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Post by longscale on Jul 20, 2018 14:15:38 GMT -6
I picked up a very nice km84 a few weeks back. Oh my. I like.
I tried to make my pair of 184s work - but for me personally they just don't. I don't wish to start a 184 vs 84 war but I'm really having fun with what is my first experience with a really good SDC. I'm irked that it took me this long to get one. I love how open the top is - not harsh. Man this thing sounds killer on my guitars and mandolin.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2018 14:17:17 GMT -6
Never used either but ALL the consensus after years of reading about them, from the people whose ears I trust, suggests the KM84 is far superior. Am jealous!
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Post by bradd on Jul 20, 2018 15:07:47 GMT -6
I've owned both and the 84 is definitely smoother. I also own Beyerdynamic MC930s, which compare very favorably to the KM84s, so if you can't swing the 84s, I would highly recommend the Beyers.
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km84s
Jul 20, 2018 15:08:46 GMT -6
Post by jtc111 on Jul 20, 2018 15:08:46 GMT -6
Just out of curiosity, what's a fair price for a K84 today?
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Post by bradd on Jul 20, 2018 15:10:20 GMT -6
Between $1,100 and $1,500 a piece.
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km84s
Jul 20, 2018 15:23:57 GMT -6
bradd likes this
Post by matt on Jul 20, 2018 15:23:57 GMT -6
I also own Beyerdynamic MC930s, which compare very favorably to the KM84s, so if you can't swing the 84s, I would highly recommend the Beyers. And reasonably priced, too. I have a pair, and they sound good, love them. Never tried an 84 but I'd like to.
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Post by stormymondays on Jul 20, 2018 15:31:59 GMT -6
Got me a pair recently (not matched, but who cares) and they are really something. My Joly modded Oktavas did see me through for quite some time, and I’d recommend them without hesitation, but the real thing is the real thing.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 21, 2018 7:52:52 GMT -6
Voiced differently, and designed for different applications I think. Despite the unfortunate naming similarities, the 184 was designed for diffuse field (at distance with an HF rise to compensate) recording and this is where it shines in my opinion. It is a great main pair for orchestral work. Also, nylon stringed guitars or more muted sounding instruments, the 184 can really bring out some beautiful top on these...not unlike a 451EB.
For steel string work, general spot use, and duties where the source itself has some brightness to it already, I think 84s are king!
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Post by svart on Jul 21, 2018 8:37:09 GMT -6
I have a pair of km184 I got for 300 supposedly not working. Both worked fine.
I've used km84s, and these km184 sounds similar if you add a bit of low pass to them.
The km184 also don't soften the sound like 84s do, so they sound a little more crispy.
Sold a set of modded mk012's and kept the km184s.
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Post by johneppstein on Jul 21, 2018 12:53:41 GMT -6
Between $1,100 and $1,500 a piece. Which is not bad at all, considering the quality.
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km84s
Jul 22, 2018 5:11:56 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by iamasound on Jul 22, 2018 5:11:56 GMT -6
Got me a pair recently (not matched, but who cares) and they are really something. My Joly modded Oktavas did see me through for quite some time, and I’d recommend them without hesitation, but the real thing is the real thing. I bought the mc930 for super cheap money and will get another when it comes up. I too good without the two being matched. A really, really nice mic, but the 54 is the cream.
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Post by Ward on Jul 22, 2018 5:57:25 GMT -6
I have a pair of KM84s, and they are definitely the most idiot-proof of all SDCs ever made. You could be recording a guitar in the big room, aim one at the wall in the adjoining airlock and it would still sound great.
Now then, I am totally jealous (totes jelly?) of anyone who owns a pair of MC930s. They are be far my favorite microphones for OH duty on kit.
How cheaply can they be had?
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Post by rowmat on Jul 22, 2018 9:12:41 GMT -6
Yes indeed! I'm still amazed when I sometime forget I had an open KM84, say after tracking an acoustic, that wasn't actually required during a different overdub but ended up getting recorded anyway.
It can be off axis, in the corner pointing at the back of a chair, whatever and you push up the fader and think "Dang! How come it still sounds so good?"
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Post by rowmat on Jul 22, 2018 9:19:29 GMT -6
For me I think it's the KM84's midrange and total lack of off axis coloration that sets it apart. It's one of the few SDC's, or almost any mic, that when you walk back into the control room, it sounds like the instrument you were just standing in front of in the studio.
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Post by svart on Jul 22, 2018 10:56:07 GMT -6
Ha.
I never really looked into the mc930 mics much.
I did a search and a GS thread came up where someone put blind km84 and mc930 tracks up for people to compare.
As usual, people picked the nicer of the two tracks as the km84..
But it turned out the most favorite mic before the reveal was actually the mc930..
And then after the reveal everyone scrambling to save face and repick the km84 after "listening better"..
Lol
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2018 11:02:07 GMT -6
Expectation bias is a bitch, and we hear with our eyes far more than we should.
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km84s
Jul 22, 2018 12:24:33 GMT -6
Post by Mister Chase on Jul 22, 2018 12:24:33 GMT -6
Between $1,100 and $1,500 a piece. Which is really not bad at all.
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ericn
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km84s
Jul 22, 2018 12:31:01 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by ericn on Jul 22, 2018 12:31:01 GMT -6
Between $1,100 and $1,500 a piece. Which is really not bad at all. Buy low and buy a new capsule from Neumann!
