REVIEW: Deity S-Mic 2s

When the original S-Mic 2 was released, it made a huge impact on the low budget mic market. What was more, it sounded great. It punched far above its weight class to the point where it was a tool that I very much wanted to have in my arsenal, and still do. Its excellent build quality, off axis response, overall tone, and water resistance made it a killer choice for anyone considering its low price point. I say low because anything else that sounds this good, is going to cost a good amount more.

You can read my review of the S-Mic 2 here.

One of the interesting things about the S-Mic 2, was the fact that it had a super cardioid pickup pattern, despite the long interference tube. When you see the shape of it, you immediately think lobar shotgun, but true to Deity’s word, tests confirmed that it was indeed a super cardioid. This meant that it would be a lot more forgiving off axis, which works especially well for unscripted content. Typically you only see that type of pickup pattern on a short gun mic. In my original tests, I compared it to my Sennheiser MKH-50, which is also a super cardioid. As you can see if you follow the link above, it performed pretty well against the MKH-50, even if it was edged out by it. I mean, you can’t complain though, the retail cost of an MKH-50 is almost $1000 more than the S-Mic 2, so the fact that it held up at all is impressive, and the fact that I decided to keep it with MKH-50 meant that it was something special.

Enter the S-Mic 2s.

People tend to reach for a super cardioid indoors more often than they would outdoors, and the reason that they are typically only found in a short gun form factor is that the longer interference tube doesn’t handle reverb very well by comparison. Conversely, a longer interference tube tends to handle outdoor ambience better. So creating a shorter version for indoor projects seems like a no brainer, right? Absolutely, but you’d be hard pressed to find anything like the S-Mic 2s at this price point. Short guns tend only to be available at much higher costs, which makes the S-Mic 2s a welcomed addition to the field (not to mention that it matches its older sibling perfectly).

The above photo shows how they compare in size. I mean c’mon. If you’re anything like me, that kind of synergy gives you the chills. The S-Mic 2s shares the same build quality, pickup pattern, texture, elegant good looks, and, as I stated before, truly impressive sound quality. You can listen for yourself, in the video above. The noise floor is impressively low. I know that I’ve been using that word a lot, but after loads of real world tests, I can’t come to any other conclusion.

I have taken both the S-Mic 2 and the S-Mic 2s into the rain, the heat, the cold, and most recently the snow. They truly are heavily weather proofed. I’ve even had my boom pole take a spill into a puddle. They continue to go on strong.

Above you can see some more photos of the S-Mic 2s. Gold colored XLR pins, and a black anodized coating on the exterior of the mic. Speaking of that coating, I want to point out how much that I love how it feels in my hand. It’s something that I forgot to mention in my review of the S-Mic 2.

That texture makes it feel more stable when I grip it (do I hear a Sound Grip joke coming on?). Obviously this should spend more time in a shock mount, and less time in your hand, but it never hurts to feel like you wont drop it on accident because it slipped when you’re resetting. I wont lie, my MKH-50 has slipped from hand at least once when I had sweaty palms.

Above is one of my favorite uses of the S-Mic 2s; as a plant mic. Because of that wider pickup pattern, it works really well in a car. Slap it on a clamp, and you’re good to go. I like Dinkum arms, but there are many options. In fact, my least favorite part about this setup is what I’m using as a shock mount at the moment. The super small size of the S-Mic 2s makes finding a proper shock mount for it more challenging. But honestly, that’s a good problem to have, as a low profile mic makes it easy to use in cramped environments like a car, or on a pole in a room with low ceilings.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend the S-Mic 2s. Like its older sibling, it punches far above its weight class. Having both the S-Mic 2s and the S-Mic 2 means that you have a great indoor and outdoor pair, that match each other perfectly and sound excellent. In general, with all of the recent releases from Deity, you can be pretty well setup across the board in terms of kit. An S-Mic 2 and S-Mic 2s for booms, the Connect wireless system with the new HD-TX wireless boom transmitter (more on that in an upcoming review), and the W-Lav for lavaliers (the W-Lav Pro and W-Lav Micro are coming soon). I love that kind of brand synergy, and it really shows you that Deity is working to cover the whole needs of a sound professional.