Shure Nexadyne NXN2, NXN5, NXN6 — A Combine Actual-World Overview

New York, NY (August 14, 2025)—Shure launched the Nexadyne Sequence in 2022 with two handheld vocal mics: the 8C cardioid and 8S supercardioid. Three years later, on the 2025 NAMM Present in January, the corporate debuted three new dynamic fashions within the Nexadyne line: the NXN2 kick drum, NXN6 snare/tom and NXN5 for guitar amps.

Supposed for each stay sound and studio use, these are all supercardioid dynamics designed for close-miking particular person drums throughout the package, and for guitar amps. Making use of the corporate’s Revonic Twin-Engine Transducer Know-how, every is voiced with a particularly contoured frequency response for its meant software.

Every Nexadyne mic employs two exactly calibrated transducers—one dealing with the supply and the opposite positioned immediately behind it, dealing with backward, and wired out-of-polarity. The transducers are acoustically coupled with matched, vibrational responses, so when the vibrational energies from the back and front transducers are subtracted from each other, it cancels out principally low frequencies, together with mechanical noise and stage rumble.

In the meantime, the mic’s inside form supplies off-axis cancellation of the mid/excessive frequencies coming into the rear transducer’s three display screen vents. The presence enhance within the NXN Sequence is produced acoustically, not electrically with an EQ.

The most important and heaviest of the three is the NXN2 kick drum mic. It differs from the others in that its XLR connector is positioned on the rear of the mic’s physique, away from the swivel joint. It additionally has a heavier voice coil for an elevated low-frequency response, together with a built-in, low-Q passive bandpass filter that scoops out 450 Hz. Its included frequency chart exhibits a broad enhance centered at 4.5 kHz.

Uncover extra helpful evaluations—get a free Combine SmartBrief subscription!

The NXN5 and NXN6 incorporate the identical dual-transducer system. Nevertheless, as a result of the area across the transducers is completely different, incoming sound is affected at completely different frequencies. The NXN5 grille ring and housing behind the transducer meeting causes a presence peak centered at 6 kHz.

For its meant use, hanging and draped over the entrance of a guitar cupboard, the mic’s deal with is nearer to the transducer and contours the excessive frequencies. In distinction, the NXN6 snare/tom mic’s presence peak is at about the identical frequency however a lot wider and smoother.

All three mics have almost the identical sensitivity rankings at about -61 dBv/PA, or 0.9 mV/PA. The NXN2 is rated at -66 dBV/PA, or 0.5 mV/PA. All three have a tight-fitting, rubber sleeve surrounding the transducer, which acts as a shock absorber to scale back dealing with noise.

I examined all three mics in a recording studio with a 20 x 25-foot stay room. I had the NXN2 and NXN6 mics positioned on a mahogany drum package. Soloing any of those whereas the drummer performed confirmed off how properly they rejected off-axis leakage from different drums within the package and/or different loud devices within the studio. Moreover, no matter low-level leakage was there sounded good, and never phasey or filtered.

NXN2 KICK DRUM

The NXN2 is my favourite of the three. It’s a compact bass drum mic that additionally might be used for a bass guitar amp. It weighs almost two kilos and has its XLR connector situated immediately on its again. Nice! No extra searching across the mic to search out it.

I attempted the NXN2 positioned in three completely different positions on a 22×14-inch kick drum. All three positions sounded good and full, offering me with three barely completely different choices. Out in entrance of the kick, I received a fats sound with a great mixture of subsonic power and assault. The news at 450 Hz labored out properly. Transferring the mic all the best way inside modified the tone, with fewer sub-frequencies and extra of the sound of the drum’s shell. One of the best sound got here with placement simply inside the outlet within the entrance head—the mic’s grille was simply by the outlet and aimed on the beater.

NXN6 TOM/SNARE

The NXN6 is the smallest of the three new Nexadyne fashions, with a low profile that’s almost invisible from the studio’s management room— or the viewers’s perspective. It has a slender physique bent at an acute angle relative to the goal of the transducer and windscreen. On the finish of the mic is an XLR connector and sufficient area to connect a completely adjustable clip/mount (included). Offering vibration isolation, this stiff rubber clip attaches to the rim of any drum and permits placement within the tightest of locations on the package, all with out utilizing a mic stand.

On an 8×1212 rack tom, I first aimed the NXN6 on the closest lug. I appreciated the sound, though the assault was rolled-off; by re-aiming towards the middle of the drum, it produced a thick tonality with loads of assault. Between barely angling the mic up/down and altering the pickup course, I had loads of decisions when positioning.

On a snare drum, I clamped the NXN6 to the drum’s rim, close to the snare launch mechanism and protruding simply contained in the rim. I aimed from seven inches away from the middle of the drum head. I rapidly discovered that elevating it simply two inches elevated the assault and excessive frequencies, capturing the snare drum’s sound properly and with minimal hi-hat leakage, even with my drummer bashing the hat!

Switching the NXN6 over to the 14×14-inch ground tom produced a giant, meaty sound with good transients. For probably the most half, the clamp labored properly for the snare and ground tom, however on some rack toms, it may be restricted within the locations you may connect it, particularly in case your drummer makes use of rim isolating mounts. Shure sells (individually) the identical clip used for its SM81, Beta 181 or KSM137 mics. Maybe they need to embody one, as they did with the NXN5.

NXN5 GUITAR AMP

At first look, the NXN5 is a strange-looking beast. The XLR mic cable plugs into the top of the mic’s L-shaped physique, designed to drape down in entrance of an amp’s speaker. Its form facilitates the previous stay sound approach beforehand achieved by hanging a side-address dynamic microphone. For typical mic stand/growth use, it additionally comes with a typical Shure mic clip.

I attempted the NXN5 on somewhat combo amp. I threaded the XLR cable although, and locked it to the amp’s carrying deal with. It was simple to search out the candy spot on this explicit amp’s 12-inch speaker by pulling the cable up or down, or transferring it side-to-side. The form of the NXN5’s windscreen allowed it to relaxation flat and proper on the grille material, midway between the speaker’s suspension and the mud cap.

AKG K712 Professional Headphones — A Combine Actual-World Overview

The NXN5 has a great, clear sound, with somewhat extra midrange “reduce” to counteract the proximity impact of it being so near the speaker. The mic’s design suppresses exterior vibration—akin to once you drape it in entrance of, and touching, a guitar amp’s grille material.

The three Nexadyne dynamics present a great, strong begin to a microphone assortment that’s equally suited to each the studio and stage. I just like the rugged heft of those mics, with their cast-aluminum our bodies and their robust, screw-on, steel-mesh windscreens that aren’t simply dented. These are precision instruments, every with a constant sound constructed to final. Nice stuff!