D5 : A great vocal mic

I needed a mic to track vocals in various acoustic environments. My goal was to get decent audio quality besides maximal rejection of unwanted ambience. The D5 seems to fit the bill nicely.

The mic rolls of the low end in an I would say natural way, it has a clear midrange and a smooth top end without being harsh. Transient response is good along with the level of detail, especially given the price. Build quality is sturdy, I've already dropped it a few times accidentally without making any damage to it (not even a scratch which was surprising).

You may need to experiment a bit with mic technique to avoid excess sibilance and popping sounds although I think the mic handles these quite good.

The rejection of ambience is one of the strengths of this mic I think. I tracked some demos in an almost bathroom like ambience in a rehearsal room and the vocals still sounded dry. In the mix I couldn't hear any room sound. When used in a moderately treated room it's simply awesome!

As (I think) most of us I was also considering the SM58 and had the opportunity to test them side-by-side. I think the D5 wins in clarity with a more natural, crisp and a more detailed sound. Although I can imagine situations where I would rather pick the SM58, especially with a harsher and more sibilant female voice.

Overall it's a great vocal mic with a detailed and natural sound. Would recommend it!