IMO the OC818 is the winner here. It's the most natural and smooth, and remember you can always add air if you need to, but the other ones here are quite colored in comparison. None of them are bad by any means but the OC818 has something special... infact if you compare it against the U47 and go back and forth, they sound incredibly similar. U47 sounds great but the OC818 in this example sounds prettttyyy similar with a small tad bit more air than the U47. Amazing.
This is not a joke, I was skeptical about the sony given all its hype. Watched this video, I am left MOUTH-OPEN. Oh my god!!!! This is the first and perhaps only time I will have the opportunity to listen to a 800G and a U87 together. Sony is just miles ahead, no joke wow I love that flat modern pop sound with extended crisp high end. And to think this mic is NOT NEW!! I am so jealous of those who own an 800 for real enjoy your mic its pure gold
Lovely and useful comparison work! The SONY C880G is hands down unbeatable for this type of job. Female vocals (almost always) sound absolutely amazing on it. Silky, clear and extremely present; puts your lead vocals right in front of the mix. The Neumann mics also have warmth, depth and presence. Prefer the vintage U47 over the U87 in this context. The Ehrlund EHR-M feels unnatural and very exaggerated in the treble range, but on the other hand I know it handles EQ well. The Austrian Audio OC818 is another good, full sounding mic, very versatile. It does many jobs well, but adds a bit of boomy low mid which isn't always desirable. In my very humble opinion, lead vocals are better handled with one of the crisper (and more expensive mics). Outside this comparison, I also love the Audio-Technica AT5047 and the Manley Reference Cardioid.
Great review! Usually there are bottlenecks in the reviewers chain, especially acoustic environment, that makes the gap between cheap and expensive microphones appear less than it really is. In this review/demonstration it becomes (disappointingly?) clear that you mostly get what you pay for. The biggest exeption to my ear is the Ehrlund. IMHO: The Ehrlund is very tight, very even and super clean - some would say sterile - or as a guy at our local music store said "it's too good". Unlike my fellow countryman below I think the Ehrlund sounds very natural and accurate; it's just that it's different and I have some thoughts about just that. Having done extensive tests on my Merging Anubis and Horus pre-amps on both the EHR-M and more recently the EHR-H, a common trait of the Ehrlund's is the way the membrane handles dynamics; always in control and always managing to give the right amount of weight to what ever is thrown at it. Revealing and a bit unforgiving. The fast response and non resonant presentation makes them (initially) sound a bit, dare I say, lifeless compared to some other premium microphones, but after a long day comparing the EHR-M (handheld live microphone) to our KMS 104 and the SR314 on male (baritone)and female (alto/mezzo) vocals I came to prefer the overall presentation of the Ehrlund. The Neumann was no competition, but the Earthworks had a nice shimmer to it that the Ehrlund lacked, which was especially evident on male vocals. In post production, however, the Ehrlund proved to be the most flexible of the three and we experienced less penalties when going heavy/adventurous in post. While I had to tame some resonant frequencies on the Neumann, and to a lesser degree the Earthworks, the Ehrlund just needed a tiny bit of adjutments - this is, perhaps, the Ehrlund's greatest strength. The "lifelessness", I believe, is just this lack of artificial resonance - once in the mix they sound brilliant. One thing to note is that the handheld version is sensitive to plosives and some vocalists might need an additional popfilter.
Thanks for writing this. I'm just in the process of deciding between the Ehrlund ehr-h and the Earthworks sr314 but unfortunately there are no direct comparison on RUclips. How do you think the EHR-H compares to the EHR-M? If you have time I would love to hear your recordings of the SR314 and the EHR-H head to head (may just a bit of the soundfile ...
