Or, beat it all you want?

*YES!* I sold my MK-101 (cardioid), so I can go ahead and order a matched pair instead, and/or that MKL-2500. I really wish I'd been smarter and bought my 2nd pair of MK-102 capsules as a matched pair of microphones from Oktava Shop, instead of just the capsules from a retailer in Australia. Then I would have got a 2nd MK-101 cardioid capsule, obviously not matched to the one I've got, and had 2 more pre-amps plus the 2nd set of MK-102 capsules, and a pair of 101's (un-matched) for a much lower price. But it's fine, I end up paying more but my two 101's will now be matched.

The price for MK-101 MSP is relatively high for Oktava 100-series but still good. I considered a pair of MK-319's and I know I would have liked them, but for the amount I'll use them it makes more sense to get 2 101 capsules and a pair of pre-amps etc instead. I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't sold the single 101. Which appears to be a good one, from my limited testing and its FR graph, very flat. All the late-production Oktava equipment I've bought has been good quality with none of the problems I've heard of with older mics, and all seem to be low noise with an excellent measured FR. Some have testing stickers for 2022, the 101 I sold from March. The MK-105 MSP was December 2021. I haven't used them much yet but they've sounded good when I've tried them.

I could get an MKL-2500 about 8% cheaper from Thomann now but since I want to order the 101's I might as well only pay for shipping once. I don't mind giving O. Shop a sale either. This will complete the collection of Oktava condensers I wanted, and it will be a fairly comprehensive set. As I've said I decided to get them now as it's possible the price would only rise as supplies run out. I wish I could audition the Mini Tube Pre-Amp, but without I don't think I want to risk it. I have heard 2500 recordings and I know I like them. The 33mm capsule of the MKL-2500 is only available with that mic AFAIK.

I know you wrote this a long time ago but I was wondering, what is it about the 105's you don't like so much? From the context it sounds like it's because you find them scooped, is that so? And is that because with the top end boost it leaves the mids seeming low?
I've got the 105 MSP and not used them for much yet, I'm just interested to know what to expect when I do. TIA

I find the MK-105 quite bright sounding. I feel like it's supposed to be another "poor man's C414" like the CAD M179, but it's only cardioid. I think the CAD is a better buy at half the price. Neither really have that scooped AKG sound though. I've also tried the Lewitt mics which I also think aren't great. A lot of these K67 capsules being used in these bright "AKG-esque" mics are closer to a 5 or 6 dB boost than 4 dB. FWIW I'm sure the build quality of the MK105 is great, but I'd prefer multiple partners in a mic voiced like that, which the Lewitt Lct441 and CAD M179 have, and you could get a pair of M179s for $400. Now, if the MK105 had multiple patterns I'd probably like it more, but I find it's really bright on the voice. For somebody like me who prefers a more natural sound it's not the best. Sparkly is a good way to describe it. I think it sounds good on instruments but less so on the voice, definitely has a noticeable high end sheen. I notice this less with the CADs and something like an AT4050. I don't want to use the words veiled or grainy but it definitely isn't a smooth brightness. Some people remove the inner mesh to make it sound more open, but that makes it less shielded and I think then it starts sounding sibilant.

In that case I'm glad I got those instead of actual modern C414's, for that money I'd rather get that sound cheaper. They do have a place, how much I end up using them remains to be seen. I would like to place an order with O Shop but the stuff I want has gone up in price substantially (40%), plus the AUD has been hit hard recently against the Euro and USD
EDIT yesterday I was excited to see M201's available again, by today the whole lot sold out

I had nice results with MK-102's on the trumpet section of a big band concert last night. 4ish feet out and above, basically at the back of the trombone section chairs.

@ kludgeaudio Have you used the Audix SCX1-HC? I see those recommended a lot as a "poor man's Schoeps" now but I find them muffled sounding.

Used C414 XL mics are about $500 used, so not much of a difference. The only reason I like the CADs is I can get 3 or 4 of them for the price of a modern C414.

My pair of 105s worked out to the equivalent of about $500 US new, I'm happy enough with the price. I did own a pair of c414 XLS, I regret selling them no matter if they are not like older 414's, they are still a quality microphone. It's just a matter of matching them to the application. But I wouldn't buy them again, now I would probably get a pair of OC818. In fact I probably will if and when the recording setup starts making money
CAD mics have always been good value, thanks for the tip on that model. I would like to get that pair of MK-101's but I hadn't realised the price had risen so dramatically. I can make another purchase this week, I'm trying to decide, 101's or an RE20 and one or two other cheaper dynamics.

They're great mics and I like that end-address design, I don't know of another one like it. They are by far my favourite overheads for rock now. I really wish I'd been paying attention and bought a matched pair from Oktava shop instead of just a pair of capsules locally; the 2 mics cost only a little more than the capsules and I would have had 2 more pre-amps and wouldn't now be trying to find the money for 101's after the big price increase

Any mk-104 users here? I've only gotten to hear one demo comparing it with the 105, with which it shares a capsule I believe. It's a bit mellowed-out next to the 105.

I've already got a pair of 101's and 102's and 6 012's, so maybe it's a good idea to start looking elsewhere for microphones for some more flavors, or maybe who cares. I don't really know, I'm sort of down to be talked into it or out of it by anyone with some experience. They sound interesting, but then so do a bunch of microphones and I'm a new recordist with suddenly 15 microphones, probably better to take awhile, try stuff out, learn what I'm doing and in the future maybe save for a significant upgrade or something.

