Behringer C-2 Stereoset

I bought two stereo pairs of the C-2, since we sometimes need a larger amount of microphones for some shows. So, that means 4 microphones with accessories for a total cost of 76 Euros. I couldn't invest in something more expensive, so I was sadly convinced not to receive any decent quality for that price, but I was proven wrong.

Features
The -10db came in handy when using as overheads on drums and percussion. We did the low cut in the mix so we didn't use that feature. Anyhow, i suspect it's not possible to combine low cut with -10db..? Haven't checked it up, but it kind of seems so from looking at the mic. I guess the C-2 provide the basic features and the hard case and accessories (windscreen and stereo bar) for that price are incredible so let's go for 5 stars.

Sound
We used them as overheads on drums (the stereo bar came in handy) and percussion for a live show. Both the live sound and the recordings worked great. Later, I also recorded some backing vocals for a guide track with one of these, since it's easier to just put the windscreen (also included) on and sing directly in than rigging up my large diaphragm mic on a stand etc. I was amazed how clear the sound was!

Quality
My colleague has a lot of experience working with an earlier model of these mics from Behringer. He pointed out that they have to be handled with care as they can break easier than other comparable mics. That justifies my 4 star quality rating, actually I can't say anything out of own experience. Anyway, since they come well protected in a stuffed box, it would really be my own fault if they break. I don't know any other mic than a SM58 you could mistreat just for fun ;)

Overall, I'd like to point out again that these mics work VERY FINE for what you normally need a decent small diaphragm microphone for! I have a Rode M3 since years ago that I use every now and then. I have no reason to say it sounds better, and again, it costs the same as 4 of the C-2. And something like a Neumann KM87 was out of my league anyway. To summon up, if you're in for a budget small diaphragm you can just as well buy the cheapest ones there are. You won't regret saving the money and I really don't think a microphone for even four times the price would make you any happier.

I bought these mikes specifically for use as drum overheads. I have used them in an XY, and AB spaced position, as well as using the Recorderman technique - see the end of this review for a brief explanation.

The mics are well made, and feel solid. They provide a three-position switch for flat, low-pass or -10dB pad response. The -10dB pad is particularly useful for miking loud percussive instruments such as a drum kit. The cardiod response is good for minimising off-axis response, which is useful if your recording space is less than stellar or too boxy.

They have proven solid and reliable performers. Their response time is good which makes them very well suited for percussive instruments. Frequency wise, they have a good response which is not over-hyped at the high-end like some other cheap mikes. Noise hasn't been an issue. Stereo wise, they provide a solid,coherent image which I find particularly appealing.

My favoured setup is Recorderman overhead drum mic technique. Basically one of the mikes is placed directly above the centre of the snare drum about two drum sticks in height. The other one is placed roughly above the drummer's shoulder, on the floor tome side, also pointing towards the centre of the snare, at an equal distance. This provides a balanced sound for the entire kit, without too much room sound. You can vary the position of the second mike to get more/less volume from the bass drum.

Excellent value, and a bargain at the price. I would certainly buy them again.

I've had these mics for a couple of months and so far have used them for recording acoustic guitar, a choir, and drum overheads. I'll break down how I feel about the sound for each one.
Acoustic Guitar: A touch more harsh in the high end and a bit brighter than I'd like, but overall a really good sound, which also works when doing stereo via X/Y or ORTF.
Choir: They captured a lot less of the room sound than I initially expected, but adding that reverb back in post made them sound absolutely perfect with only minimal EQ tweaks (meaning a little boost in the low-mids and removing some room resonances).
Overheads: Gorgeous sound! They sound very natural and capture almost exactly what's in the room, although harsher in the high end than optimal. That said, they take EQ extremely well and all the harshness can be removed with a couple of bands - the sizzle that remains is beautiful and it fits in the mix perfectly!

In regards to the overall build, the mics themselves feel really solid, especially for the price point. The case is plastic and not the best feeling, and the foam cut-outs are a bit small and you need to squeeze hard to fit stuff in, but it's not the worst to deal with. The included stereo bar is frankly the weakest part of it and I bought a K&M one immediately - it's made of plastic and doesn't hold itself tight that well; the K&M is metal and much more solid while only costing 10€ more.

Considering the price point, I would definitely recommend these for anyone looking to get their first pair of SDCs!

Use:
I use these for recording acoustic guitar in a semi-pro studio

Pros:
Stupidly good value for a stereo pair of mics
Decent solid construction
Low cut and gain reduction switch
Comes with box and twin mic holder - very useful, especially for X/Y configs when recording acoustic guitar

Cons:
Only con is having the low cut and gain reduction switches on the same slider. Limits the functions to flat, low cut, low cut + reduction, but does not allow for reduction with no frequency attenuation. Minor point, I know, but some may find this a limiting factor in certain applications.

I would definitely recommend this set to people, and have been doing so since I bought it a few months ago.