KM84i vs KM184 - Quick Blind Test!

norman_nomad · 29th July 2010

Which do you prefer?

Both mics side-by-side about 1ft from acoustic guitar sound hole. Same Peformance split to two different channels of API 3124 and volume matched. Excuse my clumsy finger picking.

spicemix · 29th July 2010

Well I can tell which is which immediately but I won't say to bias the results. I'll PM. (Update: And I was wrong!)

I would like the KM184's as you know!

Kris · 29th July 2010

km2 for the extra meat. Both clips sound very nice on this acoustic.

norman_nomad · 30th July 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris

km2 for the extra meat. Both clips sound very nice on this acoustic.

Yeah, thanks! I thought both mics did well.

Anyone else care to guess?

norman_nomad · 31st July 2010

Another bump for votes and then I'll reveal.

norman_nomad · 2nd August 2010

And the answer is.....

Km1 = Km84i
Km2 = Km184

spicemix · 2nd August 2010

In most of these comparisons the km84's have been darker than the 184's which tripped me up. But I preferred the richer thd lows on the 84 in this case, as did 75% of the 8 respondents. Thanks for the test! Sell me them when you tire of them...

Piebong · 3rd August 2010

Great comparison, thanks! Both will do the job. I prefer KM1
Pieter

doorknocker · 3rd August 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by norman_nomad

And the answer is.....

Km1 = Km84i
Km2 = Km184

Huh....a blindtest where the OP doesn't wait for the thread to pass the 20th page till the results are delievered.

Luckily, I made up my mind before I saw the result and it wasn't surprising in the least. KM1 just sounds much more 'real' even before you consider the frequency makeup/color/etc.

With KM 184s I always have the feeling like some phase-shifting is going on, for a lack of a better description it sounds 'watery'. It may be the lack of midrange definition which makes the high-end seem exaggerated.

(Nothing wrong with your fingerpicking BTW, it sounds good!)

tombuur · 2nd September 2010

Thanks for the comparison. I could probably use either, and it would also depend on the song. I find #1 a little muddy, just a little, and preferred #2 before reading the answer. Luckily that coincides with the KM184's I have.

didier.brest · 2nd September 2010

Listened blind to the test and preferred KM1. KM2 sounded harsh by comparison.

Fabi · 4th September 2010

Well for some reason i liked #2 better imediately, sounded somewhat rounder to me.
I am a bit shocked though now that I've looked at the results.
Oh well they were both pretty good though

MarkyGoldstein · 19th September 2010

I think they were both nice. km2 was nicer too me, but very subjective, because it had more 3d and a warmer body and little more lows. The other recording was nice too. They were just a little different.

Schaap · 19th September 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by doorknocker

With KM 184s I always have the feeling like some phase-shifting is going on, for a lack of a better description it sounds 'watery'. It may be the lack of midrange definition which makes the high-end seem exaggerated.

I agree. Km184 is a bit 'chorusing' IMO like around the high tone on 4th sec. Can be a good thing on a rather dull or thin sounding guitar.
Here I prefer the KM84; nice playing BTW

View Poll Results: Which do you prefer?
I prefer km1.	27	61.36%
I prefer km2.	17	38.64%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll

4th September 2010	#12
Fabi Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 314	Well for some reason i liked #2 better imediately, sounded somewhat rounder to me. I am a bit shocked though now that I've looked at the results. Oh well they were both pretty good though __________________

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29th July 2010	#2
spicemix Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,305	Well I can tell which is which immediately but I won't say to bias the results. I'll PM. (Update: And I was wrong!) I would like the KM184's as you know!

29th July 2010	#3
Kris Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 2,418	km2 for the extra meat. Both clips sound very nice on this acoustic.

31st July 2010	#5
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,705 Thread Starter	Another bump for votes and then I'll reveal.

2nd August 2010	#6
norman_nomad Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,705 Thread Starter	And the answer is..... Km1 = Km84i Km2 = Km184

3rd August 2010	#8
Piebong Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tegelen The Netherlands Posts: 67	Great comparison, thanks! Both will do the job. I prefer KM1 Pieter

2nd September 2010	#10
tombuur Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 254	Thanks for the comparison. I could probably use either, and it would also depend on the song. I find #1 a little muddy, just a little, and preferred #2 before reading the answer. Luckily that coincides with the KM184's I have.

2nd September 2010	#11
didier.brest Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,669	Listened blind to the test and preferred KM1. KM2 sounded harsh by comparison.

19th September 2010	#13
MarkyGoldstein Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Paris Posts: 905	I think they were both nice. km2 was nicer too me, but very subjective, because it had more 3d and a warmer body and little more lows. The other recording was nice too. They were just a little different.