If you weren't aware of the iFet 7, when it was in production, it was a fantastic mic that was based on the U47Fet, but had two completely different amplifier circuits. One was based on the Fet47, and the other was supposed to approximate something closer to a U87, according to the distributor.
I have one of these, which originally came equipped with a Haun made K47 type capsule, but I fitted mine with a Neumann K47. (I never got to do a direct comparison between the two capsules, but this review is about the forthcoming revision.)
Recently, David Bock outfitted my mic with an update, which he plans on doing to the iFet7, and then reintroducing into production. I think this is a great idea, as there are no real Fet47 type mics out there, yet there is a demand for the originals, which are going for as much as $4,500 on eBay.
In the update, there is a completely new AMI/TAB transformer. The circuits for both modes have been updated, the grounding scheme for the PCBs, and a few areas that were common customer complaints in the original build have been addressed and improved, such as the tension device on the arm.
In initial listening to the update in "i" mode, I find it to be much more in keeping with a Fet47, except the low end response is even better. When compared against an M49, the color above 800Hz was very similar. The lows are a a little tighter, and more compact. Some of the lesser low end might be a result of my K47 capsule, which does have a tad less bass than most K47s. Nonetheless, I found the bass better than the typical Fet47, which rolls off after 1kHz, steadily decreasing as the frequencies lower. But the low end in this mic is crisp, and well defined.
The really interesting thing to me is the difference in the "Voice" mode, which is the other amplifier, from the original build. Before, it seemed to act more like a high pass type circuit, in terms of just having less lows. Now, the whole tone completely changes, and the highs are more present, and the whole top end and presence has a real bloom to it, that was not in the first model. A very pleasant surprise, and upgrade from the previous version.
I don't know when Bock Audio plans to release the new iFet7, but I think if the Haun K47 capsule, which I will have to give a listen to, is as good as their other capsules, this will be a preferable option to the Fet47. I don't find the Fet47 to be a really pleasant sounding mic, even though it is excellent in certain situations. The iFet7 not only is giving me the same, if not better results, in the typical Fet47 uses, but the "V" mode adds a whole new dimension, that I'm sure engineers will like4 on a whole host of sources, including vocals. This mic will probably be a big hit, and I'm for sure going to recommend it.