Sonic Signature of Schoeps CMC6-MK2 and Sennheiser MKH8020

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by Audiop

My guess is that equalized for same response you would not see this difference in peak vs. RMS level.


/Peter

Hi Peter-
I have not found this to be true-or put another way, I try to compare microphones/files that are closely similar in response, and then one can EQ slightly for a better match if wanted. I do observe a spectral display when making such comparisons.

Often, level differences of 2-3 dB RMS (sometimes more) are common and can be measured between mic's/files with the same peak levels.

Matching timbre concerns more than compensating for peaks-usually there are other characteristics, too, such as frequency "troughs" and different extension in the lower and upper end extension-as is the case when comparing the 137/141's to something like the MK5.

The 141's or 137's are interesting because they have thin diaphragms, are fast, and they are medium size (not small) diaphragm mic's. They sound a little "in your face" and a little non-3D, yet a pair can still sound further away than some other similar mic's. Curious.

I started paying attention to this a long time ago when I observed huge differences in the way VU meters (remember those?) and LED peak displays responded to the slow large diaphragm mic's and the extremely small diaphragm mic's I was using at the time. The VU meters looked as if they would become unhinged, and the LED's seem to dance with the tiny diaphragm mic's.

The new Sennheisers are among the "audibly fast" microphones, IMO. The reproduction of a "silent" room is quite a dynamic affair with these mic's. These mic's do have broad subtle (or not) rises, but their speed and thus dynamic range seem independent of that. Their space is related to their speed, IMO.

[studentjohn36]

CMC6-MK2: refined/golden timbre, slight emphasis on tone over timbre - "Bosendorfer of mics"

MKH8020: bronzed timbre, slight emphasis on timbre over tone - "Steinway of mics"

So what would you consider the Bechstein of mics? And the August Forster of mics?