Actually, H20, to be fair, I didn't suggest a difference in quality between the B-5 and the C-4, because I have no direct experience with B-5, so I cannot verify that. Although design differences between the 2 mics have been alleged, I do not have access to an independant review of the 2 mics. Yes, I know DJL's agenda is transparent. I do think it is true that Behringer and Studio Projects are in competitiion, and the 2 mics clearly are shooting at similar market niches. I can say that I have direct experience with both Studio Projects and Behringer customer service, and if the 2 mics *were* identical (which I doubt), I would still buy the SP mics., because dealing with Behringer and their dealer network is a bigger headache than I need.
What I said was- 1. The C-4's are the best mics of their type anywhere near their price point. 2. The MXL 603s are very good mics that are well worth their price. 3. In many foreign countries, differences in price due to import tariffs make Rode NT5 a good alternative. 4. The new AKG entry into the budget SD market is interesting, but the jury hasn't even heard the evidence. I said *nothing* re: Behringer B-5. Now I will.
Very few people , including myself, know very much about
the Behringer B-5 except- 1. They are made by 797 audio in China, which does manufacture Studio Projects mics. 2. They *look* identical to the C-4, and have identical features externally. 3. They are dirt cheap, undercutting the price of *everybody* (not just SP) for a matched set of SD mics with dual capsules. 4. Brent Casey, who is primarily responsible for the design of the C-4, states that the diaphragm of the B-5 is several microns thicker than the C-4, and suggests that there are differences in the transformer body components as well, but admits he has not evaluated the mic directly. 5. Harvey Gerst supports the statement regarding differences in diaphragm thickness, based on manufacturers abstracts seen at NAMM. No documentation has been produced to support this, probably largely due to DJL's persistent insinuation that Harvey would make fraudulent statements to support the business efforts of his friend, Alan Hyatt, CEO of PMI Audio, parent company of Studio Projects. Such insinuations are infantile and preposterous. 6. Alan Hyatt has said he's pissed off at 797 audio for doing this, but probably does not have legal recourse (Duh!).
It is my opinion that vague insinuation based on a transparent agenda will not help to clarify this issue. The only thing that will is a technical evaluation of the C-4 and B-5 mics, not only in terms of internal construction and design, but also in terms of performance in controlled A-B tests. Furthermore, even that will not clarify whatever differences may exist in build consistency, quality control, and customer service. If Behringer holds true to form, they will produce a product where half of them are almost as good as the item they have made an obvious copy of. The other half will suck, or be outright defective, and customer service will involve bending over and grabbing your ankles.-Richie
What OH positioning did you use, and any other mics? Ta
