Anyone come across Mann microphones?

[Markd102]

Hi folks
I've got a Mann MT31 large diaphragm tube condenser mic, which I'm quite fond of, but I've never heard of them or seen them mentioned. Has anyone used one or know of them? I'd love to know where they sit officially on the quality tree.
Any thoughts?
Mark

 

[kristian]

i dont know.

this is all the info i've found

http://www.gtaust.com/mann/index.html

the metal screen looks awefully familiar... i cant put my finger on it though.

 

[Prism]

Why, that's the spittin' image of the Behringer B2 mic! Which, coincidentally, happens to also resemble the RODE NT2 quite a lot in body (note differences in the wind screen)

Isaiah

 

[Markd102]

Kristian
That is exactly where my mic came from. I emailed them to see if they had any more info on it and this is what came back.......


Dear Mark,
If you can find a web site called "Soundelux" in Germany, you will find the same mic. (Very expensive in Europe). I suppose you would call it a specialist vacuum tube mic that has a characteristic sound you can only get with lots of capacitors, coils, transformers and a pre amp tube. (Bit like a Marshall really)
That does not mean that it has technically good distortion figures, low noise or other apparently desirable specs. The reason people like tube mics is the reproduction process tends to give favorable enhancement to even order harmonics and suppresses odd order harmonics. The result is a "warm" and crisp sound that suits certain vocal and instrumental recording situations.


.......anyway I've looked for Soundelux and obviously can only find the USA mob. Does anyone know of a European Soundelux?

 

[ausrock]

Mark,

Were you able to ascertain where in Aust. this GTAust., is, and where exactly did you buy it?

There has been a Mann MT21 being "flogged" for about $399 Aust. for a while now.......really impressive in it's "plain brand" cardboard box. I know a guy at a local PA suppliers that was approached by someone selling them, apparently no secret was made of the fact that they were from China. There is also another similar "clone" branded "Audio Solutions" (I think) selling for a similar price.

Peace ............ChrisO

 

[Markd102]

Chris
A mate of mine who owns a PA company does a lot of dealing with Group Technologies and Factory Sound (I think they're tied in together somehow). They retail in the Group catalogue for A$1500. He got it for me in return for doing about $800 worth of work for him at a couple of festivals. I think it ended up costing him more than that cause there were comments about me owing him a couple of favours.
The MT21 is the "little brother", a plain cardoid large diaphram condenser similar to the NT1. The 31 is a multi patern tube model. I wouldn't mind a stereo pair of 21s after I've saved enough for some decent monitors.

I think Group are in Nunawading, Melbourne.

Mark

 

[ausrock]

Mark,

Thanks for that info, out of curiousity are you in Melb?

On a personal note, and nothing I say here is meant to be derogatory to your particular mic as you are obviously happy with it, but from what I could "glean" about the MANN mics I strongly suspect they are the result of GT doing a bulk purchase of "of the shelf" mics from one of the Asian manufacturers. That way they can have their choice on brand name put on the mics. By using a name with which could easily be presumed to be of German origins, they would be hoping that fact will sell their mics to the unsuspecting.

Yeah, I know I'm a cynical bastard but it has been done before and will be done again and frankly it really gets up my nose when companies are evasive about the source of their products. (I base that comment on the email you received from GT).

Peace...........ChrisO

 

[Markd102]

You are probably right Chris. The fact that I can't find anybody who has actually used one (I've posted this question on other boards in the past) suggests that you could be right about the badging bit. I'm under no illusion that I have a top class mic on my hands. It's the first large diaphram mic I've owned so although I'm happy with it, I've got nothing to compare it to. My eventual realistic wish list is a pair of Rode NTKs and maybe a pair of NT3s as well. (I like to support the Aussies)

I'm not in Melbourne. Go about 130km SE. Out in the bush where you get a very relaxed, tranquil setting perfect for making music.

Mark