Hello! Unfortunately I didn´t save this session. Ok so this is my/our experiences and thoughts: Compared to the SR314, the EHR-H sounds cleaner and drier. The Earthworks has a nice shimmering quality in the high mids/highs that the Ehrlund lacks. The Ehrlund on the other hand is extremely even, seamless and revealing. Both microphones tackles dynamics very well, but the Ehrlund keeps it´s tonality unusually well, regardless of the level of input. Both microphones have rich and controlled low end response - the SR314 has just a tad more low end output (about 1dB or so at 200Hz from what I remember), but the Ehrlund is more controlled when you move close to the microphone. The Earthworks is about as sensetive to plosives as the KMS 104, which is about average, but the Ehrlund is unusually sensitive to plosives for a handheld; the sollution is to angle the microphone a little more than you´re used to. The Ehrlund was easier to work with in post production and with it´s very tidy, extended, controlled and clean sound I imagine it will work beautifully in any scenario. I haven´t tried it in a live situation yet, but from what I´ve heard the membrane is very feedback resistant. You couldn´t go wrong with the Earthworks either; it sounds more lush out of the box and it looks amazing. Post production (and I would think that this holds true in a live situation too), however, we found that the Ehrlund came out on top. We also tested the microphones (including our Neumann KMS 104) through my wifes Focusrite Scarlett; while the Neumann certainly sounded better on the Anubis, the Earthworks and the Ehrlund benefited tremendously from the upgrade. They really need a good preamp to truly shine. It´s been a while since I tested the EHR-M, but I clearly remember being blown away by it. To my ear, through the preamps on a Merging Horus, it sounded much cleaner and fuller than a U87 we had rented that weekend. It was kind of a eureka moment (like hearing Rush or Pat Metheny for the first time as a kid). It had the same basic characteristics as the EHR-H, but it sounded more open and a bit warmer (if memory serves me right). This was a microphone (as was the handhelds) that were kindly lent to us by a local music store, so we used the microphones as little as possible, only putting them through tests that we have found to reveal strengths and weaknesess. Anyway, we will be ordering both the EHR-H and the EHR-M later this week. That became quite a rant - sorry about that - but I really feel strongly about these microphones and really hope that this brand gets the recognition I think it deserves.
wow the sony is outstanding, 2nd best imho for her voice is the oc818 and 3rd best I would say was the u47, although it is very vintage sounding and can't really be compared to the other ones
looks like she’s standing different distances from the mics. Also there’s no way her performance on the first mic wasn’t vastly different from the rest of em
A whistling harmonic keeps resonating and modulating something nasty in the 3.3-5 kHz region (depending on each mic's response) in every example. The OC18 limited it somewhat at times, and the C800G's balance compensated a little better than the others. The EHR-M and U87 hardly sounded much better than the cheapies in this freq region. [through Focal CMS 50 on my end]
i like the coloration and detail of the u87 the most. i don't know what they are doing but the coloration sounds more alive than any other mic. the detail of the lct 440 pure is amazing as well maybe a bit too much in the higher frequeny range. oc818 is very neutral, not emphasizing the airy details.
I am a singer and I am confused between AKG P220 and LEWITT LCT 240 PRO. I need it for my home vocal recording and have a untreated room. My vocal timber is in mid-highs. I have AUDIENT EVO 4 interface.
There seems a noticeable difference when you move up in price between the Aston and the Oc18 but after that not so much,not nearly enough to warrant the price differentials, of course I’m just doing bedroom youtube videos so not such an issue and also I’m only listening through the compressed youtube channel so perhaps not giving them all a fair crack either, thank you for doing this though it is one of the best mic videos available imo.
the OC818 has a double membrane capsule inside that practically support two channels for the front and back. i guess that dual membrane or dual capsule setup makes quite a difference
I've had one for about a year now and I love it! Definitely the best mic I've found for under 1K My dream / fav mic is the SONY C800g because of that super-extended treble and tube. I love how airy and present it is My love for the c800 is the reason i got the Spirit, cause they're both airy and bright, but the aston is hardly as flat as the c800, but the 800 DOES cost more than 10x more 😬
Hello good sir. I'm commenting from the Caribbean . I'm just stepping into the voice over industry. My budget at the moment does not allow me to even think about microphones above $350 u.s. I researched both the lewitt lot 240 pro and the lct 440 pure. The 240 has a high self noise, while the 440 is at 7dB A. . Which of your low cost microphone would you recommend for voice over?
Hi, Looking to pick Austrian Audio OC818 or Ehrlund EHR - M or Lewitt 640 S or Slate Digital ML-1 (VMS) for all around 1 Mic recording (Small home studio more for Vocals and some acoustic instruments as Piano / Guitars). I liked the OC818 Technology, but the Ehrlund sounds fenomenal in this video. Slate is more for curiosity and Lewitt could be an affordable all around mic. But I always like one Mic with great sound. Any advise here ? Thank you (Orlando / FL - USA).
