Why not buy a $700 mic?

[Jinder]

I’ve tried a ton of vocal mics for live work over the years. I’ve yet to find anything that beats my AKG D7 (as pictured above being used by David Gilmour). A dynamic but with a reference coil which gives it a condenser-like top end detail. Lovely mic which (for me) was a significant step up from 58s and such for my particular vocal tone.

[Guitars44me]

I have had a mic disappear while was on break…

Fortunately it did not cost $700!

And, I am tempted occasionally by the Ear Trumpet Delphina. Still, at most of my gigs I am not amplified at all! So seems a waste in my case.

And I will second this”
“Listeners are to me those who have spent good money to get into the room, and half of those are iffy. But pleasing yourself is primary and you can hope others go along for the ride.”

YMMV

Cheers

Paul

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Tico

...the most beautiful microphone ever designed.

Attachment 41044

Thanks for posting that; one of my most nostalgic mics ever as I bought a pair of them when my ex and I first started playing full time. After a couple of years we ended up selling them and going other routes, but it was really great using them and I'm glad to see someone else still likes them.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by j3ffr0

...you can't beat a great vocal mic that you love regardless of price.

Hear, hear! I spend what I need to on equipment and have never understood professional musicians thinking that anything more the $100 for a mic was ridiculous. For me it's the opposite; get the mic that's going to make you happy on stage, regardless of what it costs.
Some singers are lucky and actually find exactly what they want without a high price, others may have a bit harder time finding what they want.

Unless you're primarily an instrumentalist, your voice is the most important sound you're going to be producing when on stage.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Is running a $700 mic...really going to be noticeable to any but the 0.001% listener?

Doesn't matter if they can hear it; it matters if the singer can tell the difference and therefore put on a better performance as a result.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Foss38

Singing with a top shelf mic and with good monitoring is bliss!
Spend 5k on a guitar and $99 on a mic? The voice is the most precious of instruments...

Spot on post, and well worded!

[Laughingboy68]

Originally Posted by varmonter

First time I heard a ksm105 it was being used
By Brandi Carlisle. I was saying to myself wow that mic sounds great. So I looked it up
And yeah 700buck..but worth it I'd imagine.
Any piece of equipment that makes me sit up
And take notice is usually spendy ha...🤑

I'd hazard a guess that Ms. Carlile would make you sit up and take notice regardless of her gear. She is a singular talent. The ksm105 works great for her, but it would have to be a terrible mic fit to get in the way of her power and sensitivity and flawless vibrato.

I ended up choosing a Heil PR35 over many more expensive mics (including both ksm mics and a Shure KMS-9). It all comes down to the individual voice and what flatters each singer. Unlike Brandi, I need all the help I can get.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Laughingboy68

I ended up choosing a Heil PR35 over many more expensive mics... It all comes down to the individual voice and what flatters each singer.

One of my favorite mics, the PR35 just seems like it should be far better known than it is.
Totally agree with the point about each voice working better with different mics too. My present mic of choice is the Sennheiser 935, but I've also got a couple of PR35's and really like singing through them.

[jamison162]

I own a Heil PR35 and it has been my main mic (beating out everything else I've tried) - until recently picking up the EW SR314. If you like the Heil, you should give the 314 a try if you ever get a chance.

[Foss38]

Check out Anton Brownes mic reviews on Youtube. There are no better reviews than his IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TC9J-HtGg

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Foss38

Check out Anton Brownes mic reviews on Youtube. There are no better reviews than his IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TC9J-HtGg

Given that the title of this topic is "Why not buy a $700 mic?" I found it interesting that Anton Browne reviewed the Behringer XM8500, a $30 dynamic.

Although Anton's reviews are painfully similar to listening to paint as it dries he does have good insights to present.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Given that the title of this topic is "Why not buy a $700 mic?" I found it interesting that Anton Browne reviewed the Behringer XM8500, a $30 dynamic.

Although Anton's reviews are painfully similar to listening to paint as it dries he does have good insights to present.

Paint drying so would that be LDC or SDC ?

[EZYPIKINS]

I don't use a condenser mic live.

After using the fabled SM-58 for many years, I decided I wanted an upgrade.

I ended up at Telefunken M-80.

Took a little getting used to. But love it now.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Given that the title of this topic is "Why not buy a $700 mic?" I found it interesting that Anton Browne reviewed the Behringer XM8500, a $30 dynamic.

Although Anton's reviews are painfully similar to listening to paint as it dries he does have good insights to present.

Here Julian Krause shows you how to use EQ to make an XM8500 sound like a Shure SM7B:

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Foss38

Check out Anton Brownes mic reviews on Youtube. There are no better reviews than his IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TC9J-HtGg

Aside from old movies, I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a monocle!