Good Dynamic Handheld Mic In $100 Range at DVinfo.net

Dave Largent · November 5th, 2003, 11:48 AM

Looking for a good, natural sound with good resistance to handling noise. Application is spoken word of men and women who are inexperienced mic handlers.

Rob Easler · November 5th, 2003, 12:40 PM

You could try a Sure 58 for $100 or Beta 58 for $160. I've used the Beta for voiceovers. They are both pretty good.

There are a lot of choices in a dynamic mic in that price range.

Bryan Beasleigh · November 5th, 2003, 01:43 PM

I like my AKG D230. It's around $130 at B&H. I was amazed at the quality. The spoken word was much better than a sennheiser ME66.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=128222&is=REG

The EV635 is right at $100 mark

Dave Largent · November 6th, 2003, 08:36 AM

Anyone know anything about how the Beyerdynamic M58 sounds?
Is it true that a larger diaphragm on a dynamic gives a warmer sound? That AKG you have Bryan seems to have a good-sized diaphragm (at 50mm) compared to some others I see mentioned. The EV635 is 36mm and the M58 is 40mm. How do you think the D230 would work for voiceovers?

Bryan Beasleigh · November 6th, 2003, 10:56 AM

Personally,I think the AKG would be great. Maybe not compared to a large diafram condenser but like I said , to me it sounds better than the ME66.

Mike Butler · November 7th, 2003, 04:41 PM

For years I have sworn by the SM58 as a vocal mic. Whenever possible I choose it for spoken voice applications, either on a podium, mic stand or handheld. It's also good and rugged, will last a lifetime.

Dave Largent · November 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM

Mike, are you talking about the M58? Or who makes the SM58?

Martin Garrison · November 7th, 2003, 11:35 PM

Mike refers to the shure sm58. It's considered a standard for live vocals. Many singers bring around there own Neumann km105, these are also very poplular. But very expensive for a stage mic.

Same mic Rob was suggesting.

Dave Largent · November 7th, 2003, 11:45 PM

The SM58 is a cardioid mic. I'm looking for an omni. Thanks anyway, though.

Mike Butler · November 8th, 2003, 07:11 PM

Oh yeah, Dave, the Shure SM58 is definitely a cardioid. Your initial request didn't mention anything about directionality. Actually I usually avoid omnis except for lavaliers.

Dave Largent · November 8th, 2003, 08:22 PM

Okay. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to order three mics
and compare them myself. Then I'm going to write a mini review
here so anyone interested can see how they fare regarding
sensitivity, sound quality, susceptiblity to wind noise, et cetera.
I looked at that Neumann but it wasn't omni. I considered a Sanken until I saw it costs $2300! I guess I'll just have to listen
for myself. I bought a mic once (ME64) on advice of another and
I've never been that happy with it. Here are the ones I'll compare: AKG D230 (thanks Bryan), EV RE50N/D, and Beyerdynamic M58. Should be getting them in next week.

Dave Largent · November 8th, 2003, 11:18 PM

P.S. For what it's worth, I checked the frequency response specs on these mics. The Beyer looked good and the AKG was as good or trailing by a notch. The EV was rocky. I look at it this way: A listen is worth a thousand words. I'm looking forward to getting them all together. I'm used to doing audio comparos: sound cards (TerraTec), mics, speakers (Swans). I'll get to the bottom of all this and I'll let you know what's up.

Mike Butler · November 9th, 2003, 05:55 PM

Ah yes, listen before you buy, that's what I used to tell folks when I managed an audio store and people would come in all fired up to buy some speaker they had read about in a magazine. They were all set to make a buying decision without ever even listening to the product. That's when I would walk them over to my demo wall and start switching on different pairs of speakers, saying "forget about woofer diameter, 2-or-3-way, horn or dome or cone tweeter, or even that magazine article, which ones do you like the sound of?" It makes equal sense to actually demo mics and choose the one that sounds best. A listen really IS worth a thousand words.

Bryan Beasleigh · November 9th, 2003, 07:09 PM

And a listen could save you a thousand dollars as well. Just look at anyones closet or basement shelves.

