In reference to the original question, color simply means that the mic does not perfectly capture the sound as it is created, but subtle, or not so subtle changes in the sound are reflected in the output. A perfect mic, in theory would produce an exact replica of the sound entering it. This is ideal for recording musical instruments, orchestras, etc. Vocalist look for microphones that, through their "color" change the signal in a way that makes their voice sound better. Finding the mic that works best for you could get rather expensive if you keep buying till you find the best one...unless luck of the draw is in your favor. This is why major studios have a rather large mic locker, to have a variety to match up with the person, or instrument, and the sound that is desired at the time. If you can't try some mics out at your local store, perhaps you could find a studio and pay a fee to try various mics and preamp combinations to find your "best fit". An experienced engineer would probably get you matched up pretty quickly and it may be the best $50-$100 you ever spent.