http://proaudiotoys.com/3-zigma-chi-4x10-toolkit-swappable-condenser-mics-p-495.html
 
This appeals to me. I don't have any really nice mics. My most expensive is a baby blue bottle.
 
I'm interested in a nice matched pair of SDCs.
 
Because of the choices, I'm interested in this set...
but I'm not really sure for the price if this is a good value.
 
I'm excited to be shopping, but I don't get to make this type of purchase twice.
 
In part I like the idea of making a single purchase that will likely be really useful to me for a very long time.
 
So... what do you all say?

btw, I'll probably get one of the smaller sets, but as long as I'm dreaming...

That is an extraordinary amount of money to pay for $500 worth of Chinese microphones.
 
$3k could get you a nice pair of Neumann 184s and a better than decent LDC that you will actually keep enjoying if/when you move deeper in to the appreciation of nice mics.
 
You could spend that money on a pair of Schoeps that you will love forever.
 
You could get 4 Josephson C42s and a utility grade LDC.
 
etc.
 
It's worth spending some serious study time to figure out what your choices are. Some of the best options aren't advertised widely.
 
best regards,
mike

Where should I shop?

I usually zero in on what I want to buy and then let a few vendors know I am asking a few vendors if they want to sell it to me.
 
I bought my last pair of famous maker mics at Vintage King this past December. The sales rep I corresponded with answered each and every one of my technical questions accurately. He was a complete professional. His competitors didn't have the attention span to field the questions.
 
The experience could be different the next time around.
 
I usually avoid asking a sales rep for recommendations, but I often find that there are specific questions about accessories and what comes in a "package" for the negotiated price that only a sales rep can answer.
 
I'd advise that you spend some quality time learning about mics while doing your best to hold off a g.a.s. attack.
 
I sent you a PM with some of my more personal thoughts.
 
best regards,
mike
 
 
 
 

Dig up a pair of some AKG CK451...the older ones with the capsules you can change.  They should be good enough you won't need to worry about a stereo pair.  Or the newer ones, if that's easier and prefer new.  Or the 184's as suggested by Mike.
 

Can't beat a pair of KSM141 for an affordable high quality microphone and you get two polar patterns.  Sounds almost like Schoeps.  Also Beyerdynamic MC930, Miktek C5, and the Charter Oak M900 are some of the best cardioid SDC's i have heard under $1200 a piece. Beats the Neumann KM184 IMO, and I like the Neumann sound just fine.   

Darn it Daniel,
 I can feel a G.A.S. attack coming on.
 
:-)

I had a chance to audition the microphones in question, and they sound decent, and the workmanship was above what I expected... till I saw the price tag. 4 amplifiers and 10 capsules is a lot of gear, no question, and the concept if brilliant - most home recordists seldom use more than a couple microphones at a time, so this kit provides a lot of horsepower.
 
However, the price seems awfully steep. As has already been pointed out, one can buy a couple really good SDCs and a couple really good LDCs for $3K. You could also buy an outstanding pair of SDCs, or one LDC for that same cash.

To my ears (everyone hears the world differently) the Neuman KM-184 is not in the same league as the KM-84, or the Schoeps Collette series (if you audition the Schoeps be sure to audition the MK-41 hyper cardiod capsule - that thing is absolute magic!!)
 
The Shure KSM series is a great deal, they should probably be charging more for them... but I'm glad they don't.

The AKG C-451 is right up there with the KM-84 as a classic. The AKG C-414 is one you really need to listen to, some folks love them, I'm not one of them...
 
As far as how to buy... it isn't as easy as it once was with the dearth of local pro-audio shops. My recommendation (make that strong recommendation) is visit a couple local studios, offer to buy an hour or two, but often they'll let you audition their microphone locker for free. Spend some time with lots of different microphones, see what you like. Then check out the usual suspects...

If you are dropping a couple of grand (or more) you should really listen to the mics yourself.  And be honest to yourself how trained your ears are.  We all know what we like - training let's us know what others like.
 
The next thing is to figure out what kind of recording you are going to do, which is where your money should be spent.  I venture most home recordists record guitar and vocals mostly.  Some other acoustic instruments of and on.  Drums infrequently.  Your usage may vary.
 
But at the least for a decent home mic closet you need a good LDC, a pair of SDCs, a ribbon, and a couple of dynamics.  That should cover the basics, except for drums (and could work for them if you'll refine from mic'ing [and double mic'ing] each drum).
 
for $3,000 you should be able to get a running start on your closet.  With high quality mics.  Personally, I've found that good (ie. expensive) mics are just about as good as great mics (ie. really expensive mics).  A $1000 Bock Fet is as useful as a 5X as expensive tube the majority of the time.  While your engineering buddies may be able to hear the difference, the end result ain't that different, esp. for the audience.  Or maybe my ears aren't as discriminating as I think.  I know which mic I'd probably go for and certainly try first (Yo, get out the vintage '47), but whether I'd spend that extra $10,000+ is a different question.  But a collection of good, classic mics should sound better on more sources - or at least be able to record them all at once.
 
The zigma bundle may be the best fit for you.  It may not.  I'd think long and hard before buying it tho.