I started out taping years ago with a Sharp MD recorder and a Sony 907. Honestly, I get much better frequency response and sensitivity with my AT853's, ST9100 pre, and R9, but I miss the great stereo imaging I got from that cheap Sony mic! Maybe I'm doing something wrong with the AT cards, but I almost always get a nicer spread, more spacial cues, etc. with the Sony, and it makes me want to invest in a much better mic that has MS capture like the Sony. I don't want to invest in several mics and do mid-side processing after the fact. I love that these mics are just about foolproof and have all of that internally already.
So, what would you guys recommend, for let's say $350 or less, new or used, in terms of a single point MS mic like the Sony's, just with better/flatter frequency response and more sensitivity?
thanks
Chris