RODE K2 Large-Diaphragm Vacuum Tube Condenser Microphone

I've used this mic for about 9-10 years now...from recording drums, vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar/bass cabs, wood winds, and even a soda can opening(the most crisp sounding thing I've heard in my life). It has a great mid low and low end response, great for instruments that lack a body sound naturally. But the Mids and Highs are captured great as well. I've used this mic in bedrooms, kitchens, outside, treated studio rooms... Two other musicians I introduced this too bought it online after seeing how great it was. The shock mount is great, the mic itself is a little heavy so its good to buy a sturdy heavy stand. The case does its job. The control box allows you to adjust how you want to capture the room..direct, omni, or just front/back and no sides...or you can blend them together! I can go on but thats the jist.

Very intreating mic when you mod it. This thing sings

I know you guys just want simple and easy "this mic rules!", "beats mics costing three times as much" reviews. This is not a phony review. I've owned this mic for about four years now. I was concerned about the reviews currently about this mic. They seem VERY misguided and misinformed. This mic is NOTHING like a Neumann. For one thing this mic is a transformerless tube mic, which means they've designed it to sound like a FET mic on the top end and a tube mic on the bottom end. So if you're looking for a classic vintage tube mic sound, this actually isn't it. Its much more modern than you'd probably expect. No Neumann tube mic is transformerless for that very reason. Most people associate a tube mic as having a very mellow top end because of the harmonic distortion created by the tube, this mic does not have that. Its airy and can be somewhat sibilant depending on your source. Now having said all that here's what I can tell you about this mic. Its fantastic for when you need to beef something up a bit. It has a fairly exaggerated low end. So this isn't a favorite for acoustic guitars, but is definitely a top pic for say bass cabs, room sounds, baritone singers, smaller acoustic instruments that lack body, females singing in a lower register, etc, etc. You get the idea. So it certainly can handle many of the same tasks a traditional tube mic would. But its going to sound a little less "vibey" or "colorful". I've also had fantastic results for voice over work because the low end is so warm. If you're looking for an all around great mic that will give you good results on everything, I would suggest looking at an AKG C series mic, 414s will never sound "bad". But if you're trying to fill out your locker and need something that handles the aforementioned tasks exceptionally well, this is a solid mic thats built to the highest manufacturing standards possible. Rode's a made with Medical Grade machinery, it simply does not get better than that. Same type of manufacturing that Apple uses.

The Rode K2 was everything I thought it would be. The variable pattern feature works quite well in defining spatial resonance. The valve action is seamless and completely natural in it's reproduction. For a small project studio it is the perfect all around mic for vocals, solo or duet,acoustic guitar and vocals, or picking up an entire jam session.

I bought this mic after hearing the reviews and comparisons to Neumann mics (often the U87) and yes, it lives up to the hype. In fact, it surpasses it. Its got a warm, transparent character that I choose on vocals over mics that cost 6 times the price. And if you really want to get the full effect of this amazing mic, replace the tube with a vintage European one. Its warmth is amazing. Best 600 dollars I've spent, I'd sell off my U87 before I'd sell off my K2.

All I can say is wow. This mic sounds slightly better than a Neumann Tube. This test was done in school by one of my teachers. Compared to the Neumann $4000 mic, the Rode $700 mic sounds better. PLUS the Rode comes with the shockmount and the Neumann doesnt.....want great "Neumann sound" on a price friendly to your pockets? Buy this Rode K2 Tube.....its awesome....try the test for yourself.