the t.bone EM 800 Stereo Set

My aim was to find a small footprint microphone that could be used on a Leslie cabinet.
I have used so many combinations over the years for the top and bottom but never really found the perfect combination.
I saw the EM800 on the t.bone site and got redirected to Thomann.
I figured for the price there would always be a use for them somewhere in the studio.
When I received the box I was first impressed by the little case and upon opening
it is really neat package all foam lined. When you hold the mic it has a very nice solid feel and a good weight and the finish is excellent.
The pop shield is a really nice fit and the XLR connection looks gold plated.
I immediately plugged it into my console and sent the signal out to the monitors.
I was really surprised. The feedback rejection was amazing. Just speaking into the mic gave a very flat and warm response with no eq.
I compared it to an AKG 451 and 414 and then an SM57. These little units have very little colouration at all. They just sound very full. I expected them to be thin and soul less. On the contrary they punch well above their weight and have a much sweeter low end that the 451.
I am not sure how they would fair in a live environment but for me in a studio application I think they will be the 'little gems'. When all others fail I think I will be reaching for these.
I have yet to put them on the Leslie but I know as a matched pair they will do the trick.

I'd been looking for a replacement lectern / pulpit mic for my church for some time, struggling to find a small diaphragm for the right price with a tight pattern. The Samson C02 came close, but it was a little wide and didn't have the same presence as the old mic. I thought I might as well have a punt on a t.bone as the spec was promising and the price was right.

I was not disappointed. The EM-800 has a very similar sound to the mic it replaced and a nice tight pattern for high gain before feedback (we worship in a 200 year old building that isn't about to change). Into the bargain it has respectably low self-noise and high sensitivity.

The only very slight negative was the two MICs in the box were not matched - differing by 1-2dB between 10-12kHz, which didn't matter for me.

Amazing quality for such an incredible low price. I cant believe you get them that cheap. I am just afraid somebody gets payed badly for his work. Sounds precise and clear, perhaps a bit rough, but not in a negative way. I would like to take them with me in the field, using for simple but precise recordings, under rough conditions without having to worry. Or just trying them out as an alternative when disliking the flavour of another mic on a certain instrument.
Unusual low self noise for such a cheap mic! At least the pair I got. Sound characteristics: I subjectively almost would like to compare with the dynamic mic sm 47. Even it may sound stupid, I dare, because I tried those a little out beside each other, along with others. But sorry, I dont´t believe you they are super cardioid, no other side rejection than cardioids, even if you think they look like due to the side openings of the grill, sorry they are not, I really tried it out, they are just cardioid, and thats giving them one star less, because the discriptione says something else . The shock mount is crappy and difficult to use but hey, look at it as a bonus due to the crazy low price of these good mics, they are better with than without.

I've been looking for a decent mic and not so expensive to start recording different sounds sources than musical instruments and get samples from it, for example singing bowls, minor percussion, grains on surfaces, etc.

I have to say that the microphones are quite nice with a clear recording and for the price I admit that these is a nice choice, at least if you don't need and excessive amount of clarity.

One thing to keep in mind is when you use it while playing live, I was generating some uncomfortable feedback and is very worrying to play with background feedback and preventing it to get bigger.

The packaging is very good, hard black box ideal to transport and move in luggage, even if you let the box drop to the ground (not recommended) the box and internal protection surely will absorb part or total impact.

One thing to keep in mind is noise or static generated when you touch the microphones, when they are connected to the sound card with you can hear a tiny noise in the background and when you stop touching it disappears, this is normal static around any electrical devices, but just keep in mind to be aware of it and avoid any background noise in your recording unless you want it for experimental reasons.

In general terms if you don't have much budget and want a decent pair of microphones I would strongly advise to buy these couple.