Good brands & bad brands between $250 and $400

  • Thread starter Thread starter suddentwigs
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sarals said:
Umm, here's a "duh". I just finished doing some "poking around" (another term for "research") and found some information here and on GS about the EM T5000. I found some pictures of the innards, too. Over on GS there is a huge discussion related to the mic, but mostly to ISK and the coming import of the line to the US by a well known person in the mic modding business. I won't go into it, most here have probably read it, as I recognize names here that I'm used to seeing on GS. Anyway, the T5000 is supposed a "leg up" in quality and sound mic in it's price range. One poster implied another mic sounds a little better in his opinion (I'm guessing that mic is the Stellar CM-6), so with that implication out there, I'd love to read a comparison between the two (the CM-6 and T5000), and maybe some clips?

Yes, I am a high maintenance woman. Get over it. ;~p

Thanks, fellas!

~~~Sara
Click to expand...

Thanks! Kinda like, sell them the sizzle not the steak. :D

I won't know until I get my CM-6. Hoping to have one by next month, And I do have an arsenal of microphones to test it against.
 
I see I have to compete against a bunch of folks to get my little hands on a CM-6!

I'm looking forward to your impressions.

Thanks!!!!

~~Sara
 
The line is not that long. Did you or are you going to order one?
 
Well, I'd still like to get some impressions of the Aurycle A5600. That was my first question!

~~~Sara
 
moresound said:
The line is not that long. Did you or are you going to order one?
Click to expand...

I'm watching the "Listing Ended" on eBay for a relisting. When it happens, I'd like to buy one. I have no idea when that will occur, though. The last time they were listed there were only three, and they went in a flash.

