I would be interested, too, in comments on the ECM-959C.
Thanks for pointing it out. A few comments, that may not
be relevant:
- mic frequency response limits (which are not "brick-wall")
are important, but less so than the smoothness and
"balance" of the response curve, both on and off axis,
unless it is severely limited (the 908C sounds OK on
organ, voice, piano, and violin, from recent
experience - not "audiophile"-quality, but OK...).
- video mics often are restricted in low end response
to minimize wind problems.
- most music does not go much below 100Hz, and a pure
100Hz tone sounds very low to most people (I build giant
sub-woofers, so I know...! ;-), and for most people
18kHz response vs. 15kHz is not audible (though it can
result in smoother HF response in the audible range).
- The "MS" design of the 908C may offer preferable
directional characteristics to the "dual-mono" (?)
design of the 959C (unknown, but it is labeled "S",
rather than "MS" [which indicate different ways of
arranging the capsules inside the mic...]).
I will try to order a 959C soon, if the price is not too
high, it is available here, and I haven't heard negative comments about it before I do...

On Tue, 24 Jul 2001 10:21:21 +0200, Hans Hagberg wrote:
>
>I'll jump in with some questions for you guys. I'm looking for a good
>camcorder microphone for music and wonder about the bass response of the
>908C. It is listed at 100-18000 Hz which doesn't sound that impressive.
>Data and pictures of most of the Sony mics are here:
>http://www.cyberphoto.se/sony/microph/microph.htm
>
>The 959C looks like it is more full range. Anyone who tried this one ?

>Neuman - Ruether wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 07:15:01 GMT, Bill Van Dyk
>> wrote:
>>
>> >David Reuther, thanks for the tip re. the Sony 908 mic. I got one and
>> >have been testing it on both minidisc and cam. It's outstanding for the
>> >price, especially recording music (including a very funky bass) onto a
>> >minidisc. I will be experimenting further, but so far, I'm impressed.
>> >Looks like it will also be very suitable for recording sound effects for
>> >video work.
>>
>> I'm about to buy another 908C - not bad at all,
>> for its under-$100 price...