I've got a TLM103 and a U87A that pick up some sort of EMI even using short (3 meters) runs of star quad cable direct to battery powered recorders. A U87 does not have this problem. I have not found the source of the interference yet, so am now limited mic selection : (

Varying cable length (adding) had no effect, nor did transformer isolation.

Are the capacitive characteristics of each of these mics sufficient explanation for this phenomena? Will I damage the microphone if I use a "low ohms"/capacitance meter to measure the mic directly?