I hate you a bit right now AJ. This made me start checking out MBHO sources on LMA. I'm really liking what I'm hearing, and I can feel the sluttiness being activated.
Heh. I will say this - the KA200N cardiod is really, really different than other cardiod mics we usually play with around here. They are super-bright - and oddly, much brighter than the hyper. I consider them to be a useful tool if I know I'm going to get a bassy show, but I don't want to get the 'tunnel effect' of using hypers. I ultimately got them after comparing sources where I ran Schoeps and just found the MBHOs put the sound more "front and center". Now, a lot of times, I still prefer the sound of the Schoeps...
The KA500N hyper MBHO does has a very interesting sonic signature, too, in that it seems to have
more bass than a Schoeps MK41, and also has a bit "tighter" feel to the sound.
To be honest, I see myself reaching for the cardiods more than the hypers if I'm going to run MBHOs. MBHO hypers vs. MK41s, I feel like the MK41s are probably just the better mic - based on what I've tried so far. Though, that said, check out some of the recordings Bean did with them prior to his turn to the darkside. Most of them I like, and some of the pulls are exceptionally sick. AFAIK (I'll let him chime in) he doesn't EQ, either, so you're pretty much hearing the mic raw.
I do also have MBHO omnis, but I've never run them (they came with my set). Hoping to try them outdoors this summer.
I think in their price range, the MBHOs are a great competitor. They are going to be a bit more of a love 'em or hate 'em situation than some mics, I think.