Matched set of microphones??

[tsphillips]

I ordered the factory matched set of Marshall MXL 603S mikes, that come in the little silver case with the nice shock mounts (said preamps by mistake in original post) and wind screens.

They arrived on Friday. So I bought new cables, plugged them in to my new Aardvark Direct Pro box with the nice preamps, and into my new Dell with Cubase LE.

And one of the mikes is MUCH louder than the other.

Does not matter what mike is in what cable or what preamp, or what channel or track in Cubase. The same mike is always louder.

If I want them to be the same level then that mike must be at - 9.12 and the other at 0.

So, what exactly are they matching at the factory?

Should I be returning these (knowing that federal law says you can't return mikes because of hygene issues)? Or are other things more important, like phase and frequency stuff that are perhaps more ideally suited in the pair?

 

[NL5]

What do you mean "they came with preamps"?

 

[Innovations]

First of all I am not sure that the law applies to ordinary microphones. Most store do accept returns of microphones, and in this case you can claim that the product is broken.

I ordered a pair of MXL V93M from Musician's friend and when one arrived broken returning it was no problem.

 

[turnitdown]

Return the pair...

I would return them as a pair... You paid for a matched set. GET a matched set. That said, I am very happy w/ my matched 603s, and consider them a good buy.

 

[turnitdown]

I could be wrong...

What do you mean "they came with preamps"?

I "Think" he meant that they came w/ Shockmounts... the 603 set comes w/ shockmounts, windsocks, and a little case, ut no preamps.... not for $200... (Oh, and a bag of dessicant!)

 

[tsphillips]

yes, duh. Thought shockmounts, typed preamps, someone was here talking to me at the time and I think I typed what they were saying rather than what I was thinking.

They came with nice shockmounts. The nice preamps are on the Aardvark, lol. Sorry about that.

But for those of you who also bought the matched 603S, are YOURS matched in volume as well as whatever they match for?

I am going to return the set of course, for a new one, but I have to ship them back, which is a total drag.

I just wanted some feedback as to whether or not other people's mikes are closer in volume, etc.

 

[turnitdown]

Mine were matched... very well, I might add...
I charted them using a software RTA, and they were virtually identical.

Send them back, you'll get new ones in no time. I still think thay'd be worth it. Ask for a free T-Shirt!!!

 

[Massive Master]

I mean... 9dB... That's horrific - You sure there isn't a -10 pad engaged somewhere?

 

[turnitdown]

I mean... 9dB... That's horrific - You sure there isn't a -10 pad engaged somewhere?

He said it happened even after switching channels, and there's no pad switch on the mic... Beats me?!?!

 

[tsphillips]

Yes, sadly, it does not matter what mike is plugged in where or what cable etc. That mike is always louder. So the soft one seems to be defective, as my Rode NT3 is much more in line with the louder of the two mikes.

Thanks for the suggestions. Back they go.

 

[Massive Master]

My guess would be that something shook loose internally... That's too messed up.

I think they owe you lunch on this one...

 

[noisedude]

Damn, well I dunno what laws apply there, but here civil law says that goods must be suitable for the purpose for which they were intended, and must be of merchantable quality. Sounds like this pair fails on both counts ... use the opportunity to get some freebies out of the store by complaining that it's set a crucial session back by three weeks and cost you a tonne in studio hours or something like that. The chain stores will usually do something to sort you out.

Forget hygiene issues - this matched pair don't work as a matched pair, so you have every right to take them back.

Let us know what you get