SE Electronics offers a unique program in which it will lend you one of its tube mics free of charge for a seven-day evaluation period. The company will even cover the cost of shipping the mic to you. (You can also borrow nontube models, but you'll have to pay the shipping costs on those.) If you want to keep it, SE will arrange for you to purchase it through one of its dealers. If you don't, it will pay for return shipping.