November 5th, 2003, 11:48 AM	#1
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Good Dynamic Handheld Mic In $100 Range Looking for a good, natural sound with good resistance to handling noise. Application is spoken word of men and women who are inexperienced mic handlers.

November 7th, 2003, 04:41 PM	#6
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	For years I have sworn by the SM58 as a vocal mic. Whenever possible I choose it for spoken voice applications, either on a podium, mic stand or handheld. It's also good and rugged, will last a lifetime. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

November 8th, 2003, 07:11 PM	#10
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Oh yeah, Dave, the Shure SM58 is definitely a cardioid. Your initial request didn't mention anything about directionality. Actually I usually avoid omnis except for lavaliers. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

November 9th, 2003, 05:55 PM	#13
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Ah yes, listen before you buy, that's what I used to tell folks when I managed an audio store and people would come in all fired up to buy some speaker they had read about in a magazine. They were all set to make a buying decision without ever even listening to the product. That's when I would walk them over to my demo wall and start switching on different pairs of speakers, saying "forget about woofer diameter, 2-or-3-way, horn or dome or cone tweeter, or even that magazine article, which ones do you like the sound of?" It makes equal sense to actually demo mics and choose the one that sounds best. A listen really IS worth a thousand words. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

November 5th, 2003, 12:40 PM	#2
Rob Easler Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 219	You could try a Sure 58 for $100 or Beta 58 for $160. I've used the Beta for voiceovers. They are both pretty good. There are a lot of choices in a dynamic mic in that price range.

November 5th, 2003, 01:43 PM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I like my AKG D230. It's around $130 at B&H. I was amazed at the quality. The spoken word was much better than a sennheiser ME66. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=128222&is=REG The EV635 is right at $100 mark

November 6th, 2003, 08:36 AM	#4
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Anyone know anything about how the Beyerdynamic M58 sounds? Is it true that a larger diaphragm on a dynamic gives a warmer sound? That AKG you have Bryan seems to have a good-sized diaphragm (at 50mm) compared to some others I see mentioned. The EV635 is 36mm and the M58 is 40mm. How do you think the D230 would work for voiceovers?

November 6th, 2003, 10:56 AM	#5
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Personally,I think the AKG would be great. Maybe not compared to a large diafram condenser but like I said , to me it sounds better than the ME66.

November 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM	#7
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Mike, are you talking about the M58? Or who makes the SM58?

November 7th, 2003, 11:35 PM	#8
Martin Garrison Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 173	Mike refers to the shure sm58. It's considered a standard for live vocals. Many singers bring around there own Neumann km105, these are also very poplular. But very expensive for a stage mic. Same mic Rob was suggesting.

November 7th, 2003, 11:45 PM	#9
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	The SM58 is a cardioid mic. I'm looking for an omni. Thanks anyway, though.

November 8th, 2003, 08:22 PM	#11
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Okay. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to order three mics and compare them myself. Then I'm going to write a mini review here so anyone interested can see how they fare regarding sensitivity, sound quality, susceptiblity to wind noise, et cetera. I looked at that Neumann but it wasn't omni. I considered a Sanken until I saw it costs $2300! I guess I'll just have to listen for myself. I bought a mic once (ME64) on advice of another and I've never been that happy with it. Here are the ones I'll compare: AKG D230 (thanks Bryan), EV RE50N/D, and Beyerdynamic M58. Should be getting them in next week.

November 8th, 2003, 11:18 PM	#12
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	P.S. For what it's worth, I checked the frequency response specs on these mics. The Beyer looked good and the AKG was as good or trailing by a notch. The EV was rocky. I look at it this way: A listen is worth a thousand words. I'm looking forward to getting them all together. I'm used to doing audio comparos: sound cards (TerraTec), mics, speakers (Swans). I'll get to the bottom of all this and I'll let you know what's up.

November 9th, 2003, 07:09 PM	#14
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	And a listen could save you a thousand dollars as well. Just look at anyones closet or basement shelves.