hi

well my english is not that nice (i am german)...
i heard every mike from neumann and i think the 149 is the worst mike i heard from them...
my favorite mike is the rhode classic 1 or classic 2... it works on every vocals (low or loud,male or female)..
the most newer neumanns have a compression effect on loud vocals which makes them thin and without warmth...
if you compare the old m49 and the new 149 u will hear this horrible sound of the new 149...

a very nice cheaper mike is the AKG 414 BTL 2...
this is the one with the golden face....

peace from germany