Don't the actives alone go for > $300?!? Wow, helluva deal, unless I'm mistaken.
Ahhh...this explains the low price - actives will only be of interest to those using them exclusively for stealthing, given their short length:
2 AKG mk90/3-h98 - active cables (note: cable length is only 4ft - perfect for stealthing!)
a UA5 will be be around $300 without mods I beleive. a MT2496 is around $400 2gig CF to start $100
UA5s are available pretty regularly in the Yard Sale. Keep an eye out. And the MT2496 is $300 at Guitar Center, not $400.
UA5/JB3 combo around $500 with no special mods done to UA5 I guess I need a power supply for the UA5 but that should be cheap enough.
Max $50 for power supply.
I do realy like not having to deal with anything but one machine and mics. But I don't want to sacrifice to much in sound quality.
An extra 2 cables - one for UA5 > JB3, another for battery > UA5 - really isn't that big a deal. Takes all of about an extra 18 seconds to hook up, if that.
My final recommendation:
Mics - pick up a used pair in the ~$1k or slightly less range. As stated earlier, this gets you into some really fantastic mics like AKG 480s, Neumann KM184s, Microtech Gefell M300s, MBHO 603/KA200s, etc. or the slightly less expensive Peluso's. If you don't know which to get, listen to some recordings using these mics and the UA5. And if you still can't decide, pick up whatever's available used - any of them, just pick one. Why? <1> It's tough to know whether you like the gear until you actually run it yourself, <2> you can always sell it for what you paid (or damn close) and incur no financial downside if you decide you don't like the mics and want to change to something else.
Pre/ADC - digi-mod UA5, used (no longer available new).
Recorder - JB3 (used, no longer - or only rarely - available new). They're popping up regularly on the used market as people switch over to the MT2496. 16-bit isn't going away any time soon, and sounds mighty fine, so don't sweat the latest and greatest MT2496, and the other 24-bit recorders now hitting the market. Plenty of time to upgrade to 24-bit later, especially after upgrading your playback system to gain the most benefit from the increased resolution at 24-bit.