Talk about a mic with a napoleon complex. Not only does the Shure Beta 98A have to live in the long shadow of legendary models like the SM58, but it's the only Shure microphone that runs the risk of getting lost inside a toddler's ear canal.

Still, the original Beta 98 was one massive-sounding condenser microphone, especially on acoustic drum toms. The 98A, introduced at the 129th AES show, features the same tiny package but with a newly designed capsule that Shure promises delivers an even more natural-sounding acoustic drum tone than its predecessor. Plus they've updated its paint job, so it's much easier to find if you drop it on a dark stage.