Topic: M-Audio Pulsars...

[Chuck]

I've modified (Scott Dorsey mod) a few pairs of Octava MC012's. I like the idea of turning cheap mics into expensive sounding mics.

[cybergaloot]

I have a pair of the MXL 603s (which I didn't much care for), is it really worth the mod? I also have a pair of Joe Meek JM27s, which I read were the same mic but they sure don't appear to be the same to me. Do you think upgrading their electronic components would help them?

Do you want to sell your 603's?
[/quote]

No, you've sold me on them out from under you! I'm going to try the mod. I did a little searching and found the stuff at GearSlutz so I'll read up and see what I can do. Of course any help would be deeply appreciated, heck I already appreciate what you've said so far. Thanks!

Now if I can do something with those Joe Meek mics as well ... I was thinking about giving them to my favorite blues club. I wonder if they would benefit from a similar mod.

[goodcooker]

Nice recording Nick. i am pretty impressed w/the bass response on these.

Me too...I'm streaming it now and it's making my bass shy Heresy IIs jump around a little 

[Nick's Picks]

they are very impressive, IMO.  I'll be using them a lot in the coming months.
I dont want to compare them to anything yet, but I can say that in their price class nothing touches them, or even comes close.
In the least, these should make for great drum mics for live work.

[SmokinJoe]

Nick and I ran clamped together on the same mount within inches of each other at NMAS.  I ran 483's and I think in an A/B comp 99% of listeners would prefer his.  Yes, I expect the hypers to have less bass than the others and they do... but that bass was so thumpy the balcony was vibrating... and it was LOUD, so my tape isn't really lacking in bass.  Aside from base response... my tape sounds almost "clinical" and his sounds more "comfortable"... those are terrible terms... maybe his sounds "warm", but not exactly.

I wish I had run my Earthworks that night... they are pretty neutral.

[Nick's Picks]

I haven't listened to any other sources yet, but want to.
the mics are smooth sounding.  musical.

[SmokinJoe]

I haven't uploaded mine yet... it should be up on the LMA in a day or two.

[Walstib62]

Hey Nick,
I have read a lot about these Pulsar's and the other M-Audio mics. The consensus seems to be that they sound like more expensive mics. Did you record the NMAS with the stock or mod. Pulsars? They sound really good. I'm considering getting a pair. What pre/power supply would you suggest?

Thanks

[Javier Cinakowski]

Yep, the bass response is strong!  $300/pair aint bad!  I've read a bunch of reviews about these mics.

If a simple SDC card pair is all you need, then these might be a go over the busmans.

Although, at $99 a pair, the Karma K10 still kicks serious ass:
http://www.archive.org/details/dso2007-07-05.KarmaK10

[Nick's Picks]

mine are just stock plain ol pulsar IIs.

I have no preamp preference yet.  I've only run them on my R44, both stock and ACM channels.  they sound good on both.

[Walstib62]

Thanks for the info. Nick.
My name is John, BTW. I am in Durham, NC
New to this site, but have been taping since the 80's. Probably talk to ya soon.
Thanks again!

[kgreener]

Hey Nick,
I have read a lot about these Pulsar's and the other M-Audio mics. The consensus seems to be that they sound like more expensive mics. Did you record the NMAS with the stock or mod. Pulsars? They sound really good. I'm considering getting a pair. What pre/power supply would you suggest?

Thanks

stock or mod Pulsars ... did I miss something?   

[jnorman34]

inre:
" I ran 483's and I think in an A/B comp 99% of listeners would prefer his. "

oh, come on now.  i would be seriously skeptical that any $300 pair of mics is going to be comparable to akg C480s...  my C481s were almost indistinguishable from my pair of DPA 4011s in overdub situations in the studio, and that puts them right up there with the best mics in the world, IMO.  to insinuate that M-Audio is going to come up with a chinese made mic for $300/pr that is in that kind of league is rather stretching it a bit far.

[Brian Skalinder]

inre:
" I ran 483's and I think in an A/B comp 99% of listeners would prefer his. "

oh, come on now.

I'm not sure the statement you quote actually says anything about the quality of the mics.  Think about what the "average" listener prefers:  "enhanced" (i.e. bloated) bass & "hyped" treble, heavy compression / near total lack of dynamics, low-to-mid bitrate MP3s, cruddy earbud headphones, etc.  Also, cards v. hypers + potential configuration differences may have had a big impact on the recordings.  No matter what percentage of people prefer the Pulsars, I don't think it would mean much with respect to their quality relative to AKG 48x.  I've heard plenty of recordings where less expensive / lower quality mic X produced a better recording than mic Y.  Doesn't mean it's a better mic, really.  Lots more recording, listening, testing, etc. to do before anyone can make a reasonable claim about the Pulsar's quality relative to other, well established, well known mics, IMO.

[jnorman34]

good comment, brian.  it is just too easy for new folks to be misled by remarks which do not have sufficient context.