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actually I can think of several $500 mic pre's that are worthy. True Solo. ART MPA, to name two.

Best thing is get a 500 series lunchbox and then you can find awesome pre-amps all over the place for $300 to $750.

Alesis power amps will make your speakers sound like ass. Just sayin.

Parasound. Hifi amps designed by John Curl. They sound wonderful. Detailed, balanced and tight. New they are around $500-$600 so should be able to find used for very reasonable price. I use a Hafler in my studio and love it very much. I used to sell Parasound at Brownell Sound here in Portland back ...

We use 721 by American Recorder Tech. Safe for the rubber and gets the heads clean fast fast.

https://www.americanrecorder.com/detail.php?id=941

So the Spirit doesn't have direct outs? (too bad if it doesn't)

Ramsa pre-amps are much better than the Mackie.

I'm real impressed with the Miktek CV4. Chinese parts but designed, assembled, and QC'd in Nashville Tennessee. It's got everything you love in a tube mic.....big, rich, velvety, great for vocals. Looks like a C12 or the Avant version which is made still? sells for a little over a grand. Nice mic.

I wouldn't go that far. But then it's the same with all of them under $2000. It's strange how there doesn't seem to be a mid-level model. compared to a High-end $2000 machine, of course the Zoom $300 model will not have that level of detail and clarity, you are so right. but they do sound good. I k...

Gregg mis-spoke there about the H2 and H2n, they don't have XLR, only 1/8 mini. The H2n does have mid-side which is pretty cool. The Zoom H4n is the standard of the industry portable SD card recorder and a favorite of independent film makers because of its low cost ($300), reliablilty, good sound, a...

^+1

"About 95% of a High-End mic's price is it's name & heritage. horse-shit High end mics are expensive because of the cost of parts, labor, and marketing. The one exception to this is Neumann accessories which are vastly over-priced. You need to go listen to some mics and see if one makes you go "ooo...

i want the mic to be as much of a part of the recording as the sound i am capturing...

why?

so pack up your brass and take it with you when you go to shop so you can hear them all together.

honestly I don't know how people buy instruments online with out trying them first.

thanks for posting that! that album and movie brought a whole musical movement to light.