stop looking...
To all of you who are looking for mics in that price range (around 300$ )
this is what you HAVE to get (no kidding) check out
www.earthwks.com
Simply the best microfones for their price I've ever (since 1989) had my hands on. The company called earthworks is founded by mr blackmere ( the founder of dbx) a few years ago. Since 1998 I'm in contact with them, I do have almost their enire range of mics - I carry them literally everywhere I go and they are the basis for the sound I do, I use them for vocals, drums (their omnis can cope with over 135db SPL (!!!) ), acoustical instruments and for location recording. Once you heard a piano thru one of their omnis (or two) you will know why the users of EW mics are so exited... check out their website, the user comments and their online store...
What you want to look at is the store and the type SR69 - its their vocal mic - think of the pristine sound of a neumann but more neutral / no colouring and absolutely NO audible phasing off axis and up to 90degree sideways. I used it recently for a singer sitting on a piano singing while playing, try that with a neumann or any other vocal mike, you will hear comb filter effects whenever the singer is of axis. The only negative point on the (first series) mics I have is that they are relatively light weight (not every singer likes that) and are senstitve to handling noise (don't tap the tempo with ur fingernails on the mic while singing soft, you will hear it)
in their store is an area for mics with cosmetic blemish :
Earthworks SR69 - (cosmetic blemish) Buy 3 get 1 Free
Price: $355.00
I know is above 300 and slightly more expensive than others but its worth every dime...
get them while they are there, for more infos IM them or their dealers
later
klaus