I have not. I haven't used the Line Audio mikes either which are probably worth investigating. I do think the AT 4051/4053 are unsung heroes in the budget world.
--scott

I might pick the ATs up if I can find used cheap ones (they're not terrible expensive here, but like $900 CAD and not frequently found used). Sound-wise I like them better than the MKH50, and I prefer the MK-012 to both based on sound alone (and I have good shock mounts), but my MK-012s are also quite flat. I also picked the MKH 8050 for the same reason.

I wanted to get a 104 or 2 but by the time I could have they were sold out. I still can't find out for sure if they do share the capsule with the 105, have you got any info on that?
I'm building my own mic kit after never really needing one despite being in audio for many years; I bought a wave of Oktava then decided I've got enough condensers for now. I'm now working on a selection of classic dynamics, don't forget some of these! They might seem lesser on paper but so many times they're the right choice, we're making music not scientific measurements

I didn't think there could be any 104 mics or capsules still available but there is a retailer in Australia who must have at least a couple. Not matched pair though, but if they only had 1 their ad would say it's the last they have, that's what they do. I bought both my pairs of 102 caps there
https://gsus4.com.au/products/oktava...90079af2&_ss=r

EDIT For what it's worth, if I were you I'd probably branch out to other brands now, you've got a pretty good Oktava Starter Kit How about a pair of Beyer MC930 or 950? Or just press pause for a while, read more threads on different topics and just get a feel for what's got a lot of supporters out there. Plenty of ATM's at a good price with a great reputation, Neumann obviously; actually you'll probably need a main vocal mic and a good bet might be a TLM-103. You probably CAN find Oktava options to fill these spaces but you say you're starting out so this might be a good time to try for a nice broad sampler plate of some of the choices out there.

I still say though, don't just stick to condensers, it's not just the brands of mics you need but the TYPES of mics too sometimes. A lot of well-known dynamics are affordable but it's not (necessarily) because they're not good, sometimes it's because they get economies of scale because the ARE they good and they sell boatloads. Again, Beyer, hard to go wrong there, I came across a pair of M160 end-address hyper-c. ribbon mics actually being used as room ambients at a big concert recently. I'd never actually seen them in real life (they're really small!). Good ol' Shure, apart from the common stuff everyone knows they do make some fine condensers and all sorts of higher-end products, not to be under-estimated. Right now I'd like a couple of omni dynamics, and I think an end-address ribbon M160 would be great experience for me. I try to think in terms of not just "what does such-and-such guy use" but "what do I know is a great mic, that suits what *I* want to do?"

What's your application Russell, a home/project studio, live and location recording, or will these do double duty live and recorded, like mine? Because that's what you need to consider, on what will you be using these? Even if you don't know that yet, you must have an idea where, ie at home, on the road, in a temporary recording space, or what. And what type of music and sources you'll want to record; mics are tools to do a job, that job is musical and subjective of course but it still means choosing the right tool FOR that job. I suggest posting what you can about what you'd like to be doing and what you think is most likely to be your starting point, and there are some great folks here with knowledge to share. You've got a pretty nice kit already but you could round it out better if you tailor it to what you need or want to be doing first; we've all got budget limits, you want to spend it on what gets used and helps you out the most, soonest. I'm starting to realise how some of my decisions could have been better, but I'll never regret owning good mics. Even if I find some don't get used much I'll have learned *something* from them. All the best, always

I finally ordered an MKL-2500, and a pair of MK-101's. The 2500 will be used for voice-over and I hope some instrument recordings in a friend's studio, the 101's I will use for stereo work but I really needed them for the pre-amps

Woah, they quoted me FOUR HUNDRED EUROS for express shipping for a pair of MK-101's and an MKL-2500, that hurts! When I asked for a quote about 6 weeks ago it was 150 and I thought that was steep. I knew the supply chains were backed up but I didn't know it was getting THAT bad... so I went surface freight. I'll just have to wait.

If you order from Oktava-Shop the DHL shipped stuff arrives pretty quickly anyway.

I did, that 400 quote was for express air with DHL, it's now surface freight with the same company. I'm glad it's them. It ended up being under 60 Eu., that's OK. It's always expensive shipping anything here. The 150 quote was for UPS who I will not use, and 170 for DHL. I'd have been happy to pay extra for them but express shipping made the order more than I could justify at the time.
My problem now is, I thought I would be offered PayPal's Pay-In-4 option but that wasn't available. I paid it in one but it was a bigger hit than I expected. The Euro-Au. dollar rate is very volatile now

I just had a reply from Oktava Shop, I asked whether they could supply a spare valve for the MKL-2500, and they said not until the end of August. I didn't want to delay shipping my order to wait for that so I will get it without the spare for now.

This is the spare part: https://www.oktava-shop.com/Tube-mic...-MKL-5000.html
I'm glad to see there is plenty of information about the valve on that page, but what I don't know is, how hard are they to get? If I don't want to wait for Oktava Shop to get them, can I find this part easily elsewhere? Or is there a better one to use instead that I can source? Any advice?
It says " 6Ж1П (High frequency pentode with short characteristic), Pentode 6ZH1P designed for broadband high frequency voltage gain." Are these well known? Or would you choose differently?

This will be my first glow-in-the-dark microphone, I'm buying it to use of course but first I will give myself some experience with this type. I'll use it for my own VO work, and I hope to use it for student auditions on the soloist singers and instrumentalists, while the piano accompaniment will likely be mic'd up with my MK-012's.
If anyone has links to any music recorded with this or other Oktava valve mics I'd really appreciate getting to hear it. I have heard some vocal and guitar recordings made with a 2500, very kindly linked in this thread. They sounded great IMO, that's why I decided I want this mic.
If you had access to a pair of these, would you consider them for stereo recordings? What config would you use if so... or would you not normally use valve LDC's for that application?