[MorrisL]

  First, I'd like to say that I heard some audible noise in Mic A. 
After that, I couldn't tell that much of a difference between mics B and C, although (and it could very well be my imagination) it did seem like Mic C was a bit on the brighter side. 
B was my favorite.

Thanks a lot for participating. Once we get 10 responders (7 more to go), I will share the answers here and an interesting discussion should follow.

 

[kuhchuk]

  Thanks a lot for participating. Once we get 10 responders (7 more to go), I will share the answers here and an interesting discussion should follow.

Can't wait.  Should be an interesting topic.  Too bad no one else seems to think so.

 

[MorrisL]

 
Can't wait.  Should be an interesting topic.  Too bad no one else seems to think so.

I just sent you a private message identifying the mics. I decided to do the same for everyone participating in this test.
 
I simply ask that you don't reveal it here. Looking forward to the discussion once we get the next seven people to respond.

 

[AlrightMister]

Haven't read beyond downloading the files from Gdrive. My preference in order, #2, #3, #1. 
1 sounded a bit muddy to me. 2 seemed most neutral, slightly favoring the highs, not terribly exciting. 3 had fatter mids and sounded more open. I'm still questioning my preference of #2 but I guess I went for what I perceived to be the more accurate sound.
 
Edit for second listen.
 
Listened again at home with a dac and headphones. Earlier listening was done with IEMs via headphone jack from tablet. I'm sticking to my original order of preference. #1 still sounds bad with crunchy crinkly diaphragm noises. I now clearly hear pedal and hammer noises on all 3 recordings and still prefer #2 overall. Hard to say which is the high $ mic, 2 or 3? I'm sitting in my seat, but I'm only using the edge!

 

[El_Doug]

This should be fun   Especially given the stupid pricing of some microphones which are clearly technically inferior (hello u87)
 
Anyways, I'm wagering B > C > A, in terms of technicals
 
"A" sounded relatively dead, something just wasnt all there in terms of presence (sorry, I'm no good at the descriptive lingo)
"C" had some kind of slight bloat to it, though it was definitely more enjoyable and sounded crisper than "A"
 
 
Honestly I enjoyed the sound of C more than B, but I'd bet B was the better mic technically... as for which is the more expensive mic, who the hell knows lol
 
 
Can't wait until the answer is revealed, I always love these tests

 

[saelanares]

I'm using VModa LP2s, and I thought that C sounded the most clear, followed by A and then B. Actually, B sounded the most clearly muddy, especially during the trills, but I only listened a few times so that could just be my imagination.
 
I suppose it'd be easier to tell them apart if there were more instruments playing, since it should be more difficult to record many different instruments with fidelity than a single one. But it's not like I know anything about "sound science," I was browsing randomly and found this thread.

 

[MorrisL]

Thanks guys! I sent the keys to all three of you.

 

[Lenni]

all files sounded equally terrible. Apart from the noise, they all had major distortions. 
 
regarding differences...
 
 
A. sounded like had something missing compared to B
 
B. similar to A but slightly better quality
 
C. brighter than the other two, but probably technically inferior
 
 
regardless of the slight differences, every mic used is c***.
 
 
edit: I used speakers

 

[MayorDomino]

C
B
A

 

[HiFiNick]

Initial impressions from youtube
A: Ouch
B: Decay sounds more natural
C: Sounds brighter then B
So my ordering is B>C>A
I'll listen to the files when I'm a bit more awake, I assume 1/2/3 are A/B/C?
Headphones: Grado PS500
Edit: Took a listen of the files but my opinions haven't substantially changed from my initial impressions.

 

[MorrisL]

Thanks, MayorDomino and HiFiNick for participating! Just sent the keys to both of you.

 

[dprimary]

My opinion is the microphones are too close. The placement would work in a pop track, or for reinforcement. They are all very bright A and C are painfully bright. I don't know what the processing you ran it through did but it seemed to add artifacts and make the decays seem unnatural. A and C both has a distortion near the end. With positioning of the microphones in the recording I would pick B, if the microphones were further away C seem like it would a better choice. 
 
I listened to them on K240 MKII with a dragonfly.

 

[MorrisL]

  My opinion is the microphones are too close. The placement would work in a pop track, or for reinforcement. They are all very bright A and C are painfully bright. I don't know what the processing you ran it through did but it seemed to add artifacts and make the decays seem unnatural. A and C both has a distortion near the end. With positioning of the microphones in the recording I would pick B, if the microphones were further away C seem like it would a better choice. 
 
I listened to them on K240 MKII with a dragonfly.

 
 
The mics weren't too close, although, I agree, for a classical solo recording (especially Chopin) they could be placed farther. But they were at a safe distance, regardless. Plenty of classical recordings are made this way.
 
I didn't do any processing on these except I used Audition's Noise Removal tool on them to make it impossible for people to tell them apart by the characteristically high level of self noise on the cheaper mics.
 
Thanks for participating. Just sent you the Key.

 

[David Aldrich]

I'm in with B, C, A. A might have gotten lower marks for some weird artifacts in the recording.
 
HD650

 

[Shaffer]

OP, try to get a hold of the first Stereophile test CD. It features an aural demonstration of a number of microphones. The differences can be as much an night and day.