New Rode M5 matched pair.

Thanks for the heads-up!

It's always nice with more option, especially low cost ones, but my first thought is that I would like to hear a comparison to the NT5. For film, it would probably be used for recording fx or as a plant mic, and from the frequency plot, the M5 seems to be a bit more flat, but 19dBA self-noise is a bit high for softer sfx (and the NT5 also have a little higher output, so less preamp gain needed).
 
The stated 12.00mV (@ 94 dB SPL) sensitivity, a quiet preamp would be wanted for low SPL situations.
 
But hey!, they're even more affordable, the M5 matched pair is actually ...... wait for it ... $US 199 !

Performance demos coming soon on the Rode site.

Cheers.
 
Rick R said:
The stated 12.00mV (@ 94 dB SPL) sensitivity, a quiet preamp would be wanted for low SPL situations.
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Slightly off-topic, but how do you actually "read" these specs in order to know if it would be a good or bad mic for one or another situation?
Thanks.
 
drapeama said:
Slightly off-topic, but how do you actually "read" these specs in order to know if it would be a good or bad mic for one or another situation?
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Assuming the specs are reliable and based on known and repeatable test methods, they indicate what you can expect of sensitivity, and self-noise, both of which are indicators of suitability for different scenarios in recording sound. The more sensitive a microphone is, the more voltage it will put out for a given sound level. And the lower self-noise, the better the signal-to-noise ratio.

But there are more pertinent properties of microphone performance than can be stated in numeric measurements. Reports of first-hand experience using the mics in various applications are of great value. That is one of the benefits of participation in forums like this one.
 
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Richard Crowley said:
Then why are DPA so expensive?
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Because they are high quality, well engineered mics.

A true condenser mic. is more expensive to make than an electret as you do not have to supply the polarising voltage (anything from about 40V to over 200V) - so, you can save money by using an electret capsule ans save money on the requirements for the polarisation voltage. The phantom power (or battery) only poweres the pre-amp. in the mic.

The capsule itself costs about the same whether it is electret or true condenser - assuming equivalent quality - which is why DPA costs what they do.

But at the low end, Røde can save costs by using an electret and saving the costs of the DC/DC converter and the requirements and circuit design to supply the polarising voltage.

I would suspect that they also downgraded the capsule in comparison to the NT5, or the cheaper mic. would take sales away from the more expensive unit (NB: my supposition, not proven fact).
 
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