I have been using a TSM MK87 MKII for more than ten years now and decided to try this AKG mic to compare the two. After testing the AKG and comparing it to the TSM I decided not to keep it. It sounds pretty good and I am sure that it is possible to get some great recordings with it, but it does not justify me keeping it. I found that the AKG sounded a little less clear than the TSM, and that it needs more gain to produce the same output.