An excellent blindfold test, Michael. I am not going to vote, as I wouldn't know what a U48 is
supposed to sound like, nor what the unmodded Oktava mics originally sounded like.
I found much to like (and something to
dislike) in all three mics. I listened to very specific moments in each file, skipping back and forth. For midrange and high end response, I listened for the sibilance of the word "seeing" (0:02); the capturing of the wavering pitch on the word "small" (0:13); and the caught-in-the-throat emotion of the phrase "I'll always think of you that way" (0:30). For bass response, I listened to the "you" (0:03) and "carousel" (0:19).
My observations:
* Mic 1 was the most accurate, with the least bump in the bass. It had the most natural air overall, and particularly on the "seeing" at 0:02. It captured the pitch waver of "small" (0:13) beautifully - in fact, it was the mic that led me to listen for that moment. However, it was not as kind to the
tone of "I'll always think..." (0:30), sounding a little resonant and tubey in the 4-8K range.
* Mic 2 was the most "Norman Normal," with slightly humped bass, less air, and it missed the pitch waver of "small."
* Mic 3 was a close second to mic 1. It was a little furrier, huskier in the bass, it captured the emotion of "I'll always think...," and it captured the detail and delicacy of the pitch on "small" (0:13).
But I wouldn't send the UPS guy away from my door if any one of them showed up today. Now that you're done with them, Michael, drop me an e-mail and I'll give you my mailing address.
