For those looking for information on MXL mics, here is a quick demo of a less expensive pack they make, the 550/551 combo.

MXL 550 / 551 Microphones In the Studio / Sonic Sense Pro Audio Blog

We'll be doing some more demos like this for other MXL mics soon as well...

Hey, I just read the review and I noticed an error in your reporting. The MXL 550 is actually a small diaphragm condenser (yes, even though it is a side address mic, it not a large diaphragm as your article reports). This is pretty typical of MXL. They have numerous "models" that are all basically the same small diaphragm mic (990, 910, 250, V57, SP1, etc.), just with different body styles, head baskets and paint jobs. Also, not only are they using the same capsule (actually the same capsule found at the end of all the of their SDC's, like the 551, 991, 603, 604, etc.), they are all using the same Scheops circuit as well.

You ar not the first to be fooled.

Hard to beat the price on these though!

MXL 550 | RecordingHacks.com

Thanks for the snag there!

When you see through the mesh screen in the 550 "vocal" condenser, you can see it's actually the same size diaphragm with a silver colored disc around the edge of it!

Sneaky sneaky MXL.

We're mending the post now. Thanks again!

I bought the 990/991 package when it first came out. I hated the 990, this mic is awful, High endy and noisy. However the 991 has made a great overhead mic for live shows where I didn't want to use high dollar gear.

I'm actually selling a MXL V77 on ebay right now

our previous church had several mxl 990s which worked very well for music and singing

they were picked by a previous audio pro who was the FOH man too
as well as an excellent singer who had made recordings earlier in his life