What are some good sources for testing a KM-84 style mic on?

[joulupukki]

I’ve got a few varieties of KM-84 clone microphones that I’d like to put through some different scenarios so I can tell which mics sound/perform the best. Are there any particular sources that would be great for testing KM-84 style mics? So far, I’ve tried:

• Acoustic Guitar
  • I can hear some subtle differences between my mics
• Mandolin
  • Can’t really hear much difference between the mics
• Banjo
  • The mics sound about the same
• Speaking
  • I can hear some differences between them
• Electric guitar (about 1 ft away from my combo tube amp)
  • Cannot hear any difference between the mics

The mics I’m comparing are:

• Neumann KM-184
• Microphone Parts SDC-84
• @jp8’s KM84+ (built in a Takstar CM-60 w/ 3U capsule and 3U transformer)
• @jp8’s KM84++ (built in a Takstar CM-63 w/ 3U capsule and 3U transformer). This one is a little more versatile because it has both a high pass filter switch and a pad switch … and runs at a higher polarization voltage.
• My Graeme Woller PCB KM84 clone built into a CM-60 w/ 3U capsule and 3U transformer

 

[Barry Hufker]

So far, your sources are limited in their tonal range and power output. Try piano (a good quality grand), pipe organ if you can, a good choir singing “in parts” and real drums. A variety of singers (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) one at a time is good.

None of this may be practical for you but that is my thought anyway…

 

[gyraf]

imo, KM84 is all about the off-axis response, not so much about on-axis

 

[RuudNL]

When I worked for a radiostation, my supervisor said that any microphone was good enough for spoken word.
I never agreed with him. Human speech consist of such a wide spectrum, that you easily can hear differences in microphone quality.
Often musical instruments seem to sound the same on different microphones, but on spoken word the differences will become obvious!