Schoeps cmc worth the $ over Gefell m200?

[gregory]

quite a price difference there, does the quality of sound support it? I'm thinking I'd like a modular set of sdc's. I'd be recording only acoustic fingerstyle.

[Baithak]

HI Gregory:

The Schoeps seem to have better - i.e. more uniform - off axis response and depending on the capsule, have an uncanny ability to be true to source yet musical.

Re. the Gefell, I have only now started using the M295 and from the recordings that I have done, I can tell you with confidence that placement and the room had more to do with the actual sound than the mic. The M295 is a stunning mic that I would gladly use if I did not have access to the Schoeps CMC6/MK41 combo that I prefer.

A badly placed Schoeps is going to be no match for a well placed Gefell.

Finally, to answer your question: All OTHER things being equal, I would prefer a Schoeps to pretty much any other mic out there for acoustic recordings and therefore to ME is worth additional money.

Good luck,
Baithak

[gregory]

Thank you Baithak, you the detailed answer that I believe I actually understand. The more I read into the topic of miking high end acoustics, the more I feel if I don't save for the Schoeps, I'll always be on here reading about them and wishing I did. I have no way to audition these brands so experienced input is much appreciated. thanks greg

[Jonathan Starr]

I have an m200 and several Schoeps in the CMT and CMC families. Every time I have done a side by side, the Schoeps seemed crisper with a more open top end, and the M200 a bit warmer.

My fave for most uses is the Schoeps Mk21 wide card cap.

[desotoslo]

trying to find more impressions of the m200, bump. (Jonathan, want to sell a CMT 34 to me? )

[Don S]

With the economy tanking, you can get a used pair of Schoeps with MK4's for a reasonable price. I picked up a pair for $2200 off Ebay. Another alternative you might want to check out is the Sennheiser 8040. But schoeps does seem to give detail in a very musical way.

[sdelsolray]

I only record solo fingerstyle acoustic and classical guitar. I've tried, used and/or owned many mics over the years. I currently have pairs of Gefell M294, Gefell M295, Schoeps CMC6/MK41 and Peluso P28, along with some others that are probably not very relevant to your inquiry.

It is both easy and difficult to compare the Gefells and the Schoeps. Neither is better than the other, and both are different. I tend to prefer the M295 for most things, but that choice involves my own subjectivity, musical tastes, etc.

The Schoeps do have the advantage of being modular. For example, you can add a MK8 capsule (figure 8) to a pair of CMC6/MK4 (or MK41) and obtain MS recording capabilities.

The Schoeps, to my ears, are musical and euphonic yet at the same time accurate and detailed. The Gefells are stunningly accurate and detailed and provide a beautiful and pleasing recording. Again, neither is better than the other - they are complimentary to each other. Mic placements are indeed important. Either is fairly forgiving in this regard, no doubt due in part to superb off axis response. The Schoeps are a bit more finicky concerning proximity effect than the Gefells.

I do not have much experience with the Gefell SMS 2000 Series (i.e., M200). That Series and the M29x Series share the same mic amp. The capsules are rather different though.

[Magellin]

The Schoeps seem to sound cleaner and more musical, especially in the high end. They have a very good response which seems to make lots of things, especially cymbals and acoustic guitars, just sound 'right' in the recording.