MXL microphones - know anything?

[ontariomaximus]

I have an MXL 2003A that is a VERY good mic

[lord preset]

Originally Posted by lutelover

In can say this with certainty, because I use them: you will NEVER go wrong purchasing a German-made microphone. Even the "cheap ones" are better than the best that most other countries offer.

I assume you never had the misfortune of using an AKG C3000? Truly a stinker of a microphone.

[rokpunk]

Originally Posted by Endr_rpm

At the same time there is no reason 20-30 year old technology should stay the same relative cost over the same period. if the Germans can't figure out how to make mass market consumer versions of stuff, that's their own fault.

neumann doesn't need to "dumb down" their lines of microphones to sell to the masses. they sell plenty of microphones in the $1000+ range, and people eat them up. what would be the benefit of them making a $200 when they have no problem selling $1000 and $2500 microphones? a U87 might be 50 year old technology, but they got it right 50 years ago. mxl is a company who basically builds mics using the cheapest components and costs so that they can sell a condenser for $39. they are in two different leagues and have two different business models.

[nrandall85]

Originally Posted by rokpunk

neumann doesn't need to "dumb down" their lines of microphones to sell to the masses. they sell plenty of microphones in the $1000+ range, and people eat them up. what would be the benefit of them making a $200 when they have no problem selling $1000 and $2500 microphones? a U87 might be 50 year old technology, but they got it right 50 years ago. mxl is a company who basically builds mics using the cheapest components and costs so that they can sell a condenser for $39. they are in two different leagues and have two different business models.

Quoted for truth.

[Endr_rpm]

Originally Posted by rokpunk

neumann doesn't need to "dumb down" their lines of microphones sell to the masses...they are in two different leagues and have two different business models.

agreed, but that wasnt the point mr man was trying to make was it?

[SteveO]

Originally Posted by Endr_rpm

At the same time there is no reason 20-30 year old technology should stay the same relative cost over the same period. if the Germans can't figure out how to make mass market consumer versions of stuff, that's their own fault.

I'm glad that there are companies out there that haven't cheapened their reputations by adopting the Wal-Mart mentality.

[nrandall85]

I don't know, I'm just fantasizing about U47's and 87's at this point, it's hard to concentrate.

[SteveO]

Originally Posted by nrandall85

I don't know, I'm just fantasizing about U47's and 87's at this point, it's hard to concentrate.

Close the door, the rest of us don't need to see that...

[marshall2288]

I think saying anything is unethical for purchasing a microphone is ridiculous. I record in my garage. MXL, CAD, any other random bobo mic I have laying around in mic drawer suits me and my ethics just fine.

[alamere]

Originally Posted by lutelover

I think there is a moral/ethical dimension to purchasing MXR mics, too. Most of the Chinese knockoffs -- which, if I am correct, is what MXR mics are -- are "rip-offs" of German-designed classic microphones. These include the mics we all lust after: Neumanns and AKGs.

Purchasing these "rip-offs" is, in my opinion, roughly the equivalent of supporting the theft of ideas that certain people and companies have worked hard to create and perfect. One, I believe, ought to come to terms with what it means to "buy into" that reality.

A secondary consideration is that, as some users have noted, the reality is that the craftsmanship of these "rip-offs" is such that, after a short time, the quality of sound delivered by these mics deteriorates due to the use of inferior materials and substandard manufacturing standards.

In this "global economy," it is more important than ever the economic policies and political systems we choose to support with our patronage.

In can say this with certainty, because I use them: you will NEVER go wrong purchasing a German-made microphone. Even the "cheap ones" are better than the best that most other countries offer. (Of course there are exceptions, especially with a handful of microphone manufacturers here in the United States. These designers/manufacturers are well-known and highly regarded, both here and abroad, and you can readily find out who they are.)

Dr. Douglas Thompson

With all due respect "Dr", strange/ridiculous post.
It's a cheap mic dude. And MOST of us can't afford a German mic. Duh.

