Your nominations for best mic value...

[tubedude]

Only if you have had experience with the mics, please. I might use the list later to pick some aditional mics out.
Try under $100, between $100-$300, $300-$600, and over $600.

My nominees are:
Under $100
Sennheiser e609, Musicians Friend
MXL 603 Real good deal
MXL V67 is a great deal at $89, not the best, but not the worst.

$100-$300 range
A used Sennheiser MD-441 cannot be beat in that price range as a versatile utility mic.

Thats my only candidates for now. Feel free to add yours, and to dispute the claims of others.

[John Mayes]

lets see....I would think the following are great deals...

Pair of rode NT5's (under $250 case, clips, windscreens)
MXL V69M (under $300 with case, shockmount, cables)
MXL V67 (under $100 sounds comparable to my Neumann TLM-103)
Shure SM-57....no need for explanation...

[kid klash]

In the "under $100" catagory, I'd add the Studio Projects B1 at $79... it's one of the great LDC values IMHO, and I've really enjoyed using my two. I think you've got to spend quite a bit more money to top it.

[eeldip]

gotta say, i have been looking to pick up that e609 for some time. is the $99 one the same as the ones that they have been making for years that cost... uh much more than $99? or is it a new cheaper mic?

anyway, my favorite cheapo mic: i got a beyer m260 off of ebay for $170 (took me months to find one that low). anyway, it has single handedly saved my OH drum sound. perfect mic for the lousy room (for me it is the choice between a somewhat dead living room about 8X15 with a ceiling low enough to reach up and touch or a somewhat live kitchen about 8X15 with a ceiling about high enough not to touch).

[tubedude]

I have one original e609, and one of the new ones from Musicians Friend.
I think they are the same, except the MF ones look better with the chrome grill.
I am going to go in there right now and compare the two, and I will report back shortly and tell you if I can notice any differences in them with talking/singing only...
I think they will be the same, but I'll go see.

I think its the best buy for $99, I mean, its a $279 mic, and has been for years, and its a nice addition. No one should be without one at that price, and they are GREAT tom mics.

I'll let ya know.

[Wireneck]

that the MF e-609 is from sennheiser's "emotion line" which is their cheapie product line if i remember correctly.
The other e-609 is from the evolution series i believe.
Ive never owned either and i prob don't know what im talking about but i think i saw this in a magazine.

[eeldip]

i see the e in the e-609 stands for "evolution" except for when it stands for "emotion". clever.

perhaps they are manufactured differently? one in germany by hand and one in china?

[chessrock]

Under $100:

* Shure sm57
* Marshall mxl603

$100-300:

*Oktava mc012
*Audio Technica 4033

$300-600

*Shure ksm32
*Shure SM7

$600 and over:

*Anything by BLUE, with the exception of the Blueberry.

[tubedude]

Originally posted by eeldip
i see the e in the e-609 stands for "evolution" except for when it stands for "emotion". clever.

perhaps they are manufactured differently? one in germany by hand and one in china?

Trickery? Someone needs to shoot an email in thier direction and find out. See my other thread for the comparison.

[Speeddemon]

for around $150:

-used Sennheiser MD-421
-Studio Projects B3

I think with a handfull of each of those mics, I could make a bitchin' record.

[ozraves]

The Studio Projects B1 is a real stunner.

The Shure KSM 141 small condensers have been solid on everything I've tried them on lately. Yes, they do cost some scratch but being able to switch patterns on the fly with small condensers would probably be worth it for a lot of studios.

[chessparov]

In terms of vocals... (mikes not brought up yet)

Under $100
Beyer Soundstar MKII (also called M400)
Peavey PVM 520i large diaphram
Electro-Voice EV 635a omni

Under $200
Beyer M88 (or M88TG)
Beyer Soundstar X1N (Beyer's answer to Sennheiser 421)

These dynamic microphones are all excellent values IMHO.

Chris

[tdukex]

MXL 603s
ECM 8000
SP B3 (have only heard on mp3)
AT 4040 (have only heard on mp3)

[Michael Jones]

OK. I'll play!

