Yea, I'm sorry for writing so much. I should be doing the typing for my homework assignments. Just more to do for tomorrow.
So I've compared the suggested mics and have to say that I really like the Octava mics. I compared them by having different browser windows open and I am really liking those mics. But at $655, that is a little steep for me. IF I was to spend that kind of money on just the mics, is there another set of mics in that range that I can compare the Octava mics with. Out of the 3 open mics I would spend the money on these just because I like the sound that much. The Studio Projects I thought sounded too bassy and "thick", if that's even any way of describing the sound. But what originally cost $520 was slashed to $299.
Generally, if you're patient, everything comes up used on the Yard Sale at one time or another. Lots of people have lots of success, once they decide what they want, posting an 'ISO' (in search of) on the Yard Sale. If anyone is thinking about selling, that's your key in to getting them thinking even harder. I'd say 75% of ISO end up successfully hitting target, but I may be off on that estimate.
What I'm getting at is this...many people (me included) would NEVER buy their gear new. The reason is that there are so many gear sluts on TS.com that gear turns over ALL the time. Generally, when you buy it used, you can sell if for pretty near the same price you bought it for. That means if you end up not likeing what you bought, or usually what happens is people opt to just move on to something different or better, then it hasn't cost you anything.
You'll see some people buying stuff just to try it out and then they'll turn around and sell it for the same price two weeks later.
Having said this, my initial reactions to the prices you've stated above are $299 for SP-C4 is int the range, but maybe about $100 more than I've seen them in the YS. The Oktava seem way over what they've gone for used. Pretty sure I've seen the Oktava's for at least half that price, but maybe those prices didn't include extra caps.
With the Oktavas you also want to make sure they aren't from China. I guess there's two versions and the ones from Russia are said to be better, although the Chinese versions look the same I guess they have a different sound...again not better or worse but different. Generally, on the market though more people seem to seek the Russian made than the Chinese. I have no idea how to tell the diff, but I'm sure there's discussions about that somewhere in the archives.
Do a search in YS history to find out the used prices.
So that would be a great deal but not if I'm not completely turned on by them. The Avantone's sounded good but compared to the Octava mics they still didn't hold up. Another good price for a good mic. Would the Octava mics be considered low end even at $655 for the pair?
Check YS history for Octavas. That's alot of money for those mics when you can get a much nicer used pair for the same amount. For my money, if I were gonna pay in the $700 range, I'd wait for a set of Peluso's. Also, there are a pair of Josephson C-42's listed right now that I think are dreamy sounding, but these are fixed cardiod caps so you wouldn't be able to change capsules.
Good info overall, I knew there was more to this than just throwing things together. It's more of an art form, or science if you will. Okay, I have to get off of here. Some more tomorrow though. Again, thanks to everyone for the help. Special kudos to "tonedeaf" for REALLY taking the time to answer so many questions. Hope the painting project turned out great!!
amaro
Second coat goes on tomorrow!!!
Tonedeaf, in your first post you mentioned Octava MC-012, did you mean MK-012 by any chance? I just want to make sure those are the correct ones. Didn't find any MC's.
Sorry about that. MK's are the ones.
Absolutely last entry for the night! I went to http://www.recordingservices.net/index.html and can get the Octava mics with 3 different caps, mic cables, pair of windscreens and a t-bar for a stand all for about $800 shipped. Is that pretty good? See-you tomorrow
Well three sets of caps is enticing, but again I think that's pretty high for the Oktavas, but my basis is strictly going from the used market prices I've seen. Used really is the way to go...as you can see if you browse the yard sale, there is TONS and TONS of used gear and more comes up daily. I must add though that when Oktava MK-012s come up, they're usually gone really quick, so an ISO might be a good idea for you.
If you have your heart set on the MK-012s and offer to pay a really good price, that might entice an Oktava owner to give them up!