In my experience, that's basically always the case! If I decided to switch to the Vandoren exclusively for a while, the differences would probably fade as I got used to it.

Either way, the 818 proved to be a really good tool for evaluating something like this thanks to the relatively linear midrange, and I'm always pleased by the quality of the capture too. I normally prefer a more typically Neumann-esque mic for alto and tenor saxophone, probably because the center-terminated classics were used on literally all my favorite records, but I consider the 818 a seriously excellent all-around wind/brass mic – for my own applications, at least.

My band will, at last, go into a great studio in October to record our fifth album, and I intend to bring my own 818 pair in to supplement the already fabulous mic locker there.