APEX Microphones

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jimmypage

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Has anyone had experience with APEX brand microphones. I am considering the purchase of the APEX sp1 microphone package. Any educated input on the overall quality and product consistency of this manufacturer would be greatly appreciated.
 
It depends. Do you mean *this* chinese OEM'd mic, or *that* chinese OEM'd mic?

I have the Apex 460, which is the exact same mic as the Nady TCM-1150, the Carvin CTM100, and until recently, the Telefunken RFT M16. It sounds good on quite a few things.

The Apex 435 looks to me like the same as an MXL V63. The Apex 180 looks the same as a Nady CM90. I would bet they are extremely close. I use the MXL V63 for overheads with good results and the CM90 on hi-hats. They are good starter mics, but the more I learn and the finer I tune my ear, the more I long for better.
 
How can you go wrong with the price that pack sells for!

They are what they are and the nice thing about home rec these days is that the cheap mics sound good, that is compared to the days when I was trying to home rec.

What you'll find with the apex's compared to high end mics is that they have certain unnatural sounding hyped frequencies and kind of 2d sounding. For eg, the apex SDC's on my Martin make the guitar sound like a cheaper acoustic. Jospehson c42's give it a richer more natural sound IE, it sounds like my guitar.

Having said that, the Apex's get the job done, they don't sound bad - it's just that hi end mics can sound beautifull.

As far as build, I have some Apex's laying around that I treat like crap and they work fine.
 
The Apex 460 we have here for review is totally impressive if you consider you get a variable-pattern tube mic for $200. Perfectly acceptable mic, and a great value. It's been running along with about 30 other tube mics we've been testing, and it sounds pretty good. It's not like we move from a $3500 Neumann M149 to the Apex 460 and all go, "ooooh, that 460 sounds like shit compared to the M149." We do that with the NTK, but not the 460.

Actually, in the tests on the $1400 Telefunken M16, we thought it sounded thin, and thought the 460 actually sounded pretty good.

Apex....so far....so good.
 
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If comparing the Apex 460 to The MXL V69 what would the verdict be? Too different to compare?

Beez
 
people keep saying the 460 is a good buy.

i only agree if you're willing to mod it a little. stock the hi end is tireing, almost painful.

and yes, i have used it.
 
I'm starting to think the biggest problem is the transformer. It doesn't seem to handle loud transients well. Its great on low to mid volume sources, especially if you use a 12AT7 or a 12AY7 tube. It definately needs a higher quality trafo. I'm going to try some Cinemags.
 
PhilGood said:
I'm starting to think the biggest problem is the transformer. It doesn't seem to handle loud transients well. Its great on low to mid volume sources, especially if you use a 12AT7 or a 12AY7 tube. It definately needs a higher quality trafo. I'm going to try some Cinemags.
Click to expand...

if you get this worked out, please tell. i'd like to try my hand at modding, and well, it's a good cheep mic to destroy...... but the possibilities seem good
(that is, if i don't kill it)
 
Apex 460

I have read that by changing out the chinese 12at7 tube and putting in a good 6072 makes a world of difference.
I have written to Carvin and they say that this mod can be done with no problem.
BG
http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy/
 
somewhat old thread, but...

recently tried out an apex 435, which i got as a freeby. i was recording acoustic guitar and put up a bunch of mics to try out -- AT 4033, Blue kiwi, SP C1, Groove Tubes gt-44, Nakamichi SD condenser, Superlux SD condenser, SM-57, and a few others I can't think of. i had extremely low expectations from the apex (figured, if it came for free, it must suck) but was pleasantly surprised. had a nice full, balanced sound. would probably use the kiwi or gt-44, but i wouldn't be ashamed to use the apex if i was in a pinch. thumbs up!
 
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