Shure MX-183/184/185, alternative to AT853. Are they any better?

[leegeddy]

As owner of Audix m1290's and AT853's I'm here to tell you that it is not even close The Audix are in a whole other class from the AT's it is not unlike when I made the jump from CSB's to 4061's  everything is cleaner high's lows you name it. As for the ADX20's i just picked up a set of those also yet to try them but Ill giv a review soon. As to the 20hz-20khz vs 40hz-20khz that is not something to even worry about in my opinion everything below 40hz is unwanted anyway.
Brad

brad;

i've heard quite a few recordings made with the Audix m1290. while they are good mics for their price and performance, i would say that your perception of "whole other class" is far stretched and over hyped.  then again, i have no idea what your listening environment is, so i'll reserve my judgements. 

no offense to Audix users, but i gotta stick up for Team AT here.

marc

None taken.   I think Team AT is a fine team, and in fact I used to be on it.  However I do think the m1290s are a step above the 853s.  Maybe not a giant leap, but at least a step.

john;
i do agree that the m1290s are a step above 853s. however, there's a fairly large street price differene between the 2, application design, utility, size and the fact that m1290 are "full" body mics with a capsule and a preamp body.  now, i'd love to hear a comparison between the m1290 and the AT4041 which is similar in both design and street price.

marc

[John Kelly]

john;
i do agree that the m1290s are a step above 853s. however, there's a fairly large street price differene between the 2, application design, utility, size and the fact that m1290 are "full" body mics with a capsule and a preamp body.  now, i'd love to hear a comparison between the m1290 and the AT4041 which is similar in both design and street price.

marc

Definitely.  I think the 4041s and the 4051s both sound great, and I'm surprised more people don't run them (I was actually thinking of getting a pair before I bought the m1290s).  The m1290s have the added benefit of being stealthable, though, something the larger AT mics do not have.

[Steelcorner27]

As owner of Audix m1290's and AT853's 

brad;

i've heard quite a few recordings made with the Audix m1290. while they are good mics for their price and performance, i would say that your perception of "whole other class" is far stretched and over hyped.  then again, i have no idea what your listening environment is, so i'll reserve my judgements. 

no offense to Audix users, but i gotta stick up for Team AT here.

marc

None taken.   I think Team AT is a fine team, and in fact I used to be on it.  However I do think the m1290s are a step above the 853s.  Maybe not a giant leap, but at least a step.

I take no offence to my own comments either..as I said I own both as do quite a few of us now using The Audix. I'm not saying there in the class of Schoeps or DPA 4022's I'm just saying there the higest step on the ladder before you spend the big cash.

Brad