There is a difference in texture between the M-300 and M-295. The M-295, by virtue of it's nickel diaphragm, is a bit "sweeter" and "smoother" sounding than the M-300. The M-300 is very much clearer and less brash than the KM-184, and clearer than the KM-84 with [at least to my ears] better detail in the high end without any kind of "hype".

As always, YMMV.

Gefells

Fletcher - would you agree with any of these conclusions based on your statement:
1. If you are thinking of getting a KM184 - DO NOT. Get the M300 instead.
2. If you would like to sweeten the sound a bit and have clarity, get the 295.
3. If you just want to imitate the sound without harshness or sweetening, the M300 just does fine.
Where I am a little confused is the following: Forgetting about cost, would you always use a 295 where you could use an M300?
THANKS in advance.

fletcher what do you think about the km 183? the omnis? how do you think do they compare to their gefell counterparts? which mic to get if i want omnis? thnx...

The M-296 is one of my favorite Omnis ever made... as for AB2's Q's... I wholeheartedly agree with 1 & 2... on 3, you really can't "imitate" the sound of a good KM-84i with an M-300, but I do find them as, if not more useful in similar applications.

The KM-84i is still my favorite H/H mic... I can get very good results with an M-295 in that application, but would still prefer a KM-84i. The M-300 and the M-295, while similar aren't totally interchangable for me... though if I had to choose between only having one, I'd choose the M-195.

The 295 and the 300 are in the same ballpark... the 295 just has a bit better view of the game.

I hope this makes some sense.

Excellent as usual

Fletcher - great answers as usual. For drum overheads piano, close up instruments, in a decent room, would you then go for the gefell 296's over the 295s?

Just curious, does anyone (Fletcher?) know what a good, working KM-84i goes for these days?

I would go with the M-295's over the M-296's for drum overheads because the M-295's have a cardioid pickup pattern and the M-296's are Omni.

A good KM-84i [it's pretty damn hard to find a good one!!!] will run you around $750 USD... an average one will go for $4-500 and can be made into a good one by someone like Klaus Heyne of German Master Works or Tony Merril of Stephen Paul Audio.

Avoid many of the other guys that say they work on mics... like Tracy Korby and Bill Bradley. I have personally had very bad experiences with both, and have friends who have had mics made utterly useless by Korby.

Best of luck with it.