Best Vocal Mic Around 
by phagood from Nashville, TN USA, September 2008
Music Background:  Live Sound, Recording Engineer, Music Business Student

I have always used Beta87's on vocals, but I finally broke down and bought this. From the first note to the last I was blown away. Even on a bad PA it sounds rich and smooth. My vocalists always comment on how nice it sounds in their ears or out of wedges. Totally worth the money. I tested out a KSM9 and this is a much smoother mic, and much easier on the ears.

  Worth it 
by Kirk from Temple, TX, July 2008
Music Background:  Musician

I was skeptical that this mic was six times better than my trusty SM58. Gigging with it for a year has confirmed that it was worth it... clear, clean, with incredible body. Our entire band (five singers) has switched and the difference in vocal sound is noticable.

I've also put it in service in my studio for woodwinds and some vocals - very nice.

If you can spare the cash, do it. It's worth it.

  Will NOT dissapoint 
by Lee Rothman from Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2006
Music Background:  Guitarist of 42 years, and Sophomore Engineer

What can I possibly say that hasn't already been "waxed poetic" about this mic. I was very hesitant to spend the moolah for this beauty thinking surely it couldn't be that much better than the other offerings for less. Well, with all due respect IT IS! It brings to the table (or rather stage) those silky smooth characteristics we have all become so familiar (and spoiled) with Neumann for. About the ONLY dissapointment is it is NOT immune to plosives as I sort of thought it might be. If you back off it at least 5 or 6 inches you're fine, but it will encure the rath of those sung "P"s and "B"s if you aren't careful as well. Otherwise it is nice and sensitive so unlike the dynamics you don't have to crank up the gain to get it where you need it to be. Solid as a rock and with that sweet carry bag (I even put it in it's original "hard as nails" carton to take it to a gig. It is pricey, but at least in this case it delivers.

Mashed Potatoes WITH the butter 
by Lee Rothman from Salt Lake City, UT., May 2006

I resisted getting this black beauty for a few months. After reading all the lauditory comments about how it was rich, sweet, added depth to the performer, had a sense of space....and the list goes on. I was using a dynamic mic previously for live work (a Sennheiser e845) which was no slouch to be sure. However it, as all dynamics required a bunch of gain to get it where it needed to be. Also on my male voice it had a darker quality which required some EQ. When I first plugged the 105 in I immediately noticed the lack of self noise, and then that rich character others had described along with a distinct boost in the upper register that allowed me to hear the upper area of my voice without even hitting the EQ. It is much less succeptable to popping from plosives (although if you are within a few inches and sing directly into it you can still get "P" issues. It is without question lighter than the Sennheiser as well. Overall construction is solid indeed. It is pricey, but this lends creedence to the "you get what you pay for" addage. I'm just glad I bit the bullet and now have it available.

KMS105 v AE5400 
by Sean Fitzgerald from Detroit, February 2006

I own both the KMS 105 and the Audio Technica 5400 live vocal condenser and I tested em on stage right next to each other through the same system, same voice, same time, same songs, verse to verse. The KMS 105 is an amazing mic and if you have the money buy it. I bought the 105 used on the spot. The 5400 is really, really good but you CAN tell the difference. A friend thought the difference between the two not worth the 200 buck price difference new. I think I might disagree., but since it was his 105, and I bought it used for a lot less than new, it was a no brainer. I later bought two 5400's which I use at my sound gigs and open mics and they work really well with most singers in an acoustic show environment and they have a slight dark pressence the 105 doesn't. Sometimes I wish I'd brought the KMS105 to some of these gigs though. I never feel vice versa with AE5400, though I love it a lot. The Audio Technica Dynamic 4100 is another awesome mic. All these mics far outshine the sm58 and even beta 58. I wish more sound guys and clubs were more open minded intheir mic choices. I

Delicious! 
by Sound Guy from California, March 2005

I was skeptical of the great reviews I'd read on the KMS105, and before trying it, I believed that other mics like the S1 and AT5400 were "probably just as good". I couldn't have been more wrong. Although it's not perfect for every voice, I have found the KMS 105 to be a revelation on my voice and on most others I've tried. Clean, clear, "air", and amazingly natural dyanmics are a big part of the reason for my enthusiasm.

I just recently got a copy of the DVD "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" and lo and behold - guess what mic they were using for nearly all the sessions? You got it, the KMS105. The other thing that amazes me about this mic is how rugged it is. I've read many times that "condenser mics aren't meant for the stage" but this mic has held up well over the year that I've owned it.

The bottom line is this - the KMS105 has the ability to make any sound system better. You have to try it to believe it!

Ooooh, Yeah! 
by from Hollywood, CA, January 2004

I guess I lucked out -- I bought this before the price went up. But I'd buy it again at the current price. This mic has it all -- it's durable, and it sounds like a Neumann. If you are the lead singer, do yourself and your music a favor and invest in this mic. You will be glad you did. I use it primarily for my own vocals of course, but I've tried it out on about 10 other singers while engineering at a local club, and I've even used it on my bass amp for gigs where I wasn't singing. I didn't tell the singers I tried it on that it was anything special, and every one of them wanted to know.

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