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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: mikesalvo on March 13, 2008, 07:01:49 PM
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are their any of the above mentioned brands avail. new for around $1000/pair or less new??? If so which models would you suggest in that range. I am of course firmiliar with the more popular models of each brand, but honestly have no idea what the price ranges are. I know this is surely a broad question, but I may be looking to buy a new set of mics, and I my limit is roughly $1000/pair. Im looking to buy new, onkly because I may have a hook on a deep discount from someone who owes me a favor from a local pro-audio dealer. Any suggestions would be much appreciated...
thanks as always ya'll! :)
~Mike
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you are unlikely to find anything from schoeps for $1000 a pair new or used. The neumann km183/184/185 series mics could be had for around $1k used. I can't think of anything else by them in that range that is commonly used for our purposes. DPA has mini mics that can be had for under $1k. I believe the models are 4060 and 4061.
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yup, the Neumann km184's can definitely be had for under a grand used, but I doubt you'll be able to find them new for less than $1000. You should also consider a pair of Beyer Dynamics mc930 (http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,80148.0.html (http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,80148.0.html)). These are fixed cards (like the Neumann km184's), and compare very favorably to the km184's. Many people on taperssection will tell you they prefer the mc930's over the km184's. And you can definitely get a pair of mc930's for less than $1000 new.
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the DPA (formerly B&K) 4090 and 4091 (both omnis) can be had for around $1000/pr, and are quite good, though their primary application is for close-micing in the studio. they are far more accurate for small acoustic ensemble work than the neumann km18x series. omnis are, of course, problemmatic for most tapers who cannot get mics onto the stage. for distant recording of live music (like most of the folks here do), hypercards seem to work best. in your price range, i would try to not limit your options to just those 3 brands - there are many excellent reasonably priced mics out there these days.
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Josephson C42 made in the good ol' USA, I don't think they get credit enough...a bit bright, much like the beloved KM184, but perfect for far field work.
http://www.josephson.com/
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the DPA (formerly B&K) 4090 and 4091 (both omnis) can be had for around $1000/pr, and are quite good, though their primary application is for close-micing in the studio. they are far more accurate for small acoustic ensemble work than the neumann km18x series. omnis are, of course, problemmatic for most tapers who cannot get mics onto the stage. for distant recording of live music (like most of the folks here do), hypercards seem to work best. in your price range, i would try to not limit your options to just those 3 brands - there are many excellent reasonably priced mics out there these days.
Suggestions? Also, another concern of mine is being able to still use my hard ware (AT8410a mounts, t bars etc.) +t to all for their suggestions. Im still all ears for more info :) thanks!
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Suggestions? Also, another concern of mine is being able to still use my hard ware (AT8410a mounts, t bars etc.) +t to all for their suggestions. Im still all ears for more info :) thanks!
Umm, two decent ones were just given to you which can be had for $1000 a pair NEW:
Beyer MC930
Josephson C42
Mate, you should start using the search function in ts.com if you are gonna blow off these suggestions.
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I did use the search function, and was unable to find specific info. I guess I wasnt using the correct criteria in my searches. Also, I wasnt blowing off anyones suggestions at all, just trying to get as much info as possible. My appologies if Ive offended anyone or wasted bandwith....
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The beyer mc930 set is your best bet new. Can be had in the 700 range. Have been noted to be sonically similar to geffell 300's and neuman km84's. I personally prefer them over any other cardiod German mic.
Used, there are other options but your going to deal with smaller, lesser known companies.
Josephson
Violet
Earthworks
Calrec (vintage 8) )
among others
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Thanks for starting this thread Mike
Looking to do a pretty big upgrade in the not to distant future (hopefully, if i can only blind the wife). So hope to learn from this +T
Nick
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The beyer mc930 set is your best bet new. Can be had in the 700 range. Have been noted to be sonically similar to geffell 300's and neuman km84's. I personally prefer them over any other cardiod German mic.
Used, there are other options but your going to deal with smaller, lesser known companies.
Josephson
Violet
Earthworks
Calrec (vintage 8) )
among others
what do you suggest as far as the earthworks go??? I think right now Im def. leaving towards the beyer mc930...just curious about the earthworks though....
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SmokinJoe recently posted a recording using Earthworks SR77 (I Think) in Kickdown, which sounded pretty nice to my ears.
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100436.0.html
I believe they are fixed Cards, but don't hold me to that.
Dave.
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You should be able to get a couple of the Sennheiser e914 (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/500206) at this price, or a couple of the K6 Series (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/products_sennheiser_microphones_k6) (K6+ME64).
Otherwise it would be a secondhand choice.
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I'm bullish on Beyers and 184s, but nobody has yet mentioned the tried-and-true AKG-480 series. Probably the all-time most popular microphone on ts.com. Available used usually at right around $1k and the best part is that they're an interchangeable capsule microphone system with a full compliment of caps to choose from...and the CK63 capsule is acknowledged by most as a Hall-Of-Famer hypercardioid capsule.
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I'm bullish on Beyers and 184s, but nobody has yet mentioned the tried-and-true AKG-480 series. Probably the all-time most popular microphone on ts.com. Available used usually at right around $1k and the best part is that they're an interchangeable capsule microphone system with a full compliment of caps to choose from...and the CK63 capsule is acknowledged by most as a Hall-Of-Famer hypercardioid capsule.
second this, aren't the 480's about a grand?? ???
Also, how about the MBHO 603's?
I would personally go with the 480's at this price spot.
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used you can get 480s and 3 sets of caps (omni, hyper, card) for not much more than $1000
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you could also get a new set of peluso's w/ all the caps for under 1k.
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Just get the Beyerdynamic MC930 set and be done with it. This mic sounds great no matter what you put in front of it.
Listen to my samples at Soundmann.com if you don't believe me!
In my opinion MC930 sound significantly better than either KM184 or AKG48x. Different sounds on those mics, but I know I could just listen to Beyerdynamic all day. (Hey, wait a minute, I do listen to them all day.)
Richard
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IMO the market for mid-priced Small diaphragm condensors is pretty bloated. There are a few dozen manufacturers in the market, and many of them have multiple offerings. Sonically speaking they run the gamut. Bright, dark, punchy,etc... Any suggestions you get are only going to reflect the posters preference for a particular sonic signature.
The real question is "what kind of sound are you looking for?" once that is ascertained people can make real meaningful suggestions.
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IMO the market for mid-priced Small diaphragm condensors is pretty bloated. There are a few dozen manufacturers in the market, and many of them have multiple offerings. Sonically speaking they run the gamut. Bright, dark, punchy,etc... Any suggestions you get are only going to reflect the posters preference for a particular sonic signature.
The real question is "what kind of sound are you looking for?" once that is ascertained people can make real meaningful suggestions.
plus tee
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IMO the market for mid-priced Small diaphragm condensors is pretty bloated. There are a few dozen manufacturers in the market, and many of them have multiple offerings. Sonically speaking they run the gamut. Bright, dark, punchy,etc... Any suggestions you get are only going to reflect the posters preference for a particular sonic signature.
The real question is "what kind of sound are you looking for?" once that is ascertained people can make real meaningful suggestions.
I think is choices are limited from his post to what his audio store friend can get a nice price for him so used 480's, Peluso, and some of the others might not be available for him. Out of what he could score I would say Mc930's because you get a lot of bang for your buck and that is my next mic for sure.
Peace