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.
 
The stated 12.00mV (@ 94 dB SPL) sensitivity, a quiet preamp would be wanted for low SPL situations.

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.
 
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?
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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Then why are DPA so expensive?

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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