@@dcoverzsessions Depends which models you are comparing together. Both are great devices. The dynamic range on Antelope is very powerful and sounds better.
Yeah....I'm looking and the mic you're showing as a Neuman U87 is actually the WARM WA47 so that kinda confused the heck out of me. It's a phenomenal mic for warm yet super crisp vocals though and the pre-amp is also great!
1:50 lct 440 pure
4:12 u87 Ai
4:35 u 47
2:37
ASTON SPIRIT
4:12
NEUMANN U87
4:58
SONY C800G
thank you, Vahagn! Cool test. Unfortunately it's not "the one take" but for understanding mic's character it's very good.
The best take for me it’s with the cheapest mic. But yes, we can get the sound differences between mics.
Thanks for getting straight to the point and quickly delivering your verdict. No fill, no fluff. Nice Job.
That Sony C800G is amazing, but I have to say, the Lewitt LCT 240 Pro sounds shockingly smooth for a $150 microphone. Absolutely incredible.
The Neumann vintage captured some soul along with the voice
The C800G is louder than the rest. Thank you for recording this shootout though! I'm considering the OC818.
@Darren Francis Idk why but lewitts sound really flat to me
IMO the OC818 is the winner here. It's the most natural and smooth, and remember you can always add air if you need to, but the other ones here are quite colored in comparison. None of them are bad by any means but the OC818 has something special... infact if you compare it against the U47 and go back and forth, they sound incredibly similar. U47 sounds great but the OC818 in this example sounds prettttyyy similar with a small tad bit more air than the U47. Amazing.
This is not a joke, I was skeptical about the sony given all its hype. Watched this video, I am left MOUTH-OPEN. Oh my god!!!! This is the first and perhaps only time I will have the opportunity to listen to a 800G and a U87 together. Sony is just miles ahead, no joke wow I love that flat modern pop sound with extended crisp high end. And to think this mic is NOT NEW!! I am so jealous of those who own an 800 for real enjoy your mic its pure gold
Lovely and useful comparison work! The SONY C880G is hands down unbeatable for this type of job. Female vocals (almost always) sound absolutely amazing on it. Silky, clear and extremely present; puts your lead vocals right in front of the mix. The Neumann mics also have warmth, depth and presence. Prefer the vintage U47 over the U87 in this context. The Ehrlund EHR-M feels unnatural and very exaggerated in the treble range, but on the other hand I know it handles EQ well. The Austrian Audio OC818 is another good, full sounding mic, very versatile. It does many jobs well, but adds a bit of boomy low mid which isn't always desirable. In my very humble opinion, lead vocals are better handled with one of the crisper (and more expensive mics). Outside this comparison, I also love the Audio-Technica AT5047 and the Manley Reference Cardioid.
Respect people like you, you are obsessed with microphones like me :)
Great review! Usually there are bottlenecks in the reviewers chain, especially acoustic environment, that makes the gap between cheap and expensive microphones appear less than it really is. In this review/demonstration it becomes (disappointingly?) clear that you mostly get what you pay for. The biggest exeption to my ear is the Ehrlund.
IMHO: The Ehrlund is very tight, very even and super clean - some would say sterile - or as a guy at our local music store said "it's too good". Unlike my fellow countryman below I think the Ehrlund sounds very natural and accurate; it's just that it's different and I have some thoughts about just that. Having done extensive tests on my Merging Anubis and Horus pre-amps on both the EHR-M and more recently the EHR-H, a common trait of the Ehrlund's is the way the membrane handles dynamics; always in control and always managing to give the right amount of weight to what ever is thrown at it. Revealing and a bit unforgiving. The fast response and non resonant presentation makes them (initially) sound a bit, dare I say, lifeless compared to some other premium microphones, but after a long day comparing the EHR-M (handheld live microphone) to our KMS 104 and the SR314 on male (baritone)and female (alto/mezzo) vocals I came to prefer the overall presentation of the Ehrlund. The Neumann was no competition, but the Earthworks had a nice shimmer to it that the Ehrlund lacked, which was especially evident on male vocals. In post production, however, the Ehrlund proved to be the most flexible of the three and we experienced less penalties when going heavy/adventurous in post. While I had to tame some resonant frequencies on the Neumann, and to a lesser degree the Earthworks, the Ehrlund just needed a tiny bit of adjutments - this is, perhaps, the Ehrlund's greatest strength. The "lifelessness", I believe, is just this lack of artificial resonance - once in the mix they sound brilliant. One thing to note is that the handheld version is sensitive to plosives and some vocalists might need an additional popfilter.
