Need your opinions on a few mics(KEL Hm7u, ST66, Rode Nt2A)

[Maverick87]

Looking for some input on a few of these microphones. Im looking for a little variety in sound. Im about to buy a Studio Projects CS1, and Ive been looking at getting a few others in this price range that Im dying to try and have, which are the Blue Spark, and CAD M9 also.

BUT, Im very curious to know what you guys think about the KEL Hm7u, Rode Nt2a, and Sterling Audio ST66 microphones. I noticed theyre all more expensive, and if they are worth it, Ill gladly save up for some of them. I already own an Sterling Audio ST51, but it seems a little too brittle sounding, but Ive heard the ST66 sounds beautiful on vocals, much warmer and less brittle.

I listened to an audio clip of the HM7u and it seems to get a lot of love so far, though I HAVE seen one review saying its peaked in the wrong frequencies. It seems like it would suit my voice and be able to sit in the mix well.

Does the Rode Nt2A have the same weird sounding mids that the nt1a has? I dont know this from experience about the nt1a, but Ive read many people say it has some weird things going on in the mids and even sounds a little 'tinny'. Wondering if the Nt2a is a solid step up or close and similar.

I should mention the mics would be used strictly for vocals for now, and the vocals are usually layered a lot, and would be running through a GAP Pre73--MobilePre--DAW. I know for a fact Im starting with the CS1, and I also know I want the M9. The room will also be treated with homemade bass traps and ProSoundFoam. I want to make sure I have solid options from bright mics and warm mics. The M9 seems to have that nice warm tube sound, and Ive heard nice audio clips recorded with these. I should also mention that a friend of mine is letting me borrow a Shure SM57 so Ill have that in the mix as well.

I guess Im just looking for some feedback on the three mics in the thread title because these are the ones Im interested in for the future, especially because theyre more expensive than the first two Im getting. *Sigh* I can tell Im gonna be one of these guys who ends up spending insane money and having a deep mic collection because Im just that greedy and want to try and have them all... haha. We dont have a good music store with the options to try all of these around here, but Im sure soon here my curiosity will take me and the other rapper in my duo out to a Guitar Center or something to try some out. Anyways Ill stop rambling and leave the rest to you guys..

[guitarboy94]

From your list, here are the mics I've used, owned or currently own:

Kel HM7u
Rode Nt1a
Rode Nt2a
Cad M9

Of these 4, the CAD m9 remains my personal favorite for my vocals (I'm a mid register tenor). To me the Kel M7U and M9 have similar qualities: Warm mids with a smooth sheen on the top end. However, the CAD is about 200 bucks cheaper than the Kel. The M9 might be a touch brighter than the Kel.

The Rode NT1a and Nt2a sound pretty similar to my ears. They both have that bright Rode thing going on. Maybe the Nt2a is slightly smoother in the highs. It's never been very clear to me whether or not the Nt2a and NT1a share similar capsules. I believe the Nt2a has the cardioid/figure 8/omni options.


For your info, the CAD M9 and Joly Modded Oktava 319 are my two absolute favorite vocal mics, and that's after sampling nearly 50 mics over the course of a year. Amazing quality with these two mics, and sort of opposite of each other as far as sonic characteristics.