crown cm 700...what's up?

[frank]

so Larry was praising this mic like crazy(something like:"...I don't know how I got along without it...") in the tapeop book. It's supposed to be super versatile and really cheap. Anybody picked one up? I gotta know...

frank

[wormunit]

I think they go for around $200. I remember reading a review in one of the other recording mags several years back and it got rave reviews. Other than that, don't know much about them.

Devin

[moogplayer]

Way back when Nakamichi made condenser mics, I believe the CM300 or something like that. Crown improved on the design and came out with the CM700. They're good mics - nothing exciting. I prefer Oktava MC012 mics over these...

[eeldip]

i think a few years ago people were really into them for workable cheap sd condensers, and they have been subsequently eclipsed by all the cheap chinese mics, and the new low prices on the oktava stuff...

[DeafinONEear]

I haven't used them for up close work, but the ones that I have used for an ORTF array sounded like poop, were thin sounding and were *EXTREMELY* noisy.

won't use those again.

[JES]

Review from an amateur home recordist:

Mine are less noisy. They're a little "pointy" sounding on acoustic guitar in an X-Y setup through Mackie pres, so I'm hoping to upgrade both at some point. Something tells me I could be getting more out of them, tho, so I'll start with the pre and see if that helps.

That said, I've put 'em through their paces and they are pretty good, especially on some things you wouldn't normally do with a SD condensor -- like snare and guitar cab.

I use one regularly as a hi-hat mic in my drummer's minimalist setup. They've been my only SDs for quite awhile now.

Best,
--JES

[eh91311]

I've had mine for 5 years or so... my first pair of SD condensers. I agree with JES... they don't have an exciting sound to them. I've used them as snare mics (top or bottom) and hi-hat mics (on a "dull" set of hats). I think they work best used close-up on "loud" sources.