I bought this mic for live performances in my rhythm & blues band as an upgrade to my existing mic - the "tried and tested mic of live performance". The Aston Apex Void lives up to its aesthetic - a definitive space age look - with good build quality and a solid feel. It IS noticeably heavier than what I used before, and is a tighter fit in standard mic holders. The dynamic "lower position" setting is more forgiving, while the "upper position" (which I use) provides much better clarity to cut through the guitar and bass without being overpowering. The phantom power feature does provide noticeable additional clean gain, which I haven't had a chance to use in a live setting yet, but it does sound promising. Overall, I love it!