Need a mic for soft, bossa nova vocals

[Harvey Gerst]

I read http://prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/articles/7E01340C209C8C99862568AD0072955BBruce Richardson's scathing review of the MXL 2001P, and this put a good scare into me over Marshall mics.

Yes, I know Harvey likes Marshalls, and that counts for a whole lot with me.

Well, this is part of a first listen I did to the Marshall mics over 3 years ago (1/12/2001):

The results:
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The mics I didn't like:

Marshall MXL-2001 $199??
Harsh top end, thin bottom, compared to the TLM-103. It was a little warmer than the Nady SCM-1000, but the Nady had a smoother top end. The 2001 is everything that I don't like about all the really inexpensive large diaphragm condensor mics that I've listened to over the years, including the AKG C3000, the Oktava 219, and some of the early AT low cost units.

Marshall MXL-600 $270
Veiled top end and exaggerated low-mid, compared to the Oktava MC-012. About 1 dB lower output than the Oktava. It just sounded very dull and lifeless. Very easy to bottom out as well.

Most of the other mics they made were pretty decent sounding (the V67 and MXL603's in particular) and the full listening tests go into some more detail, but I don't think I sugar-coated my findings about any of these mics.

 

[bgavin]

Yes, it is the V67 and V69 that are in the lower right quadrant. The 77 is not shown yet.

The V67G is pretty far away from my AT4040 in coloration, so it appealed to me, chart-wise. Dunno about the quality of components and the reviewer-mentioned cold flow solder joints.

The BLUE mics are beyond what I want to pay for my modest needs, so I guess if I want a colored mic, it will have to be a V67 or V69.

 

[crazydoc]

...It takes balls and integrity to do this, in light of advertiser revenues, etc, that tend to make a reviewer more docile with crap products.

I read DOT's review of this mic, but I don't recall reading a DOT review where he trashes a crap product. This is not a flame of DOT, but perhaps a reflection of his style: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all...

Here's a thread where Dot explains why he doesn't review crap products.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100038&perpage=25