Thanks for writing this. I'm just in the process of deciding between the Ehrlund ehr-h and the Earthworks sr314 but unfortunately there are no direct comparison on RUclips. How do you think the EHR-H compares to the EHR-M? If you have time I would love to hear your recordings of the SR314 and the EHR-H head to head (may just a bit of the soundfile ...
Hello! Unfortunately I didn´t save this session. Ok so this is my/our experiences and thoughts: Compared to the SR314, the EHR-H sounds cleaner and drier. The Earthworks has a nice shimmering quality in the high mids/highs that the Ehrlund lacks. The Ehrlund on the other hand is extremely even, seamless and revealing. Both microphones tackles dynamics very well, but the Ehrlund keeps it´s tonality unusually well, regardless of the level of input. Both microphones have rich and controlled low end response - the SR314 has just a tad more low end output (about 1dB or so at 200Hz from what I remember), but the Ehrlund is more controlled when you move close to the microphone. The Earthworks is about as sensetive to plosives as the KMS 104, which is about average, but the Ehrlund is unusually sensitive to plosives for a handheld; the sollution is to angle the microphone a little more than you´re used to. The Ehrlund was easier to work with in post production and with it´s very tidy, extended, controlled and clean sound I imagine it will work beautifully in any scenario. I haven´t tried it in a live situation yet, but from what I´ve heard the membrane is very feedback resistant. You couldn´t go wrong with the Earthworks either; it sounds more lush out of the box and it looks amazing. Post production (and I would think that this holds true in a live situation too), however, we found that the Ehrlund came out on top.
We also tested the microphones (including our Neumann KMS 104) through my wifes Focusrite Scarlett; while the Neumann certainly sounded better on the Anubis, the Earthworks and the Ehrlund benefited tremendously from the upgrade. They really need a good preamp to truly shine.
It´s been a while since I tested the EHR-M, but I clearly remember being blown away by it. To my ear, through the preamps on a Merging Horus, it sounded much cleaner and fuller than a U87 we had rented that weekend. It was kind of a eureka moment (like hearing Rush or Pat Metheny for the first time as a kid). It had the same basic characteristics as the EHR-H, but it sounded more open and a bit warmer (if memory serves me right). This was a microphone (as was the handhelds) that were kindly lent to us by a local music store, so we used the microphones as little as possible, only putting them through tests that we have found to reveal strengths and weaknesess. Anyway, we will be ordering both the EHR-H and the EHR-M later this week.
That became quite a rant - sorry about that - but I really feel strongly about these microphones and really hope that this brand gets the recognition I think it deserves.
Aston spirit best 😎
Definetly miles ahead of Origin
I have the black edition origin . It’s warm and well balanced for vocals .
Thanks for that great comparison! The Sony sounds incredible - for me second best is the U47. But I also like the Aston Spirit.
wow the sony is outstanding, 2nd best imho for her voice is the oc818 and 3rd best I would say was the u47, although it is very vintage sounding and can't really be compared to the other ones
My preference: C12>251>C800g in that order for most female vocals
looks like she’s standing different distances from the mics. Also there’s no way her performance on the first mic wasn’t vastly different from the rest of em
A whistling harmonic keeps resonating and modulating something nasty in the 3.3-5 kHz region (depending on each mic's response) in every example. The OC18 limited it somewhat at times, and the C800G's balance compensated a little better than the others. The EHR-M and U87 hardly sounded much better than the cheapies in this freq region.
[through Focal CMS 50 on my end]
@@shaft9000l i dont hear anything that weird at 3k. something's going on around 750 though.
Aston Spirit is natural - the best of all, then U47 vintage and then Sony C800
Seriously that Aston on another level it’s like a mix of what the u87 and c800g do that’s wild 😮
i like the coloration and detail of the u87 the most. i don't know what they are doing but the coloration sounds more alive than any other mic.
the detail of the lct 440 pure is amazing as well maybe a bit too much in the higher frequeny range. oc818 is very neutral, not emphasizing the airy details.
I am a singer and I am confused between AKG P220 and LEWITT LCT 240 PRO.
