proof
http://www.archive.org/download/rhythmDevils2006-10-17.schoeps/rhythmDevils2006-10-17d1t01.flac
more proof
http://www.archive.org/download/JStarship2006-08-12Schoeps/JS2006-08-12schoeps.flac/JStarship2006-08-12schoepsd113.flac
I think what folks are getting confused with is coloring, V3 has color so does Mini Me.
the 7## series pre's are just fine. But some mic's might sound better with other pre's.
well its not really proof, but my opinion is they are more than adequate...
Interesting timing on your post.
I'm tracking a set from last weekend. It was taped from exactly the same position in exactly the same bar with the same band as a recording I made a couple months ago. Last week I was running KM140s DIN directly into the 722. It sounds pretty good. In fact I have used outboard preamps religiously with the 722 but I needed to run light that night. I'm happy with the result.
In the set, the artist mentioned the name of a new song that I didn't know when I tracked the previous set. So I listened to the other version. That night I was running KM140 XY through the portico. Now I'm not as happy with the set fom last weekend. It sounds good, yes it's better than adequate, but I can easily justify carrying the additional weight.