Mxl 550/551

[stevens119]

MXL 550/551 - Has anybody tried either of these mics? Seems like a pretty good deal to get 2 mics for $85 at newegg. They are very nice looking microphones. Looks like they sell them in Red and Blue. Kinda silly, almost like choosing the color of your ipod. The use mogami cabling. The response graphs on the MXL site suggest that they are quite bright. Which is good news to me, as I tend to like microphones with steep high end curves. I may have to get them and try them out. I was just curious if anyone had tried them, and what their thoughts were. I will be running them through a super clean pre amp.

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by stevens119

MXL 550/551 - Has anybody tried either of these mics? Seems like a pretty good deal to get 2 mics for $85 at newegg. They are very nice looking microphones. Looks like they sell them in Red and Blue. Kinda silly, almost like choosing the color of your ipod. The use mogami cabling. The response graphs on the MXL site suggest that they are quite bright. Which is good news to me, as I tend to like microphones with steep high end curves. I may have to get them and try them out. I was just curious if anyone had tried them, and what their thoughts were. I will be running them through a super clean pre amp.

I was just wondering the same thing. I'd like to try them out, but I can't find enough info on them anywhere. I haven't seen any reviews. I wonder if that says something. Hmm...

[BudgetMC]

Looks to be a 603/990 combo with paint and body changes, respectively.

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

Looks to be a 603/990 combo with paint and body changes, respectively.

The 551 is definitely a painted 603, but the 550 is a new body design, similar to the R44 / R144 ribbon. But what I find interesting about the 550 is the capsule appears to use a white plastic diaphragm retainer ring - not brass like most other K67-type MXL mic capsule which suggests a new variant. Very peaked HF response specs though. Can't argue with the Newegg.com $85 price for a couple of good mod platforms.

Originally Posted by stevens119

MXL 550/551 -...They are very nice looking microphones. Looks like they sell them in Red and Blue. Kinda silly, almost like choosing the color of your ipod..

Not silly at all. MXL being a marketing company, is dialed into the concept of "personalization" as you suggest. Color in mics, a practice pioneered by BLUE / Violet, is a spreading trend - Avant, MXL...

[Lifted]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

The 551 is definitely a painted 603, but the 550 is a new body design, similar to the R44 / R144 ribbon. But what I find interesting about the 550 is the capsule appears to use a white plastic diaphragm retainer ring - not brass like most other K67-type MXL mic capsule which suggests a new variant. Very peaked HF response specs though. Can't argue with the Newegg.com $85 price for a couple of good mod platforms.



Not silly at all. MXL being a marketing company, is dialed into the concept of "personalization" as you suggest. Color in mics, a practice pioneered by BLUE / Violet, is a spreading trend - Avant, MXL...

I got one MXL 4000, and even though I'm not extremely excited about the mic, I have to say that Chinese is making improvements every year. I can see them finally flooding the market with good mics in the future.

Though I gotta say MXL 4000 serves me good, for some purposes

P.S. Avant CV-12 is a sexy looking mic, haven't heard it, but it looks sexy

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by stevens119

MXL 550/551 - Has anybody tried either of these mics? Seems like a pretty good deal to get 2 mics for $85 at newegg. They are very nice looking microphones. Looks like they sell them in Red and Blue. Kinda silly, almost like choosing the color of your ipod. The use mogami cabling. The response graphs on the MXL site suggest that they are quite bright. Which is good news to me, as I tend to like microphones with steep high end curves. I may have to get them and try them out. I was just curious if anyone had tried them, and what their thoughts were. I will be running them through a super clean pre amp.

I just purchased the set/kit and put both mics to the test yesterday while recording drums. Quick assessment:

550 - Amazing subsonic kick sound 6 inches off of a non-ported Birch 16"x20" kick drum. Using a blanket to cover the drum & mic, it isolated the lows of the kick and during mixing I only brought up the shure dynamic mic inside the kick when I wanted to hear a little more attack. I'm hoping to try it on acoustic/electric guitar, cello, and who knows what else. But at the very least I now have a "go to" kick setup that's under the price of both the Beta 52 & AKG D112.

551 - Being the mic that was originally my sole reason as to buying the package, I had a lot of hopes riding on this little feller. After having heavenly success employing an AKG 460B on snares, I have been on a holy quest to find an affordable alternative to that unattainable holy grail. The 551 was clipping at moderate volume. From what was recorded before the clipping I am now left with the choice of trying to mod the mic for a higher SPL (rated @ 130db), or trying out the MXL V67n.j

Mr. Joly, would the Premium MXL 603 and Hidden '84 Mods work on the 551? And do any of these mods increase the Max SPL?