Great budget tube mic.
Well, I've slowly started to become disenchanted with dynamic mics, and so I decided to buy my own tube mic. The reviews said that this mic worked well, was made in the USA, and that it was a bit bright: it sounded perfect for my purposes. I needed a better vocal mic, and a mic to use on my recording cabinet along with my e609 (one of the few good dynamic instrument mics). I'm very pleased with the sound: bright, crisp, detailed, and responds to different distances.
Despite the fact that the preamp I ordered came with a bad power supply and I consequently am currently forced to use the phantom power on my computer interface (which is not really designed to be a stunning preamp), the mic sounds very clear and full. There isn't much warmth, but keep in mind I'm using a pre that is designed to supply power and nothing else; and then there's the fact that all the reviews I read said this mic was a bit bright, so if you're looking for warm, fat sounds, this mic is probably not the best choice. On my 1x12 guitar cabinet, I found that I like the mic about 4-5" away; from this distance it gives an bright, ambient sound that isn't as "in your face" as my e906 is, which really helps to make the guitar track fill out more when I pan. One thing I will say, though, is that this mic probably doesn't sound as "up front" as more expensive condensers, that is, it does sound a bit "spacey" or "distant" if you place it at a normal distance for a condenser, however, this mic doesn't get too bassy when placed relatively close to a source (4-5"), which sort of makes up for this "spacy sound," I guess.
All in all, this mic has an interesting sound for a condenser: people looking for a bright, snappy condenser that will give tracks a bit more "room to breathe" will love this unique-sounding mic.Read full review