I need it for my home vocal recording and have a untreated room.
My vocal timber is in mid-highs.
I have AUDIENT EVO 4 interface.
Same confusion for me..what did you pick my friend?
@@GoodVibes-qs4iu I have 440 pure for my voice not impressed
The Ehrlund is very special, EQ and plugins will react totally different to the other mics. It’s amazing, but sometimes too much details.
There seems a noticeable difference when you move up in price between the Aston and the Oc18 but after that not so much,not nearly enough to warrant the price differentials, of course I’m just doing bedroom youtube videos so not such an issue and also I’m only listening through the compressed youtube channel so perhaps not giving them all a fair crack either, thank you for doing this though it is one of the best mic videos available imo.
Lewitt 240 is a bargain. Low end mics have come a really long way.
I must be going deff because I honestly cant tell that much of a difference in quality. 😢
Aston Spirit and OC818
Sony C800G and U87
Why does the OC18 and 8181 sounded so different? weren't they supposed to be identical enough to create a matched pair?
the OC818 has a double membrane capsule inside that practically support two channels for the front and back. i guess that dual membrane or dual capsule setup makes quite a difference
I had never heard of the Aston Spirit before finding this video, but damn it sounds like a really good mic
I keep forgetting how amazing the C800 is.
Aston spirit woooow 😯is the best
I've had one for about a year now and I love it!
Definitely the best mic I've found for under 1K
My dream / fav mic is the SONY C800g because of that super-extended treble and tube. I love how airy and present it is
My love for the c800 is the reason i got the Spirit, cause they're both airy and bright, but the aston is hardly as flat as the c800, but the 800 DOES cost more than 10x more
😬
SE2300 VS PURE 440 - WHAT IS BETTER ?
thank you so much!
one question , what stand mic are you using for the Aston Spirit?
The spirit has a threaded base so you can screw it directly onto a mic stand without any adapter
Ehrlund Ehr-m all the way!
U87 cannot be beaten. This is the fact.
C800G the best !
Hello good sir. I'm commenting from the Caribbean . I'm just stepping into the voice over industry. My budget at the moment does not allow me to even think about microphones above $350 u.s.
I researched both the lewitt lot 240 pro and the lct 440 pure. The 240 has a high self noise, while the 440 is at 7dB A. . Which of your low cost microphone would you recommend for voice over?
if you have the money 440 is much better
I have the Lewitt 441 flex and I have the Aston spirit, to my ears the Lewitt is more sibilant, given the choice I would go with the Aston mic
Friend, for singers, which one do you recommend, Lewitt 240 or 440?
Both are great but you can choose the 240.
Hi, Looking to pick Austrian Audio OC818 or Ehrlund EHR - M or Lewitt 640 S or Slate Digital ML-1 (VMS) for all around 1 Mic recording (Small home studio more for Vocals and some acoustic instruments as Piano / Guitars). I liked the OC818 Technology, but the Ehrlund sounds fenomenal in this video. Slate is more for curiosity and Lewitt could be an affordable all around mic. But I always like one Mic with great sound. Any advise here ? Thank you (Orlando / FL - USA).
Get Aston Spirit
You mb pro mixing?
Can you make also spoken word comparison next time?
Очень странный звук у "винтажного" U47..
4:12 4:35 4:58
Hello my friend..What audio interface are u using?
Hello! I use Antelope Audio Orion 32+ Gen3 with MP32.
@@VahagnStepanyanMusic Thank you! And something more! in another video of your i saw the uad 8p ..which one do you think is better?
@@dcoverzsessions Antelope is better but I can say more clear when I compare the new UA 16 Apollo with Antelope.
@@VahagnStepanyanMusic So the uad is more warm?
@@dcoverzsessions Depends which models you are comparing together. Both are great devices. The dynamic range on Antelope is very powerful and sounds better.
Great singer though!
As for expensive cable... check out Ethan Winer and his null test.
Yeah....I'm looking and the mic you're showing as a Neuman U87 is actually the WARM WA47 so that kinda confused the heck out of me. It's a phenomenal mic for warm yet super crisp vocals though and the pre-amp is also great!
U87 win......so...win...
wow sony ist very good crazy
wrong thumbnail :)
Студия Арама!
это не студия Арама. Это моя студия - vahagnstepanyan.com/studio