ADK Vienna Vs. Hamburg

[noisedude]

These are really interesting because they're one of the very few other companies who price reasonably fairly in the UK by comparison with the US. Has anyone got any experience of their customer support/service?

 

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Bassman Brad, there is also a U47 FET which uses the same capsule, but with FET circuitry. Can't say I've gotten my hands on an ADK, but from everything I've heard, I sure would like to . The Canadians seem to be doing good work. I'll admit I'm more interested in the highrer end ADK mics, though.-Richie

 

[Solafide]

Solafide,
How does the sound of your KSM-44 compare to your Hamburg? I'm planning on getting the single diaphragm version of this mic (the 27) and one of the ADK's, and just wondered how far apart they are, tonally.

I have limitted experience with both of these mics, so take what I say with a grain of salt! (I purchased both of these in the last month or two)

The ksm is quite neutral, Everything I have tested it on it did very well (vocals, guitar, etc.)

The hamburg is similar in the high end (smooth and un hyped - not boring either), but it has something special going on in the mids. My voice for example usually sounds a little thin and harsh in the mids, The hamburg smooths it out and thickens it a tad.

I tried my wife on both of these mics And the ksm sounded better. It was just like you were standing in the room. The midrange emphasis of the hamburg was a little to much for her voice and on her vocals you could tell that the ksm44 was a little more open sounding.

I have not used either in the context of a mix for vocals (that will come this week though), and that is really what matters.

Anyway, Solafide, how does the Hamburg compare to your NTK?

I have the NT1000 (which I guess is "cleaner" or "brighter" or "more boring" or "harsher" than the NTK, depending on your vocabulary), and have been wondering how those ADK sound compared to it -- and just noticed now, at 2nd reading, that you also have the NTK to compare the ADK with.

I sold my nt1000 in order to buy the hamburg actually. I personally think the hamburg would be a great counterpart to the nt1000. You have open hyped (mayby harsh) and a little light in the mids and lows for the nt1000 - and the oposite in the hamburg, lots of lows and mids, and nice and smooth on the highs.

I think for the price adk puts out a better product. I actually prefered the a51 over the nt1000 most of the time.

The ntk (once it is good and warm) is really good for cutting through a dense mix but can still be smooth (if you do not sing directly into the capsul!). It is a like the nt1000 with a fuller bass response (and something that makes it a little more interesting to listen to). It still is scuped in the mids.

Quality wise I would put the ntk, ksm44 and hamburg in a similar catagory as being a bargain - the latter 2 better options if you are doing more than pop - rock.

I hopefully will have better formed opinions on all of this in the near future!!

 

[dudge]

The Canadians seem to be doing good work.

What make you think ADK has anything to do with Canada?

 

[Bassman Brad]

Solafide,
Thanks for the comparative analysis. That's very helpful.

Richard Monroe,
Yes, that U47 FET sounds quite intriguing, indeed. But now I'm confused. If I'm not mistaken, the Hamburg ALSO uses an FET circuit. So, if they both have the same capsule and similar circuitry, then what is the difference between these two mics?

Brad

 

[cavedog101]

Pertaining to the question about the service from ADK.They are a company that is somewhat accessible to their buyers and will see that you are happy with your purchase.I bought ADK's a while back,Model V's, and though they were very nice sounding mics they eventually had problems with the amp chips internally.These were replaced without question and without charge even after the expiration of the warranty.AND since this model of electronics had been upgraded I was sent this upgrade rather than the original one.I think its probably from the Hamburg/Vienna line.I replaced all the parts myself and now have two of the absolute best electric guitar amp mics I've evr heard...(this would include a very LONG list of mics over the last 30 years).....I would personally buy any product from ADK without a moments hesitation and ,in fact, will be using a couple of the high-end mics on the next record.Specifically the Commemorative Edition and the A-48. I also have a set of the SC-1's and love them on drum overheads a lot more than most of the other high-end hyped SDC's out there right now.They have a better tonal aspect fro drums and their pattern stays nice and tight so bleed in a room with other instruments is quite doable.

