SM27 vs KSM27

[PaddyGordon]

I know this has probably been asked about 1,000,000 times but.

Looking at buying one of them.

The KSM's are going for about £260-280
The SM's are going for about £240 - 260

I'm siding towards the KSM because it comes with the shock mount whereas the SM comes with a desk stand, I'd really prefer the shock mount as I have a microphone boom stand already.

Would the slight differences in* Dynamic range (123/118), Max SPL (133, 148/ 132, 147), Self Noise (9.5dB/14dB) and Signal to Noise ratio (84.5dB/80dB) be worth the extra dosh I'd have to spend in finding and getting a shock mount?

* (SM/KSM)

I'll be using the mic for recording Vocals (male and female) and possibly some guitars etc.

My budget in total is about £400, but that includes the Shock Mount and one of them Sound Isolators (which cost about £150 unfortunately )

Any advice would be helpful.

 

[moresound]

Well the good news is you can save your money and not get that sound isolator I'm sure that a few more people may chime in and say the same.
The bad new is that the ksm27 is discontinued but you still may find it in stock here and there.

Now with the savings with not getting a isolator and maybe a little saving you can take the plunge and get the KSM44 that way you'll have a 3 in 1 microphone and many will chime in I bet and advise the same.

 

[PaddyGordon]

Yeah there's a few places still selling .
Thing is, I'm recording in my room, which has laminate wood flooring and 6 walls (L Shape), would I really notice any sound reflections if I went for the KSM 44?

 

[moresound]

Really will depend on your microphone placement and microphone technique.
You'll have a much better go at it with the better microphone though (KSM44)

 

[RawDepth]

I have an SM27 and it does indeed sound good. However, it is not the right mic for everything.

I once used it for acoustic guitar and was not impressed. (Crappy guitar, not a fair test.)
I used it for vocals and couldn't tell much difference from my other mid-priced condensers.
I used it for tom toms and it rocked with plenty of rich low end and smooth highs. The proximity effect was right in the pocket.

As far as vocals, every voice and every mic sounds different. What sounds "right" on my voice may not sound "right" on your voice. None of us can tell you which mic will work best for you. You just have to gain experience with a bunch of mics and decide for yourself.

FYI:
I understand the SM27 was released as a direct replacement for the discontinued KSM27. The KSM line of mics may become collectible classics someday. But the SM line has more efficient specs.

 

[homestudioguy]

Check THIS out!!!!

Check THIS out!!!!!
SE Electronics SE4400a | Buy at Soundware.co.uk
Buy SE4400a and get "sound isolator for free!
Such a Deal!

Using the sE Reflexion Filter around your mic and something as simple as hanging a down comforter (or 2) behind the vocalist can really help, at least in part, with room anomolies. Of course, it's not the professional uber-perfect physics based solution, but for starting out? It works!
Bob G.

PS-If you read Sound On Sound regularly, you probably have seen this concept used quite a few times.
FYI, Whenever SOS does their "help someones studio sound and work better" routine, I have seen them give away quite a few Reflexion Filters in NUMEROUS processes.