Serrano 84 Microphone

Any updates on these Carlos? I'm hoping to get some mics before Christmas.

The Serrano 84s and 83s are definitely coming along. Before Christmas is still a possibility but it will be tight! I'm eager to be able to have a concrete release date, but not quite yet. Thanks for inquiring!

For those who pre ordered the serrano 84 the Latest update from Carlos this morning contained both good and bad news. Bad news was the delay but good news was the decision to offer the Serrano 84 with a total of 3 capsules – KK84 (standard), KK83 (omni) and now also the KK84-DARK.
I am quite excited by this.
It felt like an Oprah issue where everyone got a car.
Great job Carlos.

Are all three capsules compatible with my old KM84s?

Are all three capsules compatible with my old KM84s?

Thanks. I was extremest hopeful, cos I would hit you up for some capsules!! Especially the 83.

The warm prototype 84 capsule threading was compatible with Neumann, but that was then dropped, apparently sone Neumann Sabre rattling I think. I see above Carlos says his aren’t too, likely a wise move.

Thank you for your question. Please excuse the length of this response but I want to give you a complete, nuanced answer. Keeping costs down? No, and yes:

There hasn't been any decisions to cut costs down at the component level of the individual microphone. That is to say that all the parts, the capsule, the transformer, etc. are all at the highest level of premium. 

However, when it comes to metalwork companies, they will typically require a minimum quantity order of several thousands of units in order to lengthen the body to accommodate a pad. This is because the tooling and moulding has to be "rebuilt." Just to do a slight modification on a body would require a minimum quantity order over 10-20 times of that which I currently order. So these metalwork manufacturers mostly work with very large companies who have grown their business to the retail level. You can find their products at Guitar Center, MusiciansFriend, zZounds, etc. The drawback is that those large companies are required to have a distributor like RAD Distribution or else Guitar Center, MusiciansFriends and zZounds will not do business with them. And then to have a distributor like RAD, they might require 1/3 of the profit (though I don't know exactly their cut.) Doing this typically causes one of two scenarios; either the consumer price of the products will need to be significantly raised, or the products themselves will need to have compromises made and won't sound as good -- which is why companies like Black Lion Audio, Revive Audio, Signal Art Electronics, Oktavamod, etc. can then create a thriving business just by undoing and fixing the compromises through offering modifications that put in more premium components. A company like Neumann makes no compromises and their products are very expensive (however an argument could be made that their TLM line is their own way of compromising.) And I'm sure you can think of companies who's products are being modded all the time to sound better -- I won't mention them by name in order not to disparage them; but you get the idea.

At the level of principle I don't think there is anything wrong with being in retail. But to do it without compromising with products requires a lot more capital and a lot more resources. Serrano Audio simply is not in the retail business and does not have a distributor. Serrano Audio also sells products in small batches. Going back to these metalwork manufacturers; only a few of them are willing to do OEM business with me if I use bodies/chassis that are readily available and don't require more tooling with extremely high minimum quantity orders.

Because Serrano Audio operates on small scale, is not in retail with a distributor and uses readily available metalwork, the prices of our products can remain lower while also being at the at the highest level of premium. And thus modding them with more premium parts is not a thing.

I wasn't able to find readily available OEM bodies, from a company WILLING to work with me, that only included an opening for a pad.   

Also, after building several prototypes without pads as well as some DIY kits without pads, I was extremely pleased and content without the pad. I have also not heard complaints from others who have built DIY KM84 kits about a lack of a pad. And what I mentioned in an earlier post about the Serrano 84 only having a 5dB difference with a Neumann KM84 with its pad engaged, I think it becomes even less necessary.

Because of all these factors Serrano Audio is then able to make available the Serrano 84, with no compromises in sound quality or components, at this very affordable price. ... But you don't have a pad. 

so what is a pair selling for ?