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24K Gold Microphone Guide: Luxury Mics for Artists, Studios and Collectors
GoldPrivé Journal · Audio
24K Gold Microphone Guide: Luxury Mics for Artists, Studios and Collectors
This 24K gold microphone guide compares the four Shure and Sennheiser models GoldPrivé finishes in gold, rose gold and platinum, using the manufacturers’ own specifications and our live product listings, so you can match the microphone to the room it will actually work in.
Choose by the room, not the metal. The Shure SM58 is the handheld for stages and speeches; the Shure Super 55 Deluxe is the stand-mounted showpiece; the Sennheiser EW-D 835-S is the wireless choice for performers who move; the Sennheiser MAT 133 B gooseneck belongs on a boardroom table or lectern. Each comes in 24K gold, rose gold or platinum at one price per model.
Key takeaways
- All four are genuine Shure or Sennheiser microphones; GoldPrivé plates the housing at 5 to 7 microns and leaves capsules and electronics as built.
- Only the gooseneck set needs phantom power (12 to 48 V); the two Shure models are passive, and the wireless set runs on batteries.
- The wireless set is made in country-specific frequency bands, so tell your consultant where it will be used.
- No model is water resistant after customisation, and sweat, perfume and liquid contact fall outside the warranty.
- The three metals cost the same within each model; the choice is purely visual.
The 24K gold microphone guide in one table
GoldPrivé’s 24K Gold Microphone Collection holds four models. They look like variations on one idea, but they are built for different jobs: two cabled vocal microphones, one digital wireless system and one conference gooseneck. The table sets out what each manufacturer says the microphone is, what it needs to run, and exactly which parts GoldPrivé plates.
| Edition | Best room | Pickup and type | Power | Plated by GoldPrivé | Left as built | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SM58 | Stage, rehearsal, speeches | Cardioid dynamic, 50 to 15,000 Hz | None (passive, XLR) | Die-cast body and spherical mesh grille | Cartridge, shock mount, pop filter, XLR | $ 2,199 |
| Shure Super 55 Deluxe | Stand-mounted centrepiece, vintage-styled sets | Supercardioid dynamic | None (passive, XLR) | Body, Art Deco grille and swivel mount, in place of Shure’s chrome | “55” nameplate, blue foam, cartridge | $ 3,699 |
| Sennheiser EW-D 835-S Set | Hosts and performers who move | Cardioid dynamic MMD 835 capsule, digital UHF link | 2 AA batteries or BA 70 rechargeable pack | Handheld transmitter body and grille | Receiver, capsule, transmitter electronics, antenna cap | $ 3,699 |
| Sennheiser MAT 133 B with ME 36 | Boardroom tables, lecterns, summits | Supercardioid/lobar pre-polarised condenser head (ME 36) | 12 to 48 V phantom power | MAT 133 B table stand and 400 mm MZH 3040 gooseneck | Black ME 36 head, electronics, XLR | $ 3,990 |
Pickup, frequency and power figures are the manufacturers’ published specifications for the standard models (see Sources). The plated and unplated parts come from GoldPrivé’s live product listings. Prices update automatically from the store.
For artists and performers: handheld, showpiece or wireless
For a singer or speaker, the first question is whether the microphone stays on a stand, travels in the hand, or needs to leave the cable behind. The answer narrows four options to one quickly.
Shure SM58
Shure describes it as designed for live performance, sound reinforcement and studio recording, with a cardioid pattern that isolates the main source. It is the most recognised shape in the collection and the entry point to it.
Shure Super 55 Deluxe
Shure sells it in satin chrome with a supercardioid pattern and an integrated swivel mount. In gold, nearly every visible metal surface changes colour (the nameplate keeps its factory face), so it is the model chosen when the microphone itself is part of the set design.
Sennheiser EW-D 835-S
Sennheiser lists 1.9 ms latency and up to 8 hours on two AA batteries, with setup through its Smart Assist app over Bluetooth Low Energy. Only the handheld is plated; the receiver stays in Sennheiser’s finish.
Sennheiser MAT 133 B
A table stand with a 400 mm gooseneck and a small mini-shotgun head. It suits a panel, a signing or a keynote lectern rather than a stage.
One practical point for touring artists: the wireless set is built in different frequency ranges for different countries. GoldPrivé’s listing asks buyers to state where it will be used, because the correct range is decided before the set is plated.
For studios and podcasts: what the collection does and does not cover
Gold microphones are often imagined in a recording studio, so it is worth being precise. Shure lists studio recording among the SM58’s uses and names stage, studio recording and podcasting for the Super 55. Both are dynamic designs that plug into any XLR interface and need no phantom power, which makes either a workable choice for a voice-led podcast desk.
