Best overhead pair for under $1000?

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:48 pm

I'm takin' a quick break from a brake job in my front yard.

What's goin' on?

Showdown?

I'll be back shortly...

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:59 am

Drewslum wrote:

I'm in the situation you are in except I only want to spend about $800 or so. You probably won't find used KM184 pairs for 1000. I've also been told that new 451s are not the same mic as vintage 451s. For a while I was really conviced that I wanted real MK012s but too many people have said the quality is just too uneven. You could also look into the Rode NT5 or NT55. A lot of people use them.

I've been championing the Rode NT55s recently, as I've been using them with cardioid capsules fitted for drum overheads and also for choral work in A-B and Decca tree with omnis fitted. The omnis are outstanding for a mic in that price range. The cardioids are the same as those in the NT5, and are overall very good, with my only real reservation being uncertainty in the off-axis frequency response. The flexibility of having the two capsules with the switchable attenuator and HPF make up a package that IMHO has no equal at a street price of around £340 in the UK and $600 in the US. Search for NT55MP - not everyone stocks the matched pair.

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:27 pm

Get a pair of MA-100 by Mojave they sound amazing on drums. I have used them on Kick, Toms, Snare and Hat as well as Guitar. I have yet to use them as overheads but they sound great on those applications.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:24 am

the thing about the groove tubes is that they are very "true" sounding, but not exactly too flattering. I'd describe them as a little thin sounding.. great for toms, ok for overheads. I'll have to do a side by side comparison with my tlm-103 next time i do some drum tracks

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:12 pm

I've been very happy with the NT5's... there's a good review of them here:

http://www.digitalplayroom.com/rode/Reviews/NT4&5/NT4&5p2.htm

Also, since they haven't been mentioned yet... I also know people who swear by the earthworks small diaphragm condensers. I've used them briefly and was pleased with them, but haven't had a chance to use them enough to speak with authority on them. There's some specs and such on the mfr's site here:

http://www.earthworksaudio.com/33.html

A friend of a friend knows some folks at the company, sounds like a bunch of microphone freaks who take alot of pride in their creations.

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:53 pm

Rode NT-5 seem like a great way to go...

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