Behringer B-2 Pro

It has a place in my heart.

This was my first condenser mic, as I heard largely positive reviews from other sites and message boards, and it didn't hurt my high-school wallet. I was initially impressed with the clarity and transparency especially when used live in a very dead space. It really livened the room up.

Here I am, several years and 6 microphones (1 Beta 58, 2 Oktava Mk012, 2 Rode NT5, 1 Rode NTK) later and I am still coming back to it... but not for everything. It is a beautiful mic if used in the right setting.

Those who knock it try it out on one thing, decide it doesn't sound spot on like a U87, and sell it to some eBayer. The truth about these mics is that they will sound harsh in brittle in many places, but they are more suited to some tasks than any other mic out there. They perform beautifully as ambient mics because of the upper midrange boost. Far miking an acoustic with these is a joy, because the pick 'click', evident when close miking with the B2, disappears and a clear, shimmery, yet deep and warm guitar sound comes through. The "shimmer" from the 12kHz boost lets even the meekest strummer, or single-string-picker be heard in a good mix.
The B2 also really shines on talented female vocals. Classically trained vocalists accentuate harmonics that this mic gobbles up.
Most recenty I used this mic along with a borrowed SM81 to record a fellow music student playing Steinway Concert Grand in a medium-large sized hall. The B2 was my fig-8 mic in a M/S matrix and it worked wonders picking up the ambience and reverb of a good hall while the SM81 caught the direct presence of the Steinway. This is one recording I am particularly proud of and have since done no processing to it, and I dont plan to. Things just came out beautifully.
This mic deserves more respect than its given even if it isn't right for every situation. It is simply perfect for others.