short followup - yesterday i recorded some solo classical flute material in the studio, and put up a Fathead II (ribbon) at about 4 feet out, a single AT4051 also about 4 feet out, and an ORTF pair of KM184s are about 8 feet out. the ORTF pair of 184s delivered the best sound by far. nice depth, spectacular image, and beautiful top end.

again, this pair of 184s i now have is of rather old vintage. i compared yesterday's recording to a flute piece i recorded a couple of years ago with a brand new pair of 184s in ORTF at maybe 6 feet out, and the older 184s seem clearly smoother in the top end, and with a nicer low end response. perhaps martin can clarify whether there have been any changes in the manufacture or specs for km184s over the years? or maybe it is just me, or other changes in my signal path since the time of the earlier recordings i made with 184s?