Sontronics STC 80

[gilmour]

Back in April I took delivery of some [URL="http://www.sontronics.com/stc80.htm"]Sontronics STC 80[/URL] Mics. I thought I'd leave the review a couple of months so that I can give an honest "in use" opinion.

I know it's not really a full on Basschat thing but thought you may find it interesting.

The STC 80's are handheld dynamic mics, I've bought them to replace industry standard Shure SM58, for live sound. Sontronics say that they're also good for recording vocals, guitar cabs and rack toms too.

Pricewise they come in at around £75, so about the same, maybe slightly less than my SM58s.

Straight out of the box impressions are very positive. I've bought six, a quad pack and two more individuals. The quad pack is four mics in a good quality flight case, ideal for gigs. I was pleasantly surprised that the two individuals also come in their own mini flight cases, in fact I'm over the moon about that as the "pencil cases" that other mics come in just don't offer enough protection if being taken from gig to gig. They come with their own clips as they're a little bigger more like the size of the Audix mics.

They're heavy mics which I thought some singers may complain about but that hasn't been the case I don't think it's bothered them in the slightest. However the extra weight does put a little more strain on the clips so they have required tightening at some gigs.

In use I think they sound very nice, a very crisp detailed top end and a present bottom end. The main gig I'm using them on is a big soul band with four vox (3 female, 1 male) we also have a tenor sax and trumpet.

The vox sound great through these mics the extra top end clarity on them compared with the SM58s is a great thing live. The horns are also sounding good through these (in the past we were using an SM57) I'm particularly pleased with the tenor sound.

I've done a couple of quick recordings with these in youth clubs (where I didn't want to take other mics) I was pleasantly surprised with how well they came out and have no hesitation in using them again. I haven't yet tried them on guitar cabs or toms (where Sontronics also suggest they'll work) I have no reason to think they wouldn't sound good.

Overall I'm over the moon with these mics and would highly recommend them if you're wanting a good versatile live mic - these are cheaper than an SM58, sound better and come in the heavy duty case. The fact that they are good and usable for recording is a bonus and one I can see myself making increased use of. The only slight annoyance being the strain they put on a mic clip but I can live with that.

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