Sound:
The kit I have includes the snare/tom and kick dynamic mics, not the electret overheads.
I have found the TSM411 to have a really contemporary sound on snare. I have Shure SM57's but actually prefer the sound of the TSM411 on tight tuned-up snares. Sounds awesome on wood-shell snares. I have no complaints using the mics on toms either, I just feel it is particularly flattering for the snare.
The KBM412 is pretty good on kick, but I also love this mic on a bass cabinet - it shines in this role. Even if you don't use this kit on your drum kit, trust me, you will like this mic on bass. The response plot for this kick mic shows a huge midrange scoop. Looking at it, I thought I'd hate the sound of this mic, but it actually works and requires less EQ than a flatter mic might.
Feature:
The clips that ship with these mics are OK, but not stellar. The clips are the same on the smaller TSM411 and the much larger KBM412. The latter is a much heavier mic and the clip struggles to hold it at your desired angle - you need to really tighten the screws to stop it sagging. Also, the collars on these clips don't grip all that tight, so you may notice the tom/snare mics slowly slip out of the collar. I haven't had a mic fall out of the clip yet, but have noticed some slippage.
Ease of Use:
Not much to say here - point the mics where you want them and off you go. The pattern is hyper-cardioid and these mics do a remarkable job at rejecting off-axis sound. So from an ease of use perspective, these things are great.
Quality:
Fit & finish on these things is great. I've not had a failure in about 2 & 1/2 years and that's after a few drummers have nailed these things with big heavy lumps of hickory! One small thing that may be a slight issue as these things age is that the internal rubberised capsule mount tends to lean a little to one side if they've been stored for a while. This is not bad enough to actually make the capsule touch the outer shell of the mic, but who knows in 10 years? I store them in the case so that the mics either stand on their heads or their bottoms to prevent this issue from causing any problems. This seems very minor and chances are this wouldn't be a problem anyway.
Value:
For the dollars paid, the value cannot be beaten. I bought these mics as a stop-gap a few years ago with the idea of replacing them with higher-end mics. I now have a number of higher-end mics, but these are still getting used a lot, which speaks to the value these mics are.
Manufacturer Support:
I've never had to deal with CAD tech support, but I hear from people that have that they're great.
The Wow Factor:
Regarding aesthetics, I have to be honest, these aren't pretty mics. I don't particulary care for the colour at all. I would have preferred black or dark charcoal. These things look kinda ugly, but hey, they sound great.
Overall:
Overall, I can see no reason to ever replace these mics. They punch above their weight and perform very well as a dynamic mic with a good tight polar pattern and pretty good tone. Sure, I'd rather have Sennheiser MD421 on my toms, but unless I was planning to spend some serious money, these things will do the job for years to come. Even if I get every studio mic in my wish-list, I would hold on to these for live sound and replace them if I lost them.
1 of 1 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
AMAZING SOUND YOU WILL NEVER FIND BETTER!!!
Feature:
ALL THE MICS ARE PERFECT FOR WHAT THEY SAID THEY ARE, AMAZING PRODUCT!!
Quality:
AMAZING QUALITY, IT IS THE BEST QUALITY I HAVE HEARD!!
Value:
AMAZING DEAL FOR THE PRICE!
Manufacturer Support:
IF YOU NEED HELP YOU CAN CALL UP THE COMPANY AND THEY WILL HELP YOU OUT.
The Wow Factor:
I WANT IT AGAIN AND WOULD BUY AND USE IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!
Overall:
GET THIS PRODUCT!! IT IS AMAZING!! YOU WONT REGRET IT!!
Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
Questions? Our gear experts can help!
800-zZounds(800-996-8637)
Mention Reference
Number
L2T4VJ7 When You Call.
Toll Free En Español: 800-460-7976 m-f 1AM to
1AM EST
Follow zZounds on:
Customize Search Results for Your Location
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.
enlarge