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M-Audio Solaris Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone

Sounds as good as it looks.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
           8 out of 10
Features:
           9 out of 10
Quality:
           7 out of 10
Value:
           8 out of 10
I Want It:
           9 out of 10
Sound:
           7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
           9 out of 10
Support:
           6 out of 10
 
 

"Great mic to add to any collection"

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          7 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 4/25/2007
Style of Music: I'm an animation and foley recording engineer.
Musical Experience: I'm an animation and foley recording engineer.
Location: LA, CA, USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Excellent! Multi-pattern, roll off, pad, shock mount, a really nice hard case, it's very well stocked.

Quality:
Extremely well made. Sturdy with a good heft. Solid shockmount too.

Value:
I paid $400 for it retail and brand new. Even at that price point it's been a good bargain.

Desirability:
People can't help but give it an extra look before recording on it. Very modern with a touch of old-school. It's hard to keep people from trying o touch it. It just screams "Pro".

Sound:
Sometimes a little too warm, and depending on the preamp, can sound a little hollow, but it's one of my favorite sounding mics. Sounds really good on vocals, dialog, and instruments like the violin and acoustic guitar.

Ease of Use:
Just like any other mic, you do need to know it's strengths and weaknesses, but I've never needed more than some filtering or EQ to really get this mic shining.

Support:
I've had to deal with M-Audio support over their soundcards, but NEVER this mic. I can't say I'm a huge fan of their support though...

Overall:
More than lived up to my expectations, and has become one of my favorite work-horse mics over the last 2 years I've been using it.

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"Side by side to other mics, this gets 3rd place"

Overall:
          5 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          3 out of 10
Value:
          5 out of 10
I Want It:
          4 out of 10
Sound:
          5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          3 out of 10
User: a customer from gmail.com
Submitted: 6/20/2008
Style of Music: Everything but rap
Musical Experience: Recording Engineer, Active Musicians
Location: Eugene, OR USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Festures are good. The mic feels solid and the shock mount is well made. No complaints.

Quality:
Mine started making noises after 90 days of very light studio use. Vocals only and always with a pop filter. AFTER it atarted making noises, I unscrewed the mic body and there are a couple of caps soldered in place as jumpers across the resistors (that is, not mounted to a circiut board) also there is a transformer on the circuit board with wires thinner than a human hair (no joke) soldered across to some resistors. This is as flimsy an arrangment as you can get, it is breakage just waiting to happen.

Value:
Really, it doesn't matter how cheap something is... if the sound is wimpy it's not a good value.

Desirability:
The capsule is a dead ringer for the $100 Sterling mic (except it's a dual capsule). The body retainng ring and other parts are exactly the same as the Sterling ST55. I would be willing to bet this is a GrooveTubes budget mic in a different case.

Sound:
I own just over a dozen large diaphram condenser of mics. AKG C414, AT-4033, Studio Projects C5, Rode NTK, Shure - pretty much the standard assortment for a project studio. That said, the Solaris is (by far) the dullest and thinnest sounding condenser I have ever used. In A\B test with everything, the Solaris always comes in sounding noticably thinner and wimpier (I don't know how else to say it) than every other mic in my studio.

Ease of Use:
Again, no complaints. It's pretty straight forward

Support:
I sent the mic back and the guys at M-Audio were pretty helpful over the phone.... but it took over two months to get my mic back it was all dinged up. To be honest, I really dont believe that the mic I got back was the one that I sent in.

Overall:
I can't recommend this mic. IF you're thinking about one, make sure that you compare it side by side with some others in the same range before you buy.

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"Great Mic Great Price"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 12/27/2004
Style of Music: Rock, Jazz, Big Band
Musical Experience: Musican, Recording Engineer
Location: Lebanon, IN, USA

 

 
Feature:
Travel case and shock mount

Quality:
Solid look and feel. Nothing flimsy or unprofessional.

Value:
I don't think you can get a better all round vocal/instrument mic

Desirability:
Unique lolli-pop design has intrigued everyone when I've used it.

Sound:
Crisp but very warm. Sometimes needs a high pass filter for best tone. I personally like this!

Support:
I have not had to deal with support on this product

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