Doesn't anyone besides me ever check volume levels between these kinds of samples? I'm a mechanical engineer too, but I don't need the degree to hear 1 to 3 dB differences in sound levels. And I see this over and over in posted comparisons...
When the samples are matched in gain the difference is quite... different. I realize they are said to be matched mics... I assume identical cable and preamps... so *something* is responsible for the level variance... if the M600 is doing that then it's worth something there. I'd swap mic positions, cables, and preamps and repeat a second round as well if I were doing it and heard that much difference.
But the raw tonal differences are not nearly as extreme when set to the same levels. I fool myself all the time with comparisons on my own systems and recordings like that.
Thanks for the clips Sunflute, good ideas worth exploring there. Perhaps the M600 really can add some value but I'm not convinced yet from the samples.
Steve