km184 or sm81?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tkingen
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This isn't picking on DJL, as he's undoubtedly right about gear that's been around a long time "holding it's value" more than gear that is new and unproven. His post just happened to stimulate some random thoughts.

I tend to wonder how important "holding value" is, especially with microphones. After all, how many of us sell our microphones when we're ready to buy a new one? I'm sure some of us do, but a lot of us can't bear to do it. (You never know, someday i might actually find a use for that C1000...). We just keep adding to the collection.

My main point, though, is I think the whole way of viewing equipment as an investment is a bit of the tail wagging the dog. If that was a primary consideration, no one would ever buy a computer or just about anything else that was digital, since everyone knows in about three years, chances are, it will be obsolete and worth as much as a can of Pepsi.

The reason to buy gear is because it will pay for itself in terms of the value and usefulness it gives the user. Does it expand your capabilities, improve your sound, make your life easier, let you work faster, attract clients, etc.? These are all probably more important reasons to buy something than what you think it might be worth in five years.

If you want to make speculative investments, you're probably better off with rare coins or stamps or some other collectibles. Buy gear for the reasons listed above. Most if not all of the gear you buy will NOT increase in value, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it.

Sorry for being somewhat off-topic.
 
I don't quite understand what the problem is:

you have already one KSM184 and you like it. Now you want to do stereo recording of the same sources and you consider getting mics you have never heard (like the SM81)? Why don't you just get another KSM184 coz you know already that you'll love the sound? The Neumann KSM184 is awesome, especially for acoustic guitar (I have one, too), so you can't make a wrong decision when you get another one.
 
Giganova,

It's kind of like having a tv remote in your hand...you may like the program that's on...but your wondering what else is on, too!
Seriously, this is a matter of curiosity. Each mic has it's own list of characteristics and I'm curious about them.

Thanks,
Terry
 
tkingen said:
Giganova,

It's kind of like having a tv remote in your hand...you may like the program that's on...but your wondering what else is on, too!
I know how you feel, man. Its like as soon as you have a nice g/f, all other girls look so pretty, too :D But seriously, I'd stick with the KSM184. Its hard to beath that mic. There's a store in England where they still sell it for EUR 450.- plus 30 buxx for FedEx 3-day shipping to the US. That's where I got mine, and no-obe asked me for import tax either. That's a pretty good deal after Neumann raised their prices. I can look up their web site if you want.
 
I was able to try out an SM81 this evening, and was disappointed to find understanding of Nathan Eldred's observations. I'm not qualified to say that the SM81 is a stinker, but it did help me to appreciate the mics I already have.
Thanks for indulging me in this exploration.

Happy Turkey Day,
Terry
 
I would never call the 81 a "flat" mic. That mic has a bump in the highs like you wouldn't believe. Shure may think it's flat, and their graph on their site may say it is, but it definitely has a weird boost up top. I would say buy another Neumann, the 81 can't compete, and I will second Nathan's opinion that it's junk.

Later,
musik
 
Shure quietly made a change in the design of the SM-81 some years ago. The older SM-81's are flat; the newer ones have a peak.
 
I can't believe nobody has mentioned AT 4041's.I love these SDC.For the money they are a tremendous value and addition to anyones mic cabinet.I owned a pr. of mc012's and the 4041's IMHO blow them away.Of course they're quite a bit more expensive but worth every penny.If I owned a km184 I'd buy another one but 4041's are awesome.
 
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I think the mic problem may be solved...I'm not a big fan of SDC's! My wife and I just brought home a Neumann TLM103, and this has certainly put us in the ballpark. It's nice and full bodied, with a pleasing top end that isn't too strident.
For stereo recording options, even though we don't have matched pairs, the mics we do have complement each other in pleasing ways.

Neumann TLM103
Neumann KM184
Shure KSM32
Shure KSM44
Shure SM57
Shure SM58
EV 457
EV 767
Beyer M69
Beyer M80

These seem to cover our needs for vocal and acoustic instrument mics...at least for awhile! It may not be a complete, total pro collection, but we are happy with it for our "less than pro spare room" studio!

Terry
 
The 81's and every other mic that Shure makes has a very in-your-face sound. Which works well to pull an instrument or voice to the front of the mix, but is a bad choice when looking at stereo pairs. The Shure mics are poor at imagery, depth and dimension.

A pair of 184's will yield infinitely better stereo recordings.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions
 
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