mxl 603 pairing

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C

cabbage

New member
Hi,

At 8th street music they are selling a pair of the mxl 603s(plus mic cord, bag) for $150
At other places they have the matched pair with metal case and two shockmounts for $200

Does this mean that at 8th street they are not a 'matched pair' and as i am buying the pair to record guitar in stereo, should i go for the $200.
The only thing is that i dont think i really need the shockmunts or the metal case as i will be recording in my room.period. I am just thinking of the whole 'matched pair' importance...how important is it??
What do you think??
It just saves $50, but would it be worth spending the little extra(why?)
thanks,
C
 
Cabbage,

the matched pair means that you'll have an easier time using the two mics for stereo recording. You are correct in assuming that the 8th street offer is not the same. The difference between a matched pair, and just two mics, is that the frequency response of the two mics will be much closer with a matched pair than with two mics picked up off the shelf. If you buy two mics off the shelf, and set them up in XY stereo, you may find that one note on an instrument sounds right in the middle of the field. Another note is slightly to the left or right. This is usually called "wandering of the stereo image." Is it a big deal? It's up to you. I don't use a matched pair of mics, and the results are fine by me. Others on the board would say that my previous sentence is sacrilege (sp?).

Bottom line is that for an additional $50, you get two shockmounts (which you're bound to wish you had at some point), a nice flight case (which you may or may not wish you had at some point, but at least it's nice and shiny-looking), and the matching pair. You don't get the two cables. To me, it sounds worth it, but it's up to you.

-mg
 
I bought the "unmatched" pair from 8th St. and was surprised how pronounced the difference was between the two. Now I wish mine were matched.


Twist
 
cabbage said:
Hi,

At 8th street music they are selling a pair of the mxl 603s(plus mic cord, bag) for $150
At other places they have the matched pair with metal case and two shockmounts for $200

Does this mean that at 8th street they are not a 'matched pair' and as i am buying the pair to record guitar in stereo, should i go for the $200.
The only thing is that i dont think i really need the shockmunts or the metal case as i will be recording in my room.period. I am just thinking of the whole 'matched pair' importance...how important is it??
What do you think??
It just saves $50, but would it be worth spending the little extra(why?)
thanks,
C
Click to expand...
8th Street Music is selling the Marshall MXL603SPR matched stereo pair with case and two shock mounts for $199.95.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=6450&Category=Microphones

I have two sets of the matched stereo pairs with shock mounts and the cases... however, I also have four MXL603S's that did not come as matched stereo pairs and they still sound very close to each other.

One thing to keep an eye open for is... make sure that the MXL603S's you get are not missing the rings on the capsules. ;)

ADDED: Also, here is a good thread about matching mics...

"How to 'audition' a microphone before buying"
https://homerecording.com/bbs//showthread.php?s=&postid=264893
 
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