Audix i5 vs AKG D40 - live snare?

[dickiefunk]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a mic for live snare and have heard good things about both of these mics.
I've listened to some shootouts online of both of these vs the SM57 and preferred them to the 57.

Has anyone had any experience with both of these?

[kslight]

I've not used the AKG, but I like the i5 over the SM57 on snare...I use it all the time, stage and studio.

[Randyman...]

Not to cloud your decision, but also consider the Telefunken M80. It's my new go-to on Snare, but does cost 2x-3x as much as the venerable SM57.

[vvv]

FWIW, I came to love the Beta58 on snare.

[thunderboy]

OP -

I bought an i5 on the day it first became available. I tried it on snare (I'm a live-only guy, BTW), and it has stayed there ever since.

I always got great results placing it parallel to and just dipping below the plane of the top head, about 1" away from the rim:



This typically gives a pretty full "picture" of the drum, though if the drum is particularly deep, you might want to go with a more traditional two-mic approach.