An interesting mic discovery...
I certainly don't need any more mics..I have a really good personal collection plus a load more used on contract jobs....but... I also can't resist trying interesting things out, especially when, as in this case, I got a full set of two small diaphragm true condensers (non-electret) complete with interchangeable omni, cardiod and hypercardiod capsules for the grand total of £54 (€60/$70) including international shipping... normally, they would have been £53 each (still cheap!) but there was a warehouse clearance deal at UK supplier Studiospares AND I had an extra 35% off limited time voucher.. so I used it.
The first assumption might be that any mic for this price must be low grade junk.
Actually, not. This brings us to a weird thing about a large percentage of the Chinese-origin mics on the market... there are only a certain number of actual manufacturers, but a very large number of companies who order these mics with different 'paint jobs' and re-brand them....these are a case in point. They carry Studiospares own model number (S1200) and brand, but, you will also find these identical mics with other brand names on them.
Take a look. Do you recognise them?
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If you are familiar with the CAD E70, the Advanced Audio CM-54, ADK SC-2 and several other well known models that individually sell for anything from $120 to $270 each you might get a sense of Deja Vu....yes, these are the same mics. Indeed, the same mics with extras, as in this case you get the full range of interchangeable capsules 'free' instead of just (typically) the omni and cardiod versions. If the body looks familiar, you might also recognise it as forming the main part of the Peluso CEMC-6....
These are, in reality, made by the Chinese manufacturer Feilo and bear the designation CR1-14. They have 20mm capsules, a two-stage pad and both 75Hz and 150Hz rolloff filters. I cannot be totally sure, but I believe this same capsule set also appears in combination with yet another mic body bearing yet another quite well-known brand name.
Build quality is really very good. Solid brass bodies... well finished... overall specs are very respectable. They are not going to give Neumann or Schoeps sleepless nights, but in a typical 'home studio' situation or for live use they are absolutely fine. The provision of three capsules makes them very versatile. Subjectively, with the cardiod capsules fitted they sound easily as good as pretty much any other sub-$200 SDC out there.
Worth knowing, anyway. Keep a sharp lookout as you may well see this same mic appear as other 'own brands' at bargain prices....
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'39 & '45 D-18's, 1950 D-28.
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