There's no ethical decision. There's only the decision of how much money do I have in my f&@!ing wallet. That's it.

MXL makes useable mics for very cheap. They aren't amazing.. But so what. No one is saying they're the best mics in the world.
Their mics are capable of capturing emotion regardless of where in the world they were made.

[rokpunk]

Originally Posted by lutelover

I can say this with certainty, because I use them: you will NEVER go wrong purchasing a German-made microphone. Even the "cheap ones" are better than the best that most other countries offer.

Dr. Douglas Thompson

You've obviously never used the AKG Blue Line series, the AKG c1000, or the AKG Perception line. Just because they are German, by AKG, and cost more than their American counterpart, doesn't make them better. I'd take an American made Shure SM81 over any of the condensers listed above....hell, I'd take a Asian made Audio Technica over these AKG's.

[jmoose]

Originally Posted by shredtheater

I cant find any reviews or price guides - im unsure whether to keep it or sell it - i dont record many vocals at the moment. However, if ive got myself a killer microphone i might as well keep hold of it.

Any knowledge would be great

How about your own knowledge?

A novel concept, at best...

Microphones are designed to capture sound. Not "just vocals" or "_____" and a mic like that is worth a shot on anything. Guitar amps, bass amps, drums... anything that needs to be recorded.

Does it sound good to you? If so great! Find something else to worry about...

That said my experiences with MXL mics have been mediocre at best... bought one of those gold & green V67's when they first came out years and years ago. Clients loved the way it looked but it never sounded all that great on much of anything I tried it on compared to other things in my locket. After sitting around for a while I sold it.

Few years later (and still several years ago) I bought some of their $99 large diaphragm mics from Sam Ash when they had a sale. One of those "spend over $xxxx and get these for $39 each" deals. So I bit on three, figured what the hell..? They'll be useful for something? Right??

None of those mics sounded alike. Two were somewhat in the same ballgame... one minor league, one in the majors but the other was playing hockey. After some time one of the mics developed a noise issue and I think I gave it to a friend. One of them had a part come loose, maybe the capsule..? Sounded like a baby rattle and I tossed it. I left the third mic at the old Mexicali as a spare condensor for "whatever" and almost never pulled it out of the drawer, only if we ran out of mics.

I haven't used any of their higher end stuff but at the same time I don't really need to...

Some of those Chinese mics sound good but its really hit or miss. One of my buddies has a higher-end multipattern Sterling that sounds great, good as anything else really and IIRC he paid like $200 for it used.

Bottom line is if you like the results you get keep using it... if you think it sucks then move onwards.

[sergiodeblanc]

Originally Posted by loudboy

The V67 is my favorite of the entry-level Chinese mics.

Me too, and I like it better than some other "pricey" mics for certain things.

[LSchefman]

Originally Posted by rokpunk

You've obviously never used the AKG Blue Line series, the AKG c1000, or the AKG Perception line. Just because they are German, by AKG, and cost more than their American counterpart, doesn't make them better. I'd take an American made Shure SM81 over any of the condensers listed above....hell, I'd take a Asian made Audio Technica over these AKG's.

AKGs aren't German.

They're Austrian.

[LSchefman]

Originally Posted by rokpunk

neumann doesn't need to "dumb down" their lines of microphones to sell to the masses. they sell plenty of microphones in the $1000+ range, and people eat them up. what would be the benefit of them making a $200 when they have no problem selling $1000 and $2500 microphones? a U87 might be 50 year old technology, but they got it right 50 years ago. mxl is a company who basically builds mics using the cheapest components and costs so that they can sell a condenser for $39. they are in two different leagues and have two different business models.

Just an FYI:

Neumann "dumbed down" their LDC line in the late 90s, when they came out with the $1000-ish TLM 103. That was a breakthrough price.

Before that, one paid close to $3,000 for an LDC Neumann. I know I paid close to that for my U89i back in the day.