 

[noisedude]

Thanks for that Cavedog101, that's helpful. I have mixed experiences of companies so I try to find a little more out nowadays before I head off and look at their wares. I like this trend towards quality customer service that's taking place at the moment. With the 'smaller' companies doing it, perhaps Sennheiser and Behringer will eventually take note and pull their own socks up?

 

[noisedude]

From the ADK website:

Q. Why can’t I find ADK in any of the national chains in the U.S.?

A. ADK microphones have a carefully formulated timbre that requires you to hear them. The analog input stage of audio imparts color and texture. Hearing truly is Believing! By going to an Independent Hands-On Pro Audio Dealer, or Better MI (Independent Musical Instrument Dealer) with a respectable mic selection, you can make a fair comparison!

ADK expects to win or lose on the merits of our usefulness. Applications-Driven End-User’s are at the leadership of ADK. We have played and recorded music for 30 years. And we would rather you went home with the right microphone – even if it ends up being a Neumann! By making an educated purchase based on blind listening tests, you can find the microphone that is best for you!

So I guess it's a deliberate decision that they're not in any of the big shops.

Hey, don't ADK have some kind of satisfaction guarantee? Like a 14-day money-back thing? I might be wrong ... thought I read that somewhere.

 

[diogo]

to the people that actually have experienced both the Viena and Hamburg...

what would work better in a baritone voice that can also go to extreme highs?

i dont like bright stuff, but if its all for the good of the final mix and bringing out the potential in vocals, by all means...

and dont say buy both and use viena for vocals and hamburg for acoustics lol

i cant afford both...

tanx!

 

[Flatpicker]

So I guess it's a deliberate decision that they're not in any of the big shops...

Yes, it takes a lot of investment up-front to get into places like GC. ADK is just not that large of a company (nor am I too sure that they are trying to be...) They have several dealers, though. Personally, I think they are a cut above the MXL stuff, but then they are more expensive too. But hey, here's an EXCELLENT link to a multitude of female vocal, male vocal, and acoustic guitar clips of almost every budget mic out there. So just listen and see what you like. You can hear either the wave files or the mp3 versions. (Hint: Download them to your pc first and play them on something that enables you to do quick back-to-back comparisons.

http://testing.holmerup.biz/mic_pretest/index_en.html
(diogo - you will find excellent comparisons of the Hamburg and Vienna here! IMHO there’s way more going on than one just being brighter than the other – the difference is much more complex then that.)

BTW, Larry at ADK is a great guy and almost always answers the phone when you call there. He loves to talk to folks so call him anytime and have a chat!

 

[diogo]

flatpicker,

tanx for the tip
i knew about that website and have taken samples from there..problem is, my stupid computer cheap monitors wont let me tell any differences..so im really depending on the kindness of strangers here

im investigating a lot on the adk forum...as far as calling though, i cant afford that either lol

but tanx anyway!

 

[Harvey Gerst]

According to Larry at ADK, the Vienna is voiced similarly to a U67 (brighter), while the Hamburg is voiced like a U47 (slightly darker). If you're not familiar with the sound of a U47 or a U67, then this info isn't gonna help you much.

Maybe this will help:

When I speak into a really good U47, I feel like I should be saying, "Hello, this is God talking." It sounds way bigger than life size.

The U67 is the same kinda sound, but with a little more shimmer at the top end.

 

[Flatpicker]

..problem is, my stupid computer cheap monitors wont let me tell any differences...

I wouldn't suggest mixing this way, but any decent set of headphones will let you hear plenty of difference.

 

[whyseye]

If we're speaking about the different colourations - how similar or different are the Hamburg and the MXL V69ME?
Has anybody A/B'd these? Or would it be a redundancy to even have both to try?
Both are said to be "on the dark side".........as it were.

 

[diogo]

hey flatpicker..

no, i meant the cheap monitors on my computer to listen to the files/mic comparisons...i do not mix with these! lol
god forbid me..

harvey,

tanx for the input...unfortunately no, i do not know or heard any neumans in person, i may have in recorded music (pretty sure), but im not aware they're there

ill go with the Hamburg...im set on it.