After reading your post it sounds like you are referring to handling noise, on cards you can hear more handling noise. When you get into a loud situation the signal beats out the handling noise. In low noise situations, you can hear handling noise, nature of the type of cap. As to not being usefull even on a stand, I have to disagree, just made a recording with the white set that I have and its sounds awesome! If you aren't happy with em, send em back and I will refund ya what you paid. Sound fair?