~~Sara
 
sarals said:
Well, I'd still like to get some impressions of the Aurycle A5600. That was my first question!

~~~Sara
Click to expand...

Yeah, yes if that is the Microphone that he purchased from someone that made it from a kit and if my memory serves me right he didn't like it to much.
But that microphone is wide open to modification which would bring you back to the CM-6 which comes to you at it's as close as possible premium mod.
 
...let me jump in here and clarify a few things...first, the EM T5000 is a very nice tube mic with a simple plate-follower circuit and a decent dual bobbin transformer...the Aurycle mic is a very common stock Chinese tube mic...both of these are good basic OEM designs, and both can be improved with a good quality tube swap...the T5000 has better grade components than the Aurycle...if you can get the T5000 for less than $200 (shouldn't be too hard on eBay) it's a worthwhile purchase...but clearly (and I emphasize), clearly neither of these mics are in the class of the CM-6...the CM-6 started out as a mic similar to either of those mics, but has had a series of component upgrades implemented that would cost about the same price as the CM-6 in aftermarket mods alone (larger, higher quality 34mm 6-micron K67 capsule mounted higher in headbasket to reduce sibilance, better quality BV8 style dual-bobbin transformer to reduce noise, classic plate-follower circuit with quality TungSo EF806 pentode tube, and upgraded capacitors)...I have compared the CM-6 with mics costing well over $1000 (Rode Classic I, Mojave MA-200, Peluso 2247, Advanced Audio CM-12 and CM-47, A JJ Audio modded Avant CV-12, etc) and the CM-6 not only holds it's own, it outperforms a few of those mics...

...if you going to buy one great vocal tube mic, that flatters a broad range of voices (very neutral/natural balanced sounding) the CM-6 is IMHO the best value, hands down...the majority of owners have posted similar comments over at GS...check out this track by one of the new owners:
Stellar cm6 clips!! - Gearslutz.com

...new inventory is currently clearing customs, so check www.stellarmics.com for updates if interested...
 

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...below are two examples of the upgraded Nady 1050 type mics along with the stock 1050...the Advanced Audio CM47 ($735-top pic), the Stellar CM-6 ($350-middle pic), the stock 1050 ($229-bottom pic)...you can see that the CM-6 and the more costly CM47 share the same transformer, and component upgrades, as well as the identical K-67 capsule (not shown)...
 

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  • AACM47.webp
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kidvybes said:
...below are two examples of the upgraded Nady 1050 type mics along with the stock 1050...the Advanced Audio CM47 ($735-top pic), the Stellar CM-6 ($350-middle pic), the stock 1050 ($229-bottom pic)...you can see that the CM-6 and the more costly CM47 share the same transformer, and component upgrades, as well as the identical K-67 capsule (not shown)...
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity Kidvybes what preamp did you use while evaluating the CM-6 with the other microphones that you mentioned?
 
moresound said:
Just out of curiosity Kidvybes what preamp did you use while evaluating the CM-6 with the other microphones that you mentioned?
Click to expand...

...the Great River ME-1NV was the preamp we chose...since it's one of the better Neve-inspired preamps, we had the opportunity to compare with clean tone (output gain maxed, input gain backed off) and with some "mojo" (output gain backed off, input gain driven)...the CM-6 handled the variations quite well, due to it's rather neutral/natural voicing...the CM-6's raised capsule mount design also allows for excellent proximity effect...nice "in your face" vocals at lower preamp volumes...
 
That was wonderful, it was exactly what I wanted to know, thank you Kidvybes!

I'm waiting for the CM-6. There IS an AA CM-47 on eBay right now that has piqued my interest, but I'm going to be patient (not one of my stronger suits...) and wait for the CM-6 to reappear.

Thank you again!

~~Sara
 
Sara without an "H".
No, It wasn't the Aurycle A5600 I bought.
It was an entirely different model.
The Golden Age R1 is an active ribbon mic.
Keep in mind that it's the results that interest me so comparing a Condenser to a Ribbon matters not.
I want the best mic for my vocals, that's all.

Hmmmm.. "CM-6" you say.
Tell me more.
 
Jim Lad said:
Sara without an "H".
No, It wasn't the Aurycle A5600 I bought.
It was an entirely different model.
The Golden Age R1 is an active ribbon mic.
Keep in mind that it's the results that interest me so comparing a Condenser to a Ribbon matters not.
I want the best mic for my vocals, that's all.

Hmmmm.. "CM-6" you say.
Tell me more.
Click to expand...

Sorry Jim. I had thought that was the microphone that you had gotten.
 
Yes, Sara without - WITHOUT - an "H"! Spelled properly. Just ask me! LOL!!

I too am a fan of ribbons, but I use passive ribbons only. I regularly reach for my Royer SF12 for choral recordings (acoustic depending). I have a pair of Fat Heads, as well, but they don't get much use. I don't use my mics for my voice, I don't perform. Like you, I don't usually distinguish between a condenser or ribbon for a particular application, I use what I believe sounds the best. It might be an LDC condenser, an SDC condenser, a ribbon, or even the Telefunken M80 that I have (which is a darned decent dynamic). I've wanted for a long time to add a tube LDC to my collection. I haven't because I always thought it was a narrow focus microphone. Now I have a client (s) that I think such a mic would be useful for. I know there are those who say that a tube mic isn't necessary for various reasons, and they make compelling arguments. Well, I have my reasons, too, and I'm the one who pushes my red button. So there!

Rambling. Oh, yessssss!!!

Thanks, fellas!

~~Sara
 
Well, somebody here tried explaining to me why I didn't want an AKG Solid Tube but every con that he/she came up with was actually a pro in my books.
I bought the mic and love it.
It's purely an "Individual Taste" thing.
I am finding that swapping tubes makes a more pronounced difference than I was first lead to believe.
Add to that, with the multi pattern mics, you can change the pattern 9 different ways to alter the sound.
Quite the tool to have at your disposal.
Will also come in handy for Blumlein recording and such.

I got this one, Henry. DIY Vacuum Tube Condenser Microphone Kit
I swapped the tube out for a 12AU7 and it improved remarkably.
I have some Mullard 12AT7 tubes on the way (MULLARD 3PCS MATCHED 12AT7 ECC81 TUBE GREAT BRITAIN on eBay.ca (item 270706753334 end time 19-Feb-11 02:37:57 EST)) as well as a few other tubes and intend to run each mic with each tube until I come up with the best match.
That is going to take a long time but I'll get a few good tracks out of it.
 
Cool! OK Jim. I think I'll have to bookmark that then!
 
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