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KM84i vs KM184 - Quick Blind Test!

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

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Old 29th July 2010   #1
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KM84i vs KM184 - Quick Blind Test!

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.
Attached Files
File Type: wav KM1.wav (4.16 MB, 1773 views)
File Type: wav KM2.wav (4.16 MB, 1665 views)
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Old 29th July 2010   #2
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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!
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Old 29th July 2010   #3
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km2 for the extra meat. Both clips sound very nice on this acoustic.
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Old 29th July 2010   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris View Post
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?
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Old 31st July 2010   #5
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Another bump for votes and then I'll reveal.
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Old 2nd August 2010   #6
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And the answer is.....

Km1 = Km84i
Km2 = Km184
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Old 2nd August 2010   #7
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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...
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Old 3rd August 2010   #8
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Great comparison, thanks! Both will do the job. I prefer KM1
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Old 3rd August 2010   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norman_nomad View Post
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!)
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Old 2nd September 2010   #10
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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.
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Old 2nd September 2010   #11
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Listened blind to the test and preferred KM1. KM2 sounded harsh by comparison.
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Old 3rd September 2010   #12
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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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Old 19th September 2010   #13
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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.
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Old 19th September 2010   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doorknocker View Post
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
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