MXL 603's vs MXL 990's

[NRS]

603's seem to have a favorable rep on several boards as a decent budget SDC for acoustic sources while the 990 with the same diaphram often gets trashed as inferior to other mics. Is this only because the 990 is trying to pass it self off a suitable LDC for vocals and doesnt fair as well against the competition for that purpose or do the two mics really sound that different from one another making the 603 still better than 990's when used head to head in the same application such as drum overheads or acoustic guitars?

 

[notCardio]

The body you put a capsule in can make a huge difference.

That said, I don't know if it does in this situation, but that's what anecdotal evidence points towards. I don't know if anyone's ever actually done a head to head, though. It would be interesting to find out.

Anyone?

 

[hairylarry]

603 vs 770

Hi,

I did a head to head on a 603 and a 770. I don't have a 990.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=224642

Short answer I couldn't tell the difference. One listener preferred the 770. I will have to listen again now that I got my Wharfedales.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

 

[nuemes]

Is this only because the 990 is trying to pass it self off a suitable LDC for vocals and doesnt fair as well against the competition for that purpose or do the two mics really sound that different from one another making the 603 still better than 990's when used head to head in the same application such as drum overheads or acoustic guitars?

I have both and have recorded acoustic guitar with both for the sake of comparison. The 603 is much more suitable to acou guitar than the 990. They do have similar characteristics, but there is a clear difference in favor of the 603. Keep in mind that the 993 is the same as the 603 - the 993 can be had for much less.