What the collection does not include is a large-diaphragm studio condenser of the kind many vocal booths are built around. The only condenser in the range is the ME 36 head on the gooseneck, which Sennheiser designs for speech at conference tables. If a studio centrepiece is the goal, the Super 55 on a desk stand is the closest match among GoldPrivé’s current models.
For boardrooms, summits and awards
The MAT 133 B gooseneck is the institutional piece. Sennheiser specifies the ME 36 head as a pre-polarised condenser with a supercardioid, lobar pickup, and the MZH 3040 gooseneck delivers 12 to 48 V phantom power through a balanced XLR-3 output. In practice, your venue’s mixer or conference system must supply that phantom power, so confirm it with the technician before the event.
The broad top of the plated table stand is the natural place for a crest, company mark or event name. Engraving on any model is subject to feasibility and is agreed and quoted by your consultant before production. For presentation pieces that are not microphones, GoldPrivé also makes bespoke luxury trophies.
For collectors: what keeps a gold microphone original
For a collector, the value of a precious-metal microphone rests on two things: that the base instrument is genuine and that the work is documented. Every GoldPrivé microphone starts as a new Shure or Sennheiser product, ships with a Certificate of Authenticity, and can be checked on the product verification page.
Some original details are deliberately left alone. On the Super 55, the “55” nameplate keeps its factory face and Shure’s blue foam stays behind the gold grille bars. On the gooseneck, the ME 36 head remains black. A small detail worth knowing: Sennheiser already uses corrosion-resistant gold-plated contact points on the ME 36, so gold was part of that microphone before any customisation.
Confirmed information
- Shure SM58: cardioid dynamic, 50 to 15,000 Hz, built-in spherical wind and pop filter, pneumatic shock mount (Shure).
- Shure Super 55 Deluxe: supercardioid, satin chrome-plated die-cast casing as standard, integrated swivel mount (Shure).
- Sennheiser EW-D 835-S Set: dynamic cardioid, 1.9 ms latency, 134 dB dynamic range, up to 8 hours on two AA batteries (Sennheiser).
- Sennheiser ME 36 on MZH 3040: pre-polarised condenser, supercardioid/lobar, P12 to P48 phantom power, 400 mm gooseneck (Sennheiser).
- GoldPrivé finishes: 24K gold, rose gold or platinum at 5 to 7 microns, priced the same within each model (GoldPrivé listings).
Care, warranty and a pre-order checklist
GoldPrivé’s warranty covers gold, rose gold and platinum customisation for 2 years against plating that peels, flakes or blisters through a workmanship defect. It does not cover contact with water or other liquids, and it excludes sweat, perfume, lotions and cleaning or polishing liquids. For a handheld that spends an evening in a warm hand under stage lights, that matters: wipe the body with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth after use and store it in its pouch.
Never soak a grille or use chemical cleaners on the finish. For deeper refreshes, GoldPrivé Care offers a refresh or fresh plating, and our guide to what affects how long gold plating lasts explains why handling and contact wear the surface over time.
Before you commission
- Name the room. Stage, desk, conference table or display shelf decides the model.
- Check power. The gooseneck needs 12 to 48 V phantom power; the Shure models need none; the wireless set needs AA batteries or a BA 70 pack.
- State the country for the wireless set, so the correct frequency range is ordered.
- Choose the metal. Price is identical, so pick by light: gold reads warm on stage, platinum sits closest to factory chrome, rose gold softens wood-panelled rooms.
- Plan any engraving and its position with your consultant before production starts.
Compare finishes and current prices, from $ 2,199 to $ 3,990, in the gold microphone collection.
Questions buyers ask
Does the gold finish change how the microphone sounds?
GoldPrivé plates the housing and grille only; the capsule, cartridge, shock mount and electronics are not opened or replaced, so the acoustic design stays as Shure or Sennheiser built it. On the gooseneck set, the ME 36 head is not plated at all.
Can a gold microphone be used in a recording studio or for podcasting?
Yes. Shure lists studio recording for the SM58, and stage, studio recording and podcasting for the Super 55. Both connect to a standard XLR interface. The collection does not include a large-diaphragm studio condenser.
Which gold microphone needs phantom power?
Only the Sennheiser MAT 133 B gooseneck set. Its ME 36 condenser head takes 12 to 48 V phantom power through the gooseneck. The SM58 and Super 55 are passive dynamic microphones, and the EW-D 835-S handheld runs on batteries.
Is rose gold or platinum more expensive than 24K gold?
No. Within each model, 24K gold, rose gold and platinum are priced the same, so the choice is purely about colour and setting.
