that it needs an extra microphone on the underside to capture the 'snap and crack' properly.

Has a nice rejection on the sides and rear of the capsule, allowing for a lot less sound spillage from other instruments surrounding it.

I have tried this microphone on other instruments such as toms, guitars, brass, even vocals and depending on what sound you desire you can achieve some very high quality results. But i primarily use this for snare drums.

Overall i recommend trying this and other Audix microphones like the D6 if you are trying to get that full, phat and modern drum sound.

An added bonus is Audix send you a great sticker for your drum cases.

Thumbs ups!

snare mic

I use i5 for snare. It delivers a sound similar to sm57 but with much more pleasant low end definition and better attack. It also has better off-axis rejection that would filter out more of the hi-hat jumping into your snare sound which was the main reason I bought it.

Great alternative to SM57

I bought this microphone as a test how will it stand up against SM57 on recording snare, guitar amps or even vocals and toms.

I made a couple of recordings (Sonor snares, Marshall cabs and Fender combos) and I found that it has more open and natural top end than SM57. Maybe SM57 would be better on some other snare or guitar amp, but I think that i5 is a better sounding microphone. In aspect of sound rejection from sides and back, I think that SM57 is a little better.

It is well built, like SM57 but a little more attractive to look at (not that it matters very much, but still)

A must!

Audix i-5 is a must for your studio or taking with you on the road!

This microphone is my first choice when the subject are snare and guitar sound for rock and metal music.

It has personality and a full sound but if you´re looking for a flat mic, this might not be your choice. It has wide peaks on 100-300Hz and 2-5 kHz range giving a lot of colour in the sonority field.

The construction is very rugged which avoids feedback and unwanted vibrations coming from the floor and stand.

It also comes with a nice bag for keeping it and an original mic clip for attaching it to stands.

Great alternative to the 57

Having already owned a few of the classic '57 dynamic microphone I was in the market for some more low budget mics that could compete. I'd read many reviews about the i-5 microphone being a great contender, some even calling it the '57 "killer". I was slightly skeptical about it all, but being somewhat cheaper than the '57, and cheap for any mic in general, I thought it would be worth taking a chance and give it a go.

I've had chance to try it out both live and in the studio and as expected it works great for snare and guitar cabs, vocals too. It is a somewhat transparent sounds with a less aggressive presence peak than some similar microphones in its price category. I'd say it is a sturdy, great value microphone, well worth the money and praise it's received.

Well built and great for snare drum.

The build quality is very good. It's very similar to a shure sm57 with more top end. Currently I'm using it on bottom snare to pick up the snap with a beyer mc201 on top snare. For the price it is great value over similar mics with great performance.

Excellent addition

I have been recording my drum kit in a home studio and the snare drum was seriously lacking feel and punch despite my best efforts in post production. I have an SM57 on the top head and this mic (although slightly cheaper) on the bottom head added so much more to the mix I was blown away. The depth and clarity of the snare drum (even during fast blast beats) has been improved tenfold. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone wanting to record snares, guitars or any instrument or sound within its comfort zone.

A Solid snare Drum Mic!

Bought one of these as an alternative to an sm57, the construction is very impressive extremely solid and sounds as good if not better than a 57

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