Because I record lots of friends and strangers, I don't always know what I may need.

You are probably right. I should have waited for a specific need.

I have made few purchases I have had second thoughts about. In 1995, I bought a Fender blues deville. It has four ten inch speakers. I love it, but it is a little heavy.

I remember when I bought it, I was considering a matchless amp. I wonder what if I had bought that one?

I still use all my Mics often. I don't have so many that any are retired.

I'm looking forward the this new one.

gswitz
@Rob
What went wrong with it?
How was it repaired?
You say 'already'. How long have you owned it?
Did the repairs cost you? Was support helpful?

I bought the AKG C414 XLS from an online shop in the UK back in late 2013. On the 2nd day of use it developed a massive noise problem. When returned to the dealer it was supposedly replaced. Over the next year the microphone did not see much use (2-3 recording sessions) and was always stored in the studio (basically constant conditions) and handled with great care, but all the sudden the noise problem was back. So again back to the dealer in the UK, wait for 2 months until it is repaired by AKG (supposedly???) and when returned, it’s again not functional when trying to use for the first time (only noise but no sound signal) ... this time I contacted AKG directly because I suspected the mic to be non-unique/some clone ... AKG was super-helpful, said the mic is AKG but never registered a repair in their database, so they fixed it, but a year later it sounded like strong breeze at the seaside again, back again to AKG for repair ... both repairs were covered by some sort of warranty, so they didn't cost me, but the mic hasn't seen much use as it broke twice in the middle of larger recording sessions and hasn't regained my trust since ...

Yikes! Gosh, I hope that isn't in my future. I don't have the budget to leave that much behind!

lawajava
For about $320 this can be found.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnq0JrOvfUo

I would use this as my one and only deserted island microphone forever.

It's a CAD Equitek. Not the CAD you mentioned.

 
Lewin the host of Garage Band and Beyond, in the video is my neighbor around the corner.   I sold him a 6 pack of Owens Corning 703 one day on Craigslist, so that's how we met.  He is great guy and has a great site on Youtube if you are into Garage Band.  You don't need to use Garage Band to take advantage of his techniques.   His Studio is filled with lots of  keyboards. 

SM7B vs Equitek e100S  Same price...great discussion... e100S is my fav mic for vocals, guitar... almost everything... quitest mic I've ever used and I got a zillion; gave most away (I'm insane but...ain't using them...  Haven't used anything but the US made equitek since purchasing...
 
another recent review/discussion In blind tests it "beat out the Neuman u87 mic @ $2700" I AGREE  with this guy totally...
 
e100S... u will luv it.  3.7Db noise... lowest in it's class...  wonderful floating system

http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20161025_Geoff_BeWithMe.mp3

First tape with the new Mic. It arrived today.

http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20161030_Harlan_02.mp3
 
This is a much better example of the new AKG C414. I recorded with the AKG front and center with 2 KM184s mixed at 30% for ambiance. 3 tracks per take.

That's all room ambiance? No reverb? Sounds great!

bitflipper
That's all room ambiance? No reverb? Sounds great!

that sounds really good :-) but I bet it's not just room ambience, there are some good IRs involved

After selling my studio and downsizing to pretty much nothing I did keep a couple decent all around mics but the one I couldn't part with was my earthworks, I have had it for a damn long time and just couldn't let it go. Still haven't run across one like it and it is a sweety.