Comparing various mics while singing a higher pitched phrase of Freelove - Depeche Mode

This is the first time on a Pleiades test that a made in Mexico Shure mic beats one made in USA.


As many microphones as possible were tried as quickly as possible on such a subjective auditioning test.


Here it is:


Signal path:


Male voice singing the high pitched phrase "Hey Girl" from Freelove - Depeche Mode, in the correct key - mic at a distance from 1-2 in to 12in - Pleiades (130Ω,40mH) gentle slope high pass filter - SONY TC-D5 Pro preamp in mono mode - Sennheiser HD 580 - Singer's ears and brain


Vivanco DM200
Not bad at all, very bright, interesting.
An x(-1) adapter was not used as this mic is internaly wired out of phase.
(The particular Sony TC-D5 used phase reverses from XLR mic in to phones out).


Fostex M80RP
Possibly the best on this test, smooth, detailed, a sense of the good side of a good condenser mic too, no bass problems.


Revox AKG variable D, D19C/200
With its low cut on, at higher distance.
Amazing, very loud, detailed.


Beyer M119
Big but confused sound.


Beyer beaten up M61
harsh, resonant


Sennheiser MD211 omnis, 2 were tried, one with more bass
Too much bandwidth


Fostex M55RP handheld printed ribbon
More bandwidth than needed but much better.


RadioShack, made by Shure omni
Very nice.


RadioShack 33-3039 omni
Great.

Audio Technica AT802 omni
Nice.


Audio Technica AT804, Lanier (better one), Lanier, AKG D130 omnis
Harsh.


Beyer Dynamic M88
Very very loud.
Very nice at a higher distance.


Shure Unidyne III
Nice but a bit harsh like on Pet Sound's album use of this mic by Brian Wilson.


Shure 515SB, made in USA
Very nice but a bit bigger than needed.


Shure SM58, made in Mexico
Same to worse.


Shure 515SB, made in Mexico
Great, one of the best mics on this test, in fact it was used as reference due to its neutrality, smooth sound, treble detail, no bass offensive problems.
The first mic I have ever bought?


Beyer dynamic M260.80 (ribbon)
Amazing detail and naturalness at higher distance without the Pleiades filter.
Somewhat bass heavy.
Drills etc picked up from a far off block of flat's works in progress, sounded amazing.

Revox M 3500 600Ω
Too bright.
Without a Pleiades filter better at a distance of 2ft but room acoustics spoil the result.


BRC (ITT?) small Omni mic
Resonant at mid range.

Shure SM63
Very nice, very extended treble, very loud.

Paso M601 M
Very harsh.


Shure VP64
Nice and big.


Criticism of this test:


Different impedance mics will react differently with the particular fixed (130Ω,40mH) Pleiades filter. In fact this test may be an effort to find the best sounding mic with the particular filter for the particular male singing voice at a high register.


Subjective conclusion:


We are trying for something that has already found us - Jim Morrison.

The first mic I had ever bought sounded perhaps the best and most natural on this application.
I could not have appreciated this 20 years ago as I did not know at the time what a Pleiades filter is or could do (an inductor in series with a resistor connected in parallel to mic's output to reduce subjective bass heaviness).


The beaten up Fostex M80RP flat coil ribbon sends to the cleaners most of the mics on this test. Loud too. Smooth and detailed.


Most of the mics on this test without a Pleiades (R,L) gentle slope high pass filter sound like a cheap cassette recorder electret condenser mic. Conversely a cassette recorder with a good dynamic mic connected to a Pleiades filter can sound like a finished product.


The best singer in the world with an unsuitable or wrong signal path may sound incompetent.