Overhead mic advice, Opinions needed!

[Onset to putrefaction]

Ok, so ive been in the market for a good pair of overheads/ good all around small diaphragm condenser mics for acoustics and such.
I am deciding between ...
2 sm81's
a pair of Rode NT5's
a pair of Oktava mc012's
or a pair of ATM 450s
please let me know some opinions or suggestions on which to get.
Thanks everyone

 

[Ermz]

I'd be curious to hear which you go with! I've only used the NT5s out of those pairs, and they have been doing the job for me for a number of years now...

However I haven't been able to get the crispness and fullness out of cymbals I've wanted with them. They'll give you a solid overhead sound, but I've always found the cymbals to come off as a little washy and perhaps distant.

 

[egan.]

mc012's are nice for the price but IMO the 81's are better and have much better QC. For a little more cash the josephson c42's are also rad.
The Nt5's are certainly useable and come matched which is a plus. I've never touched the Atm450's.

 

[colonel kurtz]

i have a pair of both the NT5's and SM81's

the NT5's are good mics, but i find the 81's to be superior - they're a bit brighter, more defined, and seem to have better transient response. they also have a 3-way lo-cut switch and -10 pad, which the NT5's do not. these features are found on the NT55, but those are just as much as the 81's, so i personally wouldn't bother.

i have seen some extremely reputable engineers rave about the 450's though, so those might be worth looking at also. same goes for the oktavas also i guess...but i have no hands-on experience with them, either.

 

[Onset to putrefaction]

Thanks everyone, anyone else have any opinions?

 

[AStacy2]

81's for sure, great for acoustics and overheads too.

 

[2012]

I would go with the ATM 450's, myself.

 

[metalkingdom]

I would go with the ATM 450's, myself.

Me too. I have a pair and they rock!