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Published on 07/14/11 at 11:29
*Microphones are very subjective. Some microphones that work for some brilliantly may be disastrous on others. It is therefore important to understand the context in which this review is written and take it with a grain of salt, like all reviews on microphones should be treated.*
The Behringer C-3 is a dual diaphragm multi pattern condenser microphone that is aimed at the extreme budget market. Being a multi pattern microphone, it is a bit less sensitive than its sibling, the Behringer C-1; it even, according to Behringer, loses 2,000 Hz of response off of the top end! The frequency response of the C-1 is 40-20,000 Hz, while the response of the C-3 is 40-18,000 Hz. It has a rather disgusting noise level of 23 dB; this puts it at a higher level than most tube microphones!
Of course, the hook of the C-3 is that it is supposed to be multi pattern. It features the three standard patterns that one would expect on a multi pattern microphone (cardioid, figure 8, omnidirectional), but sometimes, I feel as if the cost of becoming multi pattern has crippled the already wounded Behringer C-1 into the C-3.
Heck, I could actually use the C-1 if I absolutely had to, but the sound of the C-3 is dismal. It sounds narrow, and somehow harsh and yet muffled all at once.
OVERALL OPINION
I reviewed the Behringer C-1 as well and said that it would be find if it was all you wanted, but of course, I didn't recommend the microphone at all. That's because these extremely cheap C-series microphones have this uncanny ability to sound harsh and yet muffled at the same time. I said that they seem to pick up less detail that dynamic microphones? Well, that's because they do! I'm a lover of dynamic microphones myself, but when they capture transients better than certain condensers, that's the cue to leave certain condensers alone. That said, however, considering the features that Behringer packs into the C-3 for so little, you can't really go wrong if you're not aiming terribly high with sound quality.
However, if you're so desperate for a microphone in this price range, get a C-1 or go to the Behringer dynamic, the XM8500. You simply are not going to get a good multi pattern microphone in this price range.
The Behringer C-3 is a dual diaphragm multi pattern condenser microphone that is aimed at the extreme budget market. Being a multi pattern microphone, it is a bit less sensitive than its sibling, the Behringer C-1; it even, according to Behringer, loses 2,000 Hz of response off of the top end! The frequency response of the C-1 is 40-20,000 Hz, while the response of the C-3 is 40-18,000 Hz. It has a rather disgusting noise level of 23 dB; this puts it at a higher level than most tube microphones!
Of course, the hook of the C-3 is that it is supposed to be multi pattern. It features the three standard patterns that one would expect on a multi pattern microphone (cardioid, figure 8, omnidirectional), but sometimes, I feel as if the cost of becoming multi pattern has crippled the already wounded Behringer C-1 into the C-3.
Heck, I could actually use the C-1 if I absolutely had to, but the sound of the C-3 is dismal. It sounds narrow, and somehow harsh and yet muffled all at once.
OVERALL OPINION
I reviewed the Behringer C-1 as well and said that it would be find if it was all you wanted, but of course, I didn't recommend the microphone at all. That's because these extremely cheap C-series microphones have this uncanny ability to sound harsh and yet muffled at the same time. I said that they seem to pick up less detail that dynamic microphones? Well, that's because they do! I'm a lover of dynamic microphones myself, but when they capture transients better than certain condensers, that's the cue to leave certain condensers alone. That said, however, considering the features that Behringer packs into the C-3 for so little, you can't really go wrong if you're not aiming terribly high with sound quality.
However, if you're so desperate for a microphone in this price range, get a C-1 or go to the Behringer dynamic, the XM8500. You simply are not going to get a good multi pattern microphone in this price range.