the shinybox mic is pretty cool especially for the money. Compared to most ribbons Ive ever used, its really dark, but smooth- its not grainy sounding like RCA 74's tend to be. I think before changing the transformer I would try removing some of the grill layers first. The shitty transformer in there does a cool thing.
Compared to a royer 121, SF-1 or a coles 4038 its just a different mic, period. It totally and completely can not take the level that a 121 can and I dont mean take the level before exploding but take the level before sounding wierd. Id use this mic for vocals or stuff around that SPL, I couldnt imagine using it on a guitar amp and didnt like it too much on a drum kit where a 121 pretty much slayed. Whatever, that mic is like 10 times the price.
In regards to price- my first ribbon was a 4038. It took me a long long time to realize the relative worth of that mic. When I started using ribbons, they all sorta sounded the same to me. I wasnt able to really grasp the price difference between mics until I started mixing stuff recorded with them. Long time ago, I got a bunch of 74's cheap and upon mixing it became clear why a 4038 was 15 times the price.
Anyhow, I found the shiunybox mic to be a real mic not a cheap mic. Like everything else that exists on this planet or others, its good for something and for most folks Id guess good for most things if you dig the sound. I could easily see a mic that sounded like that retailing for $500 if thats any perspective. Its a nice mic for what it is. Its not made particularly well but it sounds nice and is basically disposable for the price.
dave