I've been using the Sennheiser E855, the EV ND 767a and the Shure SM58s now for a week. I have until the 25th of Sept to return two of the Mics for a Visa credit.

They all sound great to my ears. However, when I turn on the ih Harmony machine (made especially for the Korg i series keyboard), one seems to stand out for balance and clarity. The other two seem not to balance the four-part harmony as well. Some voices seem over-powering with these two Mics. Maybe it's because of my Mackie mixer, the speakers or my voice, I don't know!

Maybe if I took a year or more to fool around with the EQ etc. I might like one of them better, but I don't have that much time.

I'm trying them with my Mackie 808s mixer set flat. They all have plenty of bass without EQing the mixer.

Dave made fun of me with a comment about he "couldn't stand the suspense." So, I'm not telling which Mic it is. If anyone wants to know which Mic I like best, you may email me and I will tell you, but you have to promise on your mother's grave that you won't tell UD which Mic it is. OK?

58

Fran, what if UD can figure that out?

...yawn............ Boo, Boo, Boo ........

You guys are getting boring, however you are informative.

Boo,

I bought the EV ND 767a based on the good Uncle's recommendation. It is a great mic for me. Please email me with your choice.

See you at Don's in January?

Tom

Boo, please 'add me' to your favored mic choice email list as well. You really got me curious now. - Scott

58?

Boo, don't email me, I already know.

Glen,
Who's been telling so I'll know who can't keep a secret! Before you know it, Dave will know.

Boo, add me to that email list also please.
I can't wait much longer. Please hurry
Denny

The more modern mics as a rule don't require as much, or at least the same, e.q. as the SM58. When I use SM87 or Sennheiser they don't need the highs and lows boosted and the mids cut, as most people set them. Each mic has it's own individual characteristics, and must be properly e.q.'d.
DonM

Senn 855 just arrived. I'll try it tonight and give my opinion on how it compares to SM58, 845, 835, SM87 and Behringer.
DonM

Boo told me on the phone last night that "If I had a year to work with the EQ's and other settings, I would probably like the Sennheiser more than the others."

That narrows it down to two!

Gary

Just got in after using the 855 on the job. It's a really good mic. Very little e.q. necessary, very feedback-resistant, very smooth throughout the sound spectrum.
It compares favorably with the SM87, which is a condenser mic. Pretty much blows away the SM58. I haven't used an EV in a long time, but it sort of reminds me of the older EV condenser mics, except better.
I use the really cheap Behringer mics for guests, and they are remarkable for the money. Very close to SM58, and something like 3 for $50.00!
DonM

Another thing! The EV is definitely the loudest and feeds back at the lowest volume setting of the three Mics, especially with my Carvin amp I noticed, and also with the Mackie 808s. So it has more volume at lower settings I suppose is the way to describe it.

I also noticed that the Sennheiser and the EV really make my troublesome "S" sounds stand out way too much. It’s very very noticeable.

Words like "since", "shall", "sweet" etc sound worst with the Sennheiser and the EV for me. I even tried fooling with the EQ and it's still a problem., but maybe not for you. Don't forget I have that weird Cajun accent. Where I come from we call folks like DonM "Yankees". Ha! Ha!

For my voice and gear and especially my accent with the "S" sounding words "problem" and the ih harmony machine, I notice a distinct difference in the three mics. If you have the "S" sounding problem, and are not happy with the balance of the 4 part harmony with your particular gear, then you really should check out the SM58. It is super smooth for such problems.

The SM58 has been around so long and people still brag about them so much it's like the Bible. There are more of them being used then all the other Mics put together even if it's not true here on the forum. However, I'd say there are more of them used here on the forum then any other Mic also. It’s just that the ones that use them do not voice their opinions as much as some of us do.

Call some of the internet dealers and ask them which mic they sell the most of. What about this statement George Kaye, Dan?

Let’s hear it from the quite (I believe)majority of SM58 users!!

Boo,
That SSSS sound is called "beter high-end response". It's a good thing, you can also turn down the high-end e.q. boost.
But there's certainly nothing at all wrong with SM58. I've used one off and on forever, and most of the time for the past year. With it, I have to cut the mids (about 1.2K), boost the lows (80K) and highs (9-12k).
With the Sennheiser 855, my mic e.q. is relatively flat.
ALL these mics are way overpriced. Compare them to the Behringers and Samsons and they are 3-4 times as much. And I'll bet they are built any better, or last any longer.
DonM

Don to get the "SSSS" out with Senn and EV, I had to set one of the EQ's way down. Then it set the sound different for the keyboard.

Mackie has a diagram of how to set the EQ for (I don't know what I'm saying here but it is in the manual) warmth, presence etc. This setting works with the SM58, but it gets feed-back bad with the EV. I had to change one of the EQ sliders.

All I'm saying is, for a green horn PA guy like me, the SM58 is gonna be hard to beat. I put everything flat the keyboard sounds good and I like the sound of my voice through the SM58 especially when you eliminate the "SSSS" sounds.

The most amazing thing about this post is there were comments about no dealer letting you try and return a mic because of laws and germs etc. Here I've had 3 Mic's to try and I can return 2 of them, and I didn't get one request for the dealers name. Now that I've made this statement I won't tell because I don't want negative comments against the dealer.

I'm headed to Denver Thursday morning. I'll be there until Monday. I'll miss the forum.

[This message has been edited by brickboo (edited 09-01-2004).]

Boo, I guess I was right!!!

Fran I'm glad you chimed in again. I wanted to know how you figured that out. What do you know about this matter. Just curious.

Brickboo, about the "SSSSS"...

There one little solution to avoid those sibilance: try to position the mic not in front of your mouth but in the corner, when saying a word with "S". You'll notice the mic will "hear" your voice without those "S".

I hope I can help something!

Luis Santos

Luis,

I naturally work a mic for low and high notes it comes natural but I will have to try your approach. But it doesn't seem to be a problem with the SM58.

That's because the 58 can't reproduce those higher frequencies clearly. If you like that dark sound - the 58 is a great choice, but the sizzle is all teh rage today ... even bass sounds are adding horns to bring out the highs. It adds definition and clarity and allows for better mix with less volume.
It's always about personal taste though, so you go ahead and use the 58 and I wish you the best. if I had to go back to one, I'd be hoarse by the second set.