I has got new (cheapo?) mics!

[Gelatin]

Got me two new pairs of mics (dirt cheap as well) and I'm curious to hear from people what their experience of these models is. I'm kinda new to the whole recording thing but have gotten the feeling from people that MXL might be almost the "Behringer" of microphones? Any truth to that?

The mics are:
2 x MXL 2003
2 x MXL 603

thanks in advance!

 

[2000ContourSVT]

Ive got a MXL 990 Condenser mic and I actually really like it. Ive had it for 2 years or so with no problems whatsoever. It works great for recording acoustic guitar and for vocals. For the price I'd really recommend it.

 

[JTC111]

Got me two new pairs of mics (dirt cheap as well) and I'm curious to hear from people what their experience of these models is. I'm kinda new to the whole recording thing but have gotten the feeling from people that MXL might be almost the "Behringer" of microphones? Any truth to that?

The mics are:
2 x MXL 2003
2 x MXL 603

thanks in advance!

I've heard quite a few people say the 603s compare very favorably to the Neumann 184s ...they're especially nice when you consider the $1400 difference in the price of a pair. Have fun with those!!!

 

[drBill]

I've heard quite a few people say the 603s compare very favorably to the Neumann 184s ...

Caugh.....

Dang, almost choked on my dinner. Um, I've never heard that. They are what they are. Cheap SDC's. I have a pair and they never see the light of day. I guess you could say that the 603's and 184's are both bright mics. Maybe that's what they meant. They're OK if you're on a cheap budget though. But not to be mentioned in the same breath as a Neumann, even if it is a Modern Neumann.

Congrats on the mics Gelatin!!! Make some music! My guess is that you'll probably like the 2003's a little better than the 603's.

 

[JTC111]

Caugh.....

Dang, almost choked on my dinner. Um, I've never heard that. They are what they are. Cheap SDC's. I have a pair and they never see the light of day. I guess you could say that the 603's and 184's are both bright mics. Maybe that's what they meant. They're OK if you're on a cheap budget though. But not to be mentioned in the same breath as a Neumann, even if it is a Modern Neumann.

Congrats on the mics Gelatin!!! Make some music! My guess is that you'll probably like the 2003's a little better than the 603's.

Relax there, doctor. Not everyone genuflects in the presence of a Neumann. Personally, I don't care for the 184s but lots of people like them. Different artists, different engineers, different tastes, right? I've heard two shootouts (one in person, another on this or some other board) with both of those mics, while there is a difference I wouldn't describe it as a stark difference (the 184 having a bit more sparkle on the high end).

There are plenty of mics available that are real bargains. Of course it all depends on one's personal taste and it depends on what suits the artist's needs. For instance, I like an AKG Solidtube for my voice but not too many others reach for that mic. Michael Stipes records his vocals with an SM58. And I know one engineer that stopped reaching for his U87 in favor of a Studio Projects C3. Of course with cheaper mics there's more flucuation in quality and sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not.

Anyway, my point is you can't go by price or name, you have to go by your ears.

 

[drBill]

you have to go by your ears.

Exactly. That's what I was using. Maybe I got a bad pair, eh??

 

[drBill]

Of ears I mean....

ya think??

 

[JTC111]

Of ears I mean....

ya think??

Naaa ...I think we all come with a different set and they all work fine ...unless you're tone deaf ...and if you're tone deaf, there ain't no microphone in the world that's gonna make a difference.

 

[Gelatin]

Congrats on the mics Gelatin!!! Make some music! My guess is that you'll probably like the 2003's a little better than the 603's.

I already used the 2003's in a session earlier as overhead mics, and was quite suprised and happy with the result.

Would it make sense to try the 603's as tom mics?

 

[tdukex]

The 603s is a very good acou guit mic IMO. I highly recommend it for that application.

 

[drBill]

I already used the 2003's in a session earlier as overhead mics, and was quite suprised and happy with the result.

Would it make sense to try the 603's as tom mics?

Hey, glad those 2003's worked out well for you. If your drummer isn't a cymbal smasher, I bet they sound really good!

Yeah, toms MIGHT be the one place I would use those. But like I said, maybe I got a bad pair. (Actually I have the 604's with the omni/card caps.) I put them up and shot them out against KM84's, AKG451E's, Gefell 692/M70's and 184's SDC's. I'd heard all the hype and were interested in hearing what they could do. They were so far down the scale that I never powered them up again. Ever. Very phasey and smeary sound. Almost metalic on the transients. Just weird sounding. Happy to sell them if anyone wants them.

 

[PhilGood]

There are some mods (like capacitor upgrades) that can make these mics very usable. It takes the edge off and adds a bit of presence. I modded all my MXL 603's & 2003's and now they are nice sounding mics. Still bright, but nice sounding. The modded 2003 is now my go-to mic for acoustic guitar.

 

[omtayslick]

Of ears I mean....

ya think??

I always appreciate a man with a sense of humor.

 

[MadAudio]

I use a pair of 603's as drum overheads and I like 'em quite a bit.

And I'd trust an MXL mic more that one from Behringer!

 

[kojdogg]

Got me two new pairs of mics (dirt cheap as well) and I'm curious to hear from people what their experience of these models is. I'm kinda new to the whole recording thing but have gotten the feeling from people that MXL might be almost the "Behringer" of microphones? Any truth to that?

The mics are:
2 x MXL 2003
2 x MXL 603

thanks in advance!

Incidentally, Behringer is the "Behringer" of microphones.

 

[TamaSabian]

I use a pair of 603's as drum overheads and I like 'em quite a bit.

And I'd trust an MXL mic more that one from Behringer!

I have them too. Great pair of mics.

 

[omtayslick]

I use a pair of 603's as drum overheads and I like 'em quite a bit.

And I'd trust an MXL mic more that one from Behringer!

Of course there's always an exception to the rule. The ecm8000's are pretty good.

 

[drBill]

I always appreciate a man with a sense of humor.

Thx. What else could I say? After 30 years of doing this for a liviing you gotta have a sense of humor......

 

[thebigcheese]

Incidentally, Behringer is the "Behringer" of microphones.

Ha! This made me laugh, probably more than it should have...

 

[Marcadiablo]

The 603's are practically the same as the 991's, right?