Hey Harvey....

[tubedude]

I was wondering how the MXL 603s compare in detail, definition and overall sound to some of the more popular small dia. mics used as overheads, like the Neumanns (km184's?) or SM 81's. Seems you had a few Neumanns and Sm81's if I'm not mistaken.
Thanks!
P

 

[Harvey Gerst]

They compare very favorably with the Shure SM-81s and they give the Neumann 184s a run for the money - at about 1/10th the price. Would I turn down the Neumanns 184s if I could find them cheap? Hell, no, but if I had NO budget at all, at around $60 each (new street price, but I've seen them go for as little as $45 on ebay), they're a pretty damn good mic. Very similar to the best of the Oktava MC012s.

On the down side, don't get them close to anything that creates a breeze - they bottom out VERY easily. For vocals, that means setting them about forehead high, and aimed down, at the singer's nose. That's also true of the Oktava MC012 AND the Neumann KM184.