Topic: Superlux S502 Sample

[dennisrtyler]

Ran this mic for the first time last night. 19 piece big band, stage-lip. This is a 24/48 track with channel RMS balanced(drums were stage right) and gain added. Let me know what you think.
http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/xj8xkq

Here is the entire show.
http://www.archive.org/details/MartAvantsNightFlightBigBand-2011-08-10-LiveAtOnasMusicRoom

[OOK]

Well that answers several questions for me......that is a real nice sounding microphone.........probably one of the best sounding stereo mics I have ever heard....WOW

Can you say sleeper mic!!!!! at the price point this mic sells for....it changes everthing......

thanks for the post....

What was the rest of the chain...? pre...........recorder

OOK

[F.O.Bean]

Sounded great, just low on the bass/lowend Has great imaging/soundstaging IMO

[OOK]

Sounded great, just low on the bass/lowend Has great imaging/soundstaging IMO

agreed but I think it has more to do with what was recorded.  Big band music isn't bass heavy.  However I was really struck by the clarity and imaging.  I would love to hear how it sounds on blues driven jamband rock...

Remember we are talking about a 200$ stereo mic.....I didn't expect that kind of quality.

[newplanet7]

Sounded great, just low on the bass/lowend Has great imaging/soundstaging IMO

agreed but I think it has more to do with what was recorded.  Big band music isn't bass heavy.  However I was really struck by the clarity and imaging.  I would love to hear how it sounds on blues driven jamband rock...

Remember we are talking about a 200$ stereo mic.....I didn't expect that kind of quality.

Yep.
Let's also remember that we are talking stage lip where even if it was lower quality it wouldn't be that noticeable.
Most mics will shine on-stage/stage lip. In my opinion you could compare c4's and mk4's stage lip without a big difference.
Throw some distance and obstacles (ie room) in there and things become more evident.

All that said, it does sound nice stage lip.

[dennisrtyler]

What was the rest of the chain...? pre...........recorder

OOK

Superlux S502 > belden 1804a > Oade Concert Mod Marantz PMD-661

[hi and lo]

I approve! Sounds damn good

The stereo imaging is incredible!

[doodee]

Sounds quite nice to these old haggard ears. With my high frequency hearing loss I appreciate the crispness. Soundstage is top notch as well. Seems like a pretty incredible value here for a $200 mic. Does it sound as good as something that cost $2000 - no. Does it sound $1800 worse? That's subjective I suppose.

[SmokinJoe]

That does sound impressive.

Realistically though, a lot of mics sound great up close, but when you move back a ways and the luster fades.  In this case I'm optimistic with that crispness it's not going to wash out at a distance.  Thanks for taking the plunge!

[OOK]

Sounds quite nice to these old haggard ears. With my high frequency hearing loss I appreciate the crispness. Soundstage is top notch as well. Seems like a pretty incredible value here for a $200 mic. Does it sound as good as something that cost $2000 - no. Does it sound $1800 worse? That's subjective I suppose.

Let's also remember that we are talking stage lip where even if it was lower quality it wouldn't be that noticeable.
Most mics will shine on-stage/stage lip. In my opinion you could compare c4's and mk4's stage lip without a big difference.
Throw some distance and obstacles (ie room) in there and things become more evident.

All that said, it does sound nice stage lip.

That does sound impressive.

Realistically though, a lot of mics sound great up close, but when you move back a ways and the luster fades.  In this case I'm optimistic with that crispness it's not going to wash out at a distance.  Thanks for taking the plunge!

Agreed and I totally respect your view....but I have heard the big boys Neumann, Schoeps, AKG you name it sound like shit at any given distance too. You know as well as I do that so much goes into making a good recording.....But this sample is very promising.  I have now heard the mic at stage lip, drum over heads.  All sounded great.......  and the comment about it being 200 verses 2000 is exactly the point I am getting too.... the quality of mics even at the low end have improved greatly.....  But when it is all said and done it is what matters to my ears, your ears that really matters, regardless of price or name brand.   Thanks again for the sample....and the discussion the mic has created.... 

OOK

[TNJazz]

Just to add a little more content to this thread, here are 2 additional samples of the Superlux mic in action, no effects or EQ:

http://soundcloud.com/tnjazz/superlux-furthur

http://soundcloud.com/tnjazz/superlux-jimmyhall

One is a club show, the other is FOB in a shed (you can probably guess which is which)

Both shows recorded by tcf

[acidjack]

Listening on some Westone 3s, I can't say I really like the sound of any of the three... the mic sounds somewhat muddy to me.  The onstage sounds "good" but as noted, it ought to, but still sounds kind of bloated and imprecise. 

IMHO the other two recordings are flat-out bad, especially the shed recording.  With the caveats that (a) ORTF is not be the best choice of pattern in all situations, and (b) these aren't EQ'd, which I feel like is usually something you need to do at least a little of with most mics. 

All that said, at the price, a nice starter mic, or a backup, or something worth installing on or near stage in a venue.

[tcf]

I bought one of these as well and would highly recommend it. I have more expensive mics with a personally preferable sound however these are quite nice. The s502 is a tad bright however and not bass shy. It is the only small d stereo mic I'd recommend at thetime and the price is a no brainer. I taped further, front of board no problem and could not with full bodies. 

[OOK]

I bought one of these as well and would highly recommend it. I have more expensive mics with a personally preferable sound however these are quite nice. The s502 is a tad bright however and not bass shy. It is the only small d stereo mic I'd recommend at thetime and the price is a no brainer. I taped further, front of board no problem and could not with full bodies.

Agreed.....