Cad e100(2) and e300(2)???

seismetr0n · Apr 6, 2006

does anyone have any use with these mics..

any opinions?

it seems as if musicians friend has a sweet catalog deal on them and i am considering the purchase.. (both for $399)

though i would love some input before hand
thanks

booyah14 · Apr 7, 2006

I have the 100 and it sounds really good on acoustic guitar. Definitely worked with some vocals as well. However, I don't use it anymore and am trying to sell it actually. If you're interested, feel free to PM me.

formerlyfzfile · Apr 7, 2006

I have an e100 (not the series 2 but one of the older ones.... not sure if theres much of a difference) and I used to own an e200. Both of these mics have the ability to run on battery power in lieu of phantom power which has come in handy occasionally.

The e100 is one of my most used mics.... almost as much as the CAD m179 I have. It is quite versitle and works great on low frequency stuff.

I love it on kick drum and have used it all over the drum kit .... toms, snare, and about 3-4' in front of the kit. Sounds good on bass cabs too. I've also used it on percussion and vocals and to mic a hammond organ (not the b3 one of the smaller ones), and acoustic.

Handles high spl's real well, takes eq great, and has a pretty smooth sound .... not real peaky but still has a good presence to it.

The only place ....strangely enough... where I havent really liked it is on guitar cab. I mean I have used on guitar cabs but only really got a sound I like a few times. But I think that may be because I have other mics that I really like for guitar .... namely my Senn 441 and GT tube mics.

The e200 (not the same as the e300) was VERY neutral sounding ..... completely unhyped and not very upfront sounding at all ..... however still pretty versitile with its multi patterns (esp. fig 8) and you could eq the crap out of it. The e300 is supposed to be a much better sounding mic ..... but the older ones used to be a lot more expensive so I dont know if they've cut any corners on the new batch of e300s.

For the money that these are at it seems like a good deal to me. I have really been quite happy with the CAD mics I've owened and used and think the've been great "bang-for-buck" tools IMHAO.

-mike

tarnationsauce2 · Apr 7, 2006

I have a CAD e350 and a m179. Those are great sounding mics. The m179 was quite cheap too. It has a similar sound to the e350.
I have no experience with the e100 or e300 though. But my guess is that they'd sound good.

formerlyfzfile said:
IThe only place ....strangely enough... where I havent really liked it is on guitar cab. I mean I have used on guitar cabs but only really got a sound I like a few times. But I think that may be because I have other mics that I really like for guitar .... namely my Senn 441 and GT tube mics.

Are you talking about the m179? I know I don't like mine on guitar either. the 179 picks up high frequencies very well. On the guitar it sounds like a bunch of fizzle. I prefer a 57 over it any day. I have never tried it on kick (worried about stretching the diaphragm). But it sounds fairly nice on smare. The -20dB pad really helps with it's vesatility.

formerlyfzfile · Apr 7, 2006

Originally Posted by formerlyfzfile
IThe only place ....strangely enough... where I havent really liked it is on guitar cab. I mean I have used on guitar cabs but only really got a sound I like a few times. But I think that may be because I have other mics that I really like for guitar .... namely my Senn 441 and GT tube mics.

Are you talking about the m179?

Actually I was just referring to the e100 and I have had better results with the m179 ...... especially in omni and fig8 mode. I find its better sounding for most apps on guitar cab away from the amp ..... liike a foot or more ..... as opposed to right on the grill.

I dont actually think of the m179 as sounding super hyped ..... especially comapred to my Rode NT3 or my Beyer m500 ..... those two are down right sizzly....but it def has a bit of a presence peak to it.

-mike

roadwarrior · Apr 7, 2006

I feel the e300 is an outstanding mic, for both it's tonal balance and dynamic range. Pretty darn quiet as well. A real steal when you buy the e100 and e300 in that package deal I've seen Musicians Friend offer.

seismetr0n · Apr 8, 2006

thanks for the input...
from what ive heard .. here and elsewhere it seems the e100 is a decent mic and the e300 is a lot better ... im trying to liqudate some unused equipment to fund the purchase of this pair

lancebug · Apr 8, 2006

I own a pair of m179's and an m9. I dont own and have never used an e300, but I was at full compass the other day and was looking at one and it seemed HUGE. To look at it in print you might think its the same size as the AT 40xx series but it isnt. I dont know if I would get it if I didnt have a heavy duty stand to hold it. Comparatively, both the m9 and m179 are petite. Even compared to something average like the v67g these are both small. Interesting manufacturer, CAD. Definately not tied to the neo-vintage trend like lots of budget priced gear maker/distributors. American made too.

seismetr0n · Apr 9, 2006

well im really looking for a nice large diaphram to use for drum Oh.. right now what im using (meek jm7's x-y) seems to give some harsh high end... which is not good..
unfortunately i can only max at around $400 right now... so i figured an e3002 for $400 with the e1002 thrown in fro free was a decent deal.... any opinions as to whether a AT4050 or Rode NT2-a would suit me better for this or other options?
thanks.

Gamelan · Apr 9, 2006

For LDC overheads I definitely prefer a Rode nt1 or nt2 over any of the CAD or AT mics. Just sounds more natural to my ear. The Rodes seem more transparent and while they can sound a little harsh on voice I think they do cymbals a favor.

formerlyfzfile · Apr 9, 2006

own a pair of m179's and an m9. I dont own and have never used an e300, but I was at full compass the other day and was looking at one and it seemed HUGE. To look at it in print you might think its the same size as the AT 40xx series but it isnt. I dont know if I would get it if I didnt have a heavy duty stand to hold it. Comparatively, both the m9 and m179 are petite.

The e200 I had was definitely a huge mic. I used to call it the oil can because it was about the size of a Fosters oil can ...a little bigger. I believe the e300 (the older on anyway) the same size.

It was sometimes a pain to keep in place on a mic stand .... especailly if you are going to be using it for OH duties. Required the occasional creative weighting and what not.

-mike

roadwarrior · Apr 9, 2006

Just for clarification ALL of the current crop of CAD mics are manufactured in China, and QC'd and dialed in in their plant in Caneaut Ohio. I've spoken with there techs and a few of their engineers over the years (although not recently) and in general they are very "tweaky" so I think you can count on getting a dialed in product, not typical of the irradic production China is famous for. It is more of a dice game buying Chinese made product in that they have little consistency from one to the next coming off the line. Maybe this will change, but for now I'd trust CAD. And YES that 300 is a huge mic, but I find that appealing frankly....

lancebug · Apr 10, 2006

Gamelan said:
For LDC overheads I definitely prefer a Rode nt1 or nt2 over any of the CAD or AT mics. Just sounds more natural to my ear. The Rodes seem more transparent and while they can sound a little harsh on voice I think they do cymbals a favor.

Guess I disagree. I had the nt1-a and pretty much got rid of it in search of something more natural and less hyped in the high end. I feel like I pretty much found it in the m179 and use a pair all the time for overheads. For drums at least I think they're pretty uncolored. As far as voice goes I think my m9 is pretty velvety, even too much so on some sources. I havent heard any of their other mics first hand so I better stop there. But I have heard the nt1-a and the m179 side-by-side, and thats my general take.

As far as what the other fellow said about them not being made in ohio, I guess I'd like to know more. All 3 mics I have from them say made in usa. I knew that their GXL line was chinese but had not heard that anything had changed with their other products. Doesnt mean its not so, as lots of companies are making that choice right now, but I would love to get some verifiable info, one way or the other, before I comment any further.

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