In general, if you're looking for the lowest cost for a high level of quality, you're in luck if omnidirectional mikes are your preference. Those are easier to design and manufacture to a given standard than directional microphones, so there are more satisfying options at relatively low prices. They probably won't be as close to the design spec or as well-matched as you would get from a higher-end manufacturer--but that's a somewhat less critical consideration with omnis, since you don't (normally) use them close together.
Next best bargain "tier" is cardioids. They're more complex than omnis to design and manufacture, but there's not much mystery left as to how to do that. That doesn't mean that all cardioids sound equally good when recording wide-range music--they don't by a long shot. The most common application (communication) drives most product design decisions, and it doesn't require the same qualities as music recording (e.g. extended low-frequency response, smooth high-frequency response, uniform polar patterns across the frequency range, wide dynamic range, low distortion). But one can find well-made, good-sounding cardioids for wide-range music recording in the medium price range; they definitely exist.
On the other hand, supercardioids, figure-8s, shotgun microphones and other "minority" patterns such as wide cardioids and hypercardioids are still technological specialty items. None of the low- or medium-price offerings in these categories are the near sonic equals of the top professional brands, and one shouldn't fool oneself about that. Again this is partly because the largest number of microphones by far aren't designed for wide-range music recording, since that's not what most people them for, and the qualities required for different applications conflict.
But the design, manufacturing and quality control requirements of these microphone types (or capsule types) are also considerably more difficult than with omnis or cardioids. Fewer designers and manufacturers know their way around in these areas, and the cost of manufacture and quality control is higher as well. You could take the best supercardioid microphone apart and look at it under a microscope (as all the clone manufacturers have surely done) but still not know how to make one yourself, except approximately--and the ones that you do make, you couldn't sell for highly competitive prices if you maintain high quality control standards and offer an active, supportive service infrastructure. So by and large, economic forces ensure that that doesn't happen.
--best regards
Topic: Next Step Up from Church Audio / Superlux Mics.... (Read 9027 times)