I'm sure this topic has been discussed here before, but the " search" feture doesn't seem to locate it. So here goes.
I have just acquired a so-called "red dot" km84. I understand mics indicated by this dot are different impedance output (50 ohm? )than the non-dotted versions- or maybe I have it backwards. Anyway, I am expecting slightly lower output for this mic compared to a non-dotted KM84 I have, and certainly less than my KM 184's. Having read that this red dot mic can be changed by modifying transformer output in the mic, how can I tell if this may have already been done by a previous owner? Even if the output seems less by the expected 6 db or so, it would seem that could possibly be other performance issues, like the capsule. If it is not modified, just what leads are changed?
Performance-wise, I am now comparing KM84 vs KM184. Different, yes. I will no longer use the KM184's on drums- just too much fizzy cymbal sound, for example, and the output just too easily overloads the input stages of many of the mic preamps in 500 series racks- the Neve 1073LB is a particular miscreant. Pads help, of course, but I'd rather not.
However, if any acoustic guitar has strings that are past fresh, the 184's seem just the ticket. I don't think the KM184's are the dogs that many label them to be, but they will never be the all-around winner the KM84 can be.