Rode Mic Showdown: NT2A vs K2 - which is number 1?

Mondays - apparently they're rather nerdy at Factory Sound. Rather than talking about our weekend of gigs and gatherings, we sat around (well...a select group of six of us), and mused over the 'which is better - Rode NT2A or Rode K2' question, with some interesting discussion points raised. What about you - do you have a fave?

The panel: Leigh, Tone, Oliver, Lukether, Darren (yes, he's finally back full time) and Artie.

The microphones: NT2-A (FET condenser, multipattern) and K2 (tube condenser multipattern)

The verdict: At first glance, K2 wins - but it was far from a straight sets victory.

The workings (engage anonymity cloak):
This is where it gets interesting. First of all, two of our surveyed microphone aficionardos opted out of the K2 v NT2A discussion, citing NTK as the reason. Neither of them cared for the multipattern found in both of the discussion topic mics, preferring a bog-standard cardioid with the smoooth tube sound.
Which makes the running tally look a little weird with  NT2A: 0/6, K2: 0/6, NTK: 2/6.

Anonymity cloak? For the sake of fun, we've decided to hide the identities of who voted for what. If you know us well, you'll probably be able to guess anyway.

K2 strikes first blood
Our most animated response was the first real response, and it was for the K2. Reasons: It's super versatile with the continuously variable polar patern, and the tube sounds smooth up the top end. In fact, it's a 'professional sounding' top end. I could expand on this respondant, but let's save the rest of his explanation until the end. Tally so far... NT2A: 0, K2: 1, NTK: 2

A no-nonsense vote for NT2A
"Absolutely no doubt - the NT2A kills a K2. It's nicer in the bottom, there's some kind of bottom end sound with all tube mics that I don't really like". In fact, this respondant (who I think prefers analogue keyboards to digital models) continued on with "I like the sound of the top of the NT2A, and you can take your 'warm tube' and shove it - once it's warm, you can't unwarm it. But I can do whatever I want with the NT2A. I love it".
Like we said, this was a no-nonsense vote, taking the running total to....NT2A: 1, K2: 1, NTK: 2

K2 levels the tallyboard (nearly)
"Definitely K2. Because it sounds like a Rode Classic, and I've got a Rode classic. Actually I've got one of the original NT1 microphones from 1993...it's numbered 400-and something" Yes, this respondent has used a bunch of Rode mics, and clearly has some favourites. By default, the K2 is his bag - unless we put Rode Classic on the list. BUT - NTK made the list with the first two votes, so let's make this happen. The new tallyboard now reads: NT2A: 1, K2: 1, NTK: 2, Classic II: 1

K2 really does level the leaderboard
"It's a no-brainer, K2 is hands-down the better microphone. Multipattern and the tube nicely messes things up on digital recordings" Ok, so that sounds impressive...can we expand a little on that? "It's just better, and I own one". Any ideas who that was?

But wait! NT2A has a late but extremely passionate vote
Our first K2 favourable voter has piped up late in the piece with a very convincing 'vote' for NT2A. It's the same 'HF1' capsule as the K2, and although it's not as versatile, it is by far more convenient. Drag it to any gig without the need for the power supply. I've used it in pairs for overheads in a bunch of location studios, and I quite like it.

Final Tally.... NT2A: 2, K2:2, NTK: 2, Classic II: 1

No, those seven votes for four mics don't really seam right - seeing as we only had two mics to chose from, with six people voting. But that's what happens when a bunch of mic nerds get together and talk studio instead of what happened on the weekend.