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km84s
Jul 22, 2018 12:33:52 GMT -6
Post by Tbone81 on Jul 22, 2018 12:33:52 GMT -6
I have a pair of KM84s, and they are definitely the most idiot-proof of all SDCs ever made. You could be recording a guitar in the big room, aim one at the wall in the adjoining airlock and it would still sound great. Now then, I am totally jealous (totes jelly?) of anyone who owns a pair of MC930s. They are be far my favorite microphones for OH duty on kit. How cheaply can they be had? I got a pair, new, for around $600-650. It was some type of sale or holiday deal or something. Don't remember exactly what, but it was a killer deal. They sound great but I think my Miktek c5 is a hair better on drums, a little more flat in the high end where the mc930's are little more bright. But the 930's I think are better on acoustic guitars, where the brightness translates to definition/articulation. I'm sure there are better mics, but I feel my SDC needs are pretty well covered with the mc930's. I might actually sell the C5.
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km84s
Jul 22, 2018 12:50:49 GMT -6
Post by EmRR on Jul 22, 2018 12:50:49 GMT -6
Who's had extensive experience with KM84 against MKH40?
The only KM84's I ever had access to were pretty well beaten and lived on OH at the studio they belonged to. I may have tracked some acoustics with them, but it's not in the surviving track sheets or memory banks.
I sold my KM140's finally after getting various MKH series mics, and am really loving what they deliver on acoustic guitar. If there's a downside, it's that they get EVERYTHING, including all distant low frequency ambient intrusions. Pattern control across the spectrum seems very solid, behaving well when put into stereo and mid-side arrays.
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Post by longscale on Jul 22, 2018 14:44:55 GMT -6
For me I think it's the KM84's midrange and total lack of off axis coloration that sets it apart. It's one of the few SDC's, or almost any mic, that when you walk back into the control room, it sounds like the instrument you were just standing in front of in the studio. I agree that the mids sound just right - very lovely. Combine that with the open and non-pushed or harsh top - it really does sound like what I hear in the room. Off axis (lack of coloration) is super nice. I love how idiot proof it is - I need that. I can't get over how easy it is to dial in my acoustic guitars with this thing. I'm super happy - and on the hunt for a pair now.
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Post by Mister Chase on Jul 22, 2018 20:19:28 GMT -6
I have a pair of KM84s, and they are definitely the most idiot-proof of all SDCs ever made. You could be recording a guitar in the big room, aim one at the wall in the adjoining airlock and it would still sound great. Now then, I am totally jealous (totes jelly?) of anyone who owns a pair of MC930s. They are be far my favorite microphones for OH duty on kit. How cheaply can they be had? I got a pair, new, for around $600-650. It was some type of sale or holiday deal or something. Don't remember exactly what, but it was a killer deal. They sound great but I think my Miktek c5 is a hair better on drums, a little more flat in the high end where the mc930's are little more bright. But the 930's I think are better on acoustic guitars, where the brightness translates to definition/articulation. I'm sure there are better mics, but I feel my SDC needs are pretty well covered with the mc930's. I might actually sell the C5. I used the c5 on hi hat recently and really enjoyed that. It's not a bright mic. My Charter oak m900s are quite a bit brighter and more extended. I like the c5 on acoustic too, though.
To be honest, my favorite sounds have been from the tube SDC's Neumann made like the KM54/53 etc. The km84 can sound veiled in comparison. Though that is a good thing on certain sources.
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Post by drbill on Jul 22, 2018 22:20:23 GMT -6
I got a pair, new, for around $600-650. It was some type of sale or holiday deal or something. Don't remember exactly what, but it was a killer deal. They sound great but I think my Miktek c5 is a hair better on drums, a little more flat in the high end where the mc930's are little more bright. But the 930's I think are better on acoustic guitars, where the brightness translates to definition/articulation. I'm sure there are better mics, but I feel my SDC needs are pretty well covered with the mc930's. I might actually sell the C5. I used the c5 on hi hat recently and really enjoyed that. It's not a bright mic. My Charter oak m900s are quite a bit brighter and more extended. I like the c5 on acoustic too, though.
To be honest, my favorite sounds have been from the tube SDC's Neumann made like the KM54/53 etc. The km84 can sound veiled in comparison. Though that is a good thing on certain sources.
My 53's are like hyper MEGA detailed in comparison to an 84. So much so that it's got to be a special part for me to pull them out on acoustics. Don't get me wrong, they are awesome, but kind of TOO awesome if that makes any sense. LOL I usually pull out my KM86's which are somewhere in the middle - closer to the 84's but a bit more detailed. just a bit.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 22, 2018 22:27:51 GMT -6
From my comparably limited experience with these mics, I agree with drbill . I have some KM86s, KM88s (nickel diaphragm FET80 amps) and KM84s. I just did a record with all KM88s on the layered acoustics. They sound gorgeous tracking but come mix-time, it was a bit much on the top end. The 84 or 86 would have been a better choice for these double and triple-tracked guitars.
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km84s
Jul 23, 2018 2:06:19 GMT -6
Post by iamasound on Jul 23, 2018 2:06:19 GMT -6
Ha. I never really looked into the mc930 mics much. I did a search and a GS thread came up where someone put blind km84 and mc930 tracks up for people to compare. As usual, people picked the nicer of the two tracks as the km84.. But it turned out the most favorite mic before the reveal was actually the mc930.. And then after the reveal everyone scrambling to save face and repick the km84 after "listening better".. Lol Having never used an mc930 but listening to the sound files of that thread is what sold me on the Beyer as a fine option to record acoustic guitars, that and the $125 the woman selling a scantly used and basically brand new unit made it a no brainer. That said, and the fact that I knew I would berate myself over not having pulled the trigger...I couldn't be happier.
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