I used to run 391's and I recently traded "down" to the c-4s. I didn't like the 391's at all. My issue with the 391's was the higher end and "presence" responce. IMO they suck in that regard. Unless you were up close the sound was not at all what I was looking for and even up close they didn't have a very realistic sound to my ears although it was better. The 393's are a completely different story, they are a far better cap to my ears, but they don't come around very often. The C-4s have a little bigger presence boost that brightens things up a little more, and also come with a second set of omni caps which I use a lot. The AKG's are by far a better built mic. The c-4s don't have quite the engineering built into them, but the sound is far better to my ears, and the cost is substantially better.
Just my .02
Matt
im curious as to what brings you to believe that the c4s are an inferior build... can you elaborate?
Sure Jonny,
The way the caps connect is the biggest thing. The "cam-lock" (for lack of a real name) connection on the AKG caps is a nice solid feel. Give it a 1/2 twist and it clicks in real solid. The c-4's have a threaded ring that both threads into the body as well as the cap. I have had the threaded ring actually come out of the body. Kinda freaked me out the first time it happened. I went to put the other cap on and said "oh shit" thinking I had broken something. If the ring isn't seated perfectly in the body you will notice a little gap between the body and the cap, and it absolutely destroys the sound from the mic. The threads are very tiny so care is required to make sure that you don't cross-thread when you swap caps, and the cap itself is more exposed from underneath when removed. Overall I just feel I have to be extra careful with the caps, as they feel a bit more delicate than the AKG's.
One of my body's also hangs up a bit on the xlr connection, and it takes a little bit harder push than the other. It would also be nice if they marked the caps with the polar pattern, but there are distinguishable differences, so once you know you can tell. That's it really... I'm a proponent of these mics, and all the little things aren't anything that makes them sound bad. These are great mics for the money and my impression is that SP put the money into the sound not the "packaging". If I were to ask someone to design a value priced mic for me that is exactly what I would want.
As I stated in my earlier post I love these mics so far, and props to SP for being able to produce such a great sounding mic for the money!
Matt