Beyer m500 Fricken wow!

[capnreverb]

Wow, I picked up one used on ebay a few weeks back and it sounds so nice on most everything I have tried. I think it's the first mic I have ever heard on my voice that I actually like, and I have a bunch of differant condensors and dynamics. I can't believe how rich and open the thing is. Every time i use it all i can think is "wow, now this is a good mic!". Wish I had the $ to buy a whole bunch of other ribbons for comparison. I am used to hearing a condensor and accepting how detailed they are, but something about his mic has so much personality. When I totally raise the gain on it, it is still quiet and picks up ambient room/fan/street noise as well as my condensors w/out being overly noisey or bright. My sm57 and ev635a just dont have that clarity and depth. Great fricken mic. I imagine all the beyer ribbons are pretty darn good. Anybody have the m500 and other ribbons for a comparison? If all ribbons are of this ilk, everyone should have one.

My two cents for what it's worth.

 

[mixmkr]

I've got a m160....kinda a dark mic, needs alot of gain, but I like it very much. It has been good for snares, gtr amps, and as of late, my Deering banjo. Nice hyper cardiod pattern too. Off axis response seems to distiquish the decent mics from the popular <$200 mics of today. The m500 is a great mic... really good vocal mic, imo. I'd say you got a keeper!

 

[petimar]

I've also got the Royer R121 in addition to the M500. The R121 is way more versatile to me. You need good claen high gain pres with each. I've heard the AEA 84 mic is to die for, getting great write ups.

 

[AGCurry]

capn, I have 3 M500s, an M160, and an M260N.

First of all, the M500s are all different. One is the M500N, one is the M500(TG), and one is the "Classic" edition.

I don't care all that much for my M260. It is a "rebranded as Steffens" model - wonder if that makes it any different.

The M160, I think, is a cut above the others. It seems to have more proximity effect and does not exhibit noticeable presence peaks. Of all the Beyers, it's the one I would pick for accurately recording acoustic instruments.