MXL 603 and 603S - Uh?

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reddavid

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This'll be my third or fourth post, so I'll post a couple of spam ones so I can make a link.
 
Okay, sorry about the above two posts. This forum has a block set in place to prevent spambots from posting URLs, so I had to post a couple of nonsense posts to get around that.

Anyway, reason I post this is that after my previous thread, in which I was advised to pick up a couple of MXL 603s rather than the Samson C2s I'd been thinking of, I went off around the internet in search of some. They were painfully hard to find. I did eventually find this, though: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....6b31180a0e202d2d842ffdbc27a&mpt=1212495408960

I'm looking for a bit of advise here, as I don't know what to make of this. The seller's rating seems fairly sound, but that about 603 and 604s being the same mic? I don't understand it. I guess it could just be that the 603S and the 603 are the different names given to the mic depending on where in the world it's sold, although, I can't see any reference to 603 anywhere on the MXL website. This makes me thik that it might also be a pair of fake microphones.

What do you guys reckon? Buy, or not?

Much gratitude to anyone who helps out.
 
MXL issues mics that are very similar (if not identical) using different model numbers for different retailers. I'm speculating, but I guess this would be to insulate the retailer from price competition a little, since it appears that they're selling different mics from each other. For this reason, you'll see "parallel" model numbers for a particular mic, and that's no big deal. I've never heard of anyone counterfeiting MXL mics :D - but I guess it's a remote possibility.

I don't know what the "S" designation is, but it's not hard to believe that a 603S would be essentially the same as a 603. I believe the 604 is merely a 603 that also comes with an omni capsule that you can switch out.

I have the MXL 991, which is essentially the 603, but with a different colored finish. I got mine in a 990/991 package. I also got a couple of omni capsules (603/604) off ebay, and they work fine with the 991. The finish on them is shiny instead of dull like the 991, so it looks kind of funny.
 
when i was looking into buying my pair, i contacted mxl about the difference between the 603s and the 603. they are indeed identical--no need for concern.

the 604 is the same except it has a -10 dB pad and comes with the omni capsules instead of having to buy them separately.
 
antichef said:
MXL issues mics that are very similar (if not identical) using different model numbers for different retailers. I'm speculating, but I guess this would be to insulate the retailer from price competition a little, since it appears that they're selling different mics from each other. For this reason, you'll see "parallel" model numbers for a particular mic, and that's no big deal. I've never heard of anyone counterfeiting MXL mics :D - but I guess it's a remote possibility.

I don't know what the "S" designation is, but it's not hard to believe that a 603S would be essentially the same as a 603. I believe the 604 is merely a 603 that also comes with an omni capsule that you can switch out.

I have the MXL 991, which is essentially the 603, but with a different colored finish. I got mine in a 990/991 package. I also got a couple of omni capsules (603/604) off ebay, and they work fine with the 991. The finish on them is shiny instead of dull like the 991, so it looks kind of funny.
Click to expand...


guitar zero said:
Try this link:
http://www.spectrumaudio.com/MXL-603-Pair.htm
Click to expand...

Ah, excellent. Thanks a lot.

The point about retailer-specific model numbers is something that hadn't occured to me, but now you've mentioned that, that does make a lot of sense. The same goes on in the TV industry - I think it's Sony that have at least half a dozen TVs with one designation for mass-market retailers (I guess, Best Buy and Wal*Mart on your side of the world, Currys and Asda on mine) and another for specialist retailers. The only difference between the TVs being that the ones designated for mass-market retailers have the contrast and brightness set to full, to make them stand out better in line-up displays. The ones that don't, they're set up to actually look half-decent, and to not burn their new owners's retinas to a thin smouldering crisp within half an hour of switching it on for the first time.

And the link, that too sets my mind at ease. So much so, in fact, that I'm now a couple hundred bucks poorer than I was when I woke up this morning. Awesome.

You two rule. Cheers very muchly.


Edit: You three. Cheers to you as well, Drossfile :)
 
Antichef----

Is your omni capsule source a one time deal or do they have more? I broke one of mine... :/
 
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