who can hear the diff between the mxl990 and the mxl603?

[mixmkr]

and what are the differences? at half the cost, the 990 seems to be the choice.

After helping a friend getting going on a small mobile rig, I am getting hooked on inexpensive microphones. This is a bad addiction.

I really want to put some of these up against my AKG451's and hear the reason why I spent so much friggin money on those!!..

oh...the MXL line wasn't around then!! (slaps forehead!)

 

[mixmkr]

ok...thought I'd come back around here and check for any replies before I hit the sack....but ....

of the twenty something views...

either

~no one can hear the diff!
~no one has BOTH mics..
~no on wants to be a part of my threads anymore.
~something I have not the abilities to imagine...

I am saddened.. I will go to bed now.

BUT>>

"I'LL BE BACK" (in my best terminator voice)

 

[mixmkr]

I am still saddened

a thread about cheap Marshall mics...
I thought people would be on this like flys on shit.

I guess I need to flame someone!!

(or limp back to the mp3 clinic)

 

[crazydoc]

I have both mics, but I've never used them in comparable environments. I tried the 603 on steel string accoustic and couldn't get a pleasing sound (my inexperience, I'm sure) so have never used it since. I tried the 990 on voice and wasn't thrilled either.
Actually, are you supposed to "use" mics? I just admire their physical form, both inside and out.

Maybe it's time to put them up together.

 

[mixmkr]

Mr crazy doctor.. yeah..;put 'em up together and see what flys.

I thought the mics were supposed to be the same guts and stuff.
I don't know though, as the 990 seems to be advertised as a large diaphram.

If they are like a sm58 : sm57 relation....I'd be interested.

Wonder how these things hold up too? or do they have a three year life span..even with careful use?

 

[captainkey]

I've HAD both mics, but have gotten rid of them both.....

the 603 was useless for vocals....as was the 990

I have an sm58 that gives me better vocals....

the only thing I used the 990 for was a drum overhead...the 603 I had seemed like it picked up everything around it more than it did the actual sound source....(for example, picking up sounds coming from outdoors were louder than the actual vocal being sung into it) weird.....

 

[crazydoc]

I thought the mics were supposed to be the same guts and stuff.
I don't know though, as the 990 seems to be advertised as a large diaphram.

They are the same - same circuit and diaphragm - different housing and circuit board.

The diaphragm measures 20mm on both - the 990's is held onto its mount by a brass ring that measures 32mm - probably so when you look at it through the grill it looks like a large diaphragm.

Here's a photo of the 990's capsule that just happens to be lying here naked.

 

[mixmkr]

yowza...now we're getting somewhere...

hhmmmm ...liked those mics, eh capt??

puts the words "fear and unknown" when making a 'blind' purchase when ordering something like these online.

the outdoor sound syndrome sounds a tad suspect however. How can that be?

that being said.. I am kinda looking for room and ambient mics. Thought these might be inexpensive alternatives.

 

[mixmkr]

nic pic, capt.. thanks for the info to confirm the guts.

 

[mixmkr]

but.... lemme ask you two guys (or anyone else again)..
Did you hear a difference between the two mics?...and if so, what was it.

 

[Rossi]

What do you mean half cost? I thought they were about the same price?

I did a comparison a while ago. They do look similar inside, but the sound is not identical. It could be just the different housing (i.e. resonances), but I doubt it. The 990 sounds fairly neutral, the 603 is a bit brighter. The overall response is similar, though.

According to the data sheets, the 603 is wide cardiod, the 990 is supposed to be normal cardiod. But I'm not sure that means a lot. A lot of MXL specs are weird. The self noise figures do not complement thethe respective s/n ratio figures as they should. Adding the two figures ought to result in 94db.

Anyways, both the 603 and the 990 are good mics. I think the 990 is underrated. It doesn't sound spectacular, but it is a fine mic when you're looking for something "unhyped."

 

[mixmkr]

What do you mean half cost? I thought they were about the same price?

well... a vague generalazation...sorry.. but looking at typical Ebay prices, the 603 seem to go consistantly for $7-80, (and $200 for supposedly matched pairs) while the 990 seems fairly stable around the $50 mark.

 

[DigitalDon]

I've got a couple of 990's coming in the mail in a week or so. They were free with the 2nd Aardvark Q10 I ordered (backordered). I read somewhere they work pretty good on guitar cabs. We'll see. Seems like Harvey Gehrst had something good to say about them awhile back.

DD

 

[Rossi]

I think Harvey owns several of both the 603 and the 990.

The 990 is good on guitar cabs, I'd say, as it's not as bright as many other condenser mics.