Under $100
Shure SM57
MXL V67
MXL 603
ECM8000

$100 - $300
MD 441 (used)
Octava MC 012

$300 - $600
Shure SM81
Shure SM7

$600 and Up
TLM 103
SP T3

I don't have ANY Audio Technica mikes. Am I missing out?

I could get outrageous, but I'll keep my list under $1000.

[Richard Monroe]

Under $100- Shure sm57, AKG D690 and D770, Behringer ECM8000, Studio Projects B-1, Oktava MK319 and MC012.

$100-$300- Shure SM7, AKGC2000B, AKG D112

$300-600- Rode NTK, Studio Projects C-3, B.L.U.E. Baby Bottle

$600 and up-AKG C414B-ULS, B.L.U.E. Dragonfly and Kiwi

There are many others, but you wanted the ones I have first hand experience with. For pure versatility, the C414 absolutely rocks. It sounds good on a whole lot of stuff. The C2000B gets no respect, but is a wicked useful mic.-Richie

[acorec]

Under $100
Oktava MK-319

$100 - $300
MD 441


$300 - $600
None


$600 and UpTLM 103
TLM 103
AT 4050

[John Mayes]

ohh I forgot $600 and up...

Neuamnn TLM103
Rode NTK
AKG C-414

[c7sus]

$600 & up:

Rode NTV

BLUE Cactus

The NTV is a shade or two darker than the Cactus. Micing over my shoulder with it my Martins sound like cannons going off.

The Cactus has definition and nice air. You won't find nicer fit and finish than BLUE does.

Why's peoples down on the Blueberry?

[CyanJaguar]

under $100: shure sm58

Between $100 and $300: AT 4033

$300- $600: AKG c414 b/uls

$600 and up: Vintage Neumann U87
AT 4060
BLUE bottle

[cavedog101]

ok.
under $100
Octava 319
Shure SM57/58

$100-$300
ATM25
ADK SC-1
Studio Projects B3
Beyer Soundstar II
AKG 4033
Sennheiser MD421(used)

$300-$600
ADK A-51
Sennheiser MD441(used)
Studio Projects C3

$600+
Km84 matched pair
U47
U149
ADK A-51tt
AKG C12

that oughta do it......

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Cavedog! I think you meant *Audiotechnica* 4033.-Richie

[Duardo]

that the MF e-609 is from sennheiser's "emotion line" which is their cheapie product line if i remember correctly.
The other e-609 is from the evolution series i believe.

Actually, the Emotion line was AKG's budget line (or one of them), and the Evolution line is Sennheiser's. The silver E609 is part of the Evolution line; the "Emotion" part is a mistake on Musician's Friend's website (and that microphone isn't only available there).

As for the best values, that's hard to say...that's kind of like asking "what's the best color"? Without knowing what the microphone will be used for, it's hard to say...just like red may be a great color for a sports car, but not for your house...

Having said that, I'd nominate:

Under $100:
•Shure SM57...incredibly versatile, especially when coupled with a good pre

$100-$300
•Audio Technica 3035...probably the most versatile large-diaphragm
condenser in that price range
•Earthworks SRO...dead-on accurate small-diaphragm condenser, great on
acoustic instruments and probably one of the most underrated microphones
out there

$300-$600
•Audio Technica 4050...very versatile like the 3035

$600+
•Royer R121/R122...extremely versatile "malleable" microphones

I don't even think I'd necessarily call these the "best" microphone out there, but as far a providing a great value, I think they're hard to beat.

-Duardo

[tigerbomb]

<$400 category:

CAD M-9 has been very surprisingly good on my voice.

[cavedog101]

arrrgghhh my bad.....AT4033......its these late sessions...clears the brain.....clears it so well its non functioning

[cominginsecond]

I'm going to say the ECM8000s. For $70 I got the best overheads I have ever used, out of MXL 603s, AKG C1000s, and Oktava MC012s. Plus they're great on tamborine, shaker, and decent on acoustic guitar.