Is the Shure GLX-D+ rechargeable battery worth it?
Worth it, if you already own the system it plugs into
around $40price at time of review — check Amazon for current
- Worth it ifYou already own a GLXD1+ bodypack or GLXD2+ handheld and need a genuine spare
- Skip it ifYou're on original GLX-D or GLX-D Advanced hardware, it won't work
Amazon shoppers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 151 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
By Daniel Kruger, consumer tech · updated 2026-07-29
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You're two songs into the set when the receiver's battery light drops to one blinking bar, and you start doing math: how many more songs, how much longer, where's the charger. If you've run a wireless microphone system for any stretch of time, you know that moment has nothing to do with the mic itself, it's the shure rechargeable battery inside it deciding when your night ends.
The SB904 is a purpose built lithium ion pack shaped to slot into the battery bay of a GLXD1+ bodypack or GLXD2+ handheld, and that shape is the whole point: instead of fumbling with two AAs mid changeover, you drop the transmitter straight onto the receiver's charging dock and it starts feeding power through the contacts. Because the cell is lithium ion rather than the older nickel chemistry, it holds a flatter charge curve, so the meter on the receiver actually means something instead of dropping off a cliff in the last twenty minutes. The quick charge circuitry is the part worth knowing before a show: fifteen minutes on the dock buys about ninety minutes of transmit time, the difference between panicking during setup and just plugging in while you coil cables. A full charge gets you up to twelve hours, enough for a long rehearsal and a set with room to spare. None of this touches the dual band frequency hopping that keeps the signal clean, that's the receiver's job, but a dead battery ends a show just as fast as a dropped signal, and this is the part built specifically to stop that.
So you're not really buying a battery, you're buying the ability to stop thinking about batteries: no drawer of AAs, no swapping cells between acts, just a dock and a countdown you can trust. The twelve hour ceiling and the fast top up only matter if the rest of your rig is already GLXD+, because that's the only hardware this cell fits.
Worth it if
- You already own a GLXD1+ bodypack or GLXD2+ handheld and need a genuine spare
- You run back to back sets and need a fast top up between them
- You'd rather dock a battery than manage a drawer of AAs
Skip it if
- You're on original GLX-D or GLX-D Advanced hardware, it won't work
- You only need occasional wireless use and AAs are fine
- You don't own any GLXD+ compatible receiver or transmitter
Not for you if you don't own a GLXD+ transmitter or receiver, or if disposable AAs already suit your workflow.
If you already run a GLXD1+ bodypack or GLXD2+ handheld and want a spare that charges itself, this is a quiet, sensible yes. If you're still on the original GLX-D or GLX-D Advanced gear, skip it, this battery won't fit or charge in that system. And if you're happy swapping AAs between sets, save the money, that habit works fine too.
Check price on Amazon · around $40 or Add it to your Amazon cart to sit on it
Before you go
How long do Shure batteries last?
The SB904 runs up to twelve hours on a full charge, and a fifteen minute quick charge buys roughly ninety minutes of use.
What batteries do Shure mics use?
GLXD+ systems use this specific SB904 lithium ion pack, which is not interchangeable with older GLX-D battery types.
What is the downside of rechargeable batteries?
They're tied to one system and one charger, so if you're not already on GLXD+ hardware, this particular battery won't fit or charge at all.
Full spec sheet
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
|---|---|
| Connector Type | USB |
| Special Feature | Rechargeable, Wireless |
| Compatible Devices | Headphone, Monitors |
| Polar Pattern | Unidirectional |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Number of Channels | 1 |