Best 60$- MXL mic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vagodeoz
  • Start date Start date

Which one to buy?

  • V63M

    Votes: 17 25.4%

  • 990

    Votes: 16 23.9%

  • Cube

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • 909

    Votes: 3 4.5%

  • Another one below 60$ (specify plz)

    Votes: 4 6.0%

  • Keep your 60$

    Votes: 26 38.8%
  • Total voters
    67
Interesting.....

That polystyrene cap looks exactly like the caps that get removed from guitar pedals when we mod them.......because those ruin the sound of the guitar. It sure sounds a lot better with the other caps in there, some kind of film cap.....

And that's all I know about that.... :p

So does this make the MXL a real keeper? :eek:
 
Polystyrene caps are film caps. The more common film caps are mylar (polyester). You'll also find other materials like polypropylene or polycarbonate, though the latter has been discontinued. There are several other more exotic materials like polyphenylene sulfide out there. Either way, these are all film caps---either a layer of the plastic film between two layers of metal foil or a layer of plastic film with a metal coating deposited on both sides.
 
You could probably also benefit from upgrading the larger value electrolytic caps to something better, like Nichicon Muse, KS, Elna Cerafine, Black gates (If you can get them and Panasonic Purism. Anything around 1uF or lower should be replaced with a film cap. Mylar (polyester) is the lowest grade film cap and some audiophiles say they barely make audio grade because of dipoles in the dielectric. Polypropylene and polystyrene are much better. Polycarbonate, as dgatwood said, is superior, but hard to find.
 
Usually electros are just used for power filtering in the mics I've disassembled over the years. Might make a difference in lifespan, but probably not much difference in sound. I'd definitely replace all the others, though, where practical.

One of my favorite hacks was the Apex 435 where I had to put one cap on the other side of the board because I couldn't fit a film cap of the same value inside the case. That's still mild compared to the size of a 220uF film cap, though. :D

Oh, then there were the Nady pencils where I had to bend leads in a way that mounted the capsules 90 degrees off from the way the leads were mounted in order to make them fit. I couldn't get reasonably low voltage film caps to replace a couple of moderately large value tantalum monstrosities, so I had to make do with caps of voltage ratings that I could actually find (which were thus huge).
 
The best sub-$60 mic is one of two $39 mics that both use the same capsule and circuit, but have different capsule enclosures - the MCA-SP1 or the Nady CM-90.

For $80 you could buy one of each, run some tests and see if you prefer the side-address large diaphragm headbasket of the SP1 surrounding the 16mm small diaphragm capsule or the pencil mic form of the CM-90 with the same capsule.

Each form has its own advantage.
 
4-8-9:

Since we did originally say MXL: If you want to go up to $70, check out today's Stupid Deal of the Day at MusiciansFriend---an MXL 9090 (a rebadged V67i).

Paj
8^)

(I wonder if the mod prices for the V67g apply to the V67i?)
 
Paj said:
4-8-9:

Since we did originally say MXL: If you want to go up to $70, check out today's Stupid Deal of the Day at MusiciansFriend---an MXL 9090 (a rebadged V67i).

Paj
8^)

(I wonder if the mod prices for the V67g apply to the V67i?)
Click to expand...

Well, due to inflation, $60 in 2007 dollars is worth about $70 in 2009 dollars, so that's not unreasonable. :D I saw that deal too, I'm tempted, anyone else have one of these? I figure it certainly must be worth $70...
 
If my previous suggestion of the MCA SP1 for $39 is not compelling enough because there's more coin burning a hole in the pocket, try the $79 Nady RSM-4 or RSM-5 ribbon mics. Make sure the ribbon is tensioned properly then put them up against some top dollar ribbon mics to really gauge their value.
 
Real $

Bumping an old thread, the MXL v63m is currently at $70:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...ndenser-Microphone-with-Shockmount?sku=273158

The MXL 9090 certainly was a sleeper, since it included
the legendary v67, plus a second "bright" capsule,
a single layer headbasket, pad and high pass switches,
and upgraded electronics (the type that low end mics
typically have to modded with).

It will remain a mystery why that model wasn't embraced
and recognized while it was widely available.

HTH,
NoahF
 
Same Spec

FYI, the MXL v63m is reported to be essentially identical
to the discontinued MXL v57m, as well as the MXL 2006.

That is, the electronics, and capsule are described using
the same specification. For example, all us the 6 micron
capsule, which seems to be the same as the MXL v67g,
which has gained a well deserved as a great starter mic,
with upgrade / mod potential.

So, you can find more about other folks experience with
the v63m, by adding "v57m" and "2006" to your Googling.

HTH,
NoahF
 
Now do you think that they are dumping these and possible others at a low price in anticipation of huge sales of the 2003a and other new microphones that are being developed by MXL along better tolerances?







:cool:
 
So is a vasectomy! But I'll be damned if I'm going to get one. :D

Yeah they do have their moments with certain models.
Man they have a butt load of different microphones to choose from.
I dare to venture to say maybe more than any other manufacturer.
How about someone with extra time on their hands check that for me.







:cool:
 
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