Cheaper LD Tube mics LIST.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr Funk
  • Start date Start date
ausrock said:
<-------------decides to remain wisely silent.

:cool:
Why is it I get the feeling all the cards are not on the table and you're holding an ace or something?;)
 
Here's a mic that predates the U87. It ain't German either.
 

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Regardless of any "aces", I made that comment because I believe there are factors involved that some people choose to ignore..............and I don't intend to start a pissing contest by raising them.

:cool:
 
ausrock said:
Regardless of any "aces", I made that comment because I believe there are factors involved that some people choose to ignore..............and I don't intend to start a pissing contest by raising them.

:cool:
Well, maybe I'm oblivious (wouldn't be the first time;) ), but I can't "ignore" them if I don't know what they are in the first place. But you're right - if it's going to start a fight, it's best left alone.
 
ADKs

Hi Mr Funk,

Well, as far as the ADK LD tube mics go, if you like a big, wide, forward sound with plenty of low end, the TC and TT are definitely the models to try. If you like a more refined, more realistic reproduction, the A48 is quite nice. The current version is a bit bright and a wee bit "light" compared to the TC or TT but there's a "revision" coming out that will be more linear (more to my tastes!), although not as "ballsy" sounding as the TC.

I'll brake all marketing rules now... I hope that Larry doesn't fly over here to kick my butt!
I have a problem with the A51SC: it's inferior to the other ADK mics. All the other ADK mics offer incredible value, but the SC is a bit of a letdown. Don't get me wrong, it's a good mic for the price, but it's noisier than I want it to be, and the LF response should be more extended: acoustic guitar tracks lack body and have too much HF noise IMHO compared ie. to my modified MK012's. I'm currently working on the SC redesign. If I have my ways, the only options will be a switchable low cut and a pad, but they'll have to be on separate switches. Dunno about you but I hate it when I have to choose between pad and HPF.
There's quite a bit of work ahead, so don't start asking every other day when the new SC is coming out. THAT SAID! I think the actual SC performance is good enough for drums. The current SC has pretty good headroom, so you could consider the current SC a "high-SPL" version ;O)

JPG
 
Hi JP,

That sounds more like an electronics package problem, or is it in the capsule? Wouldn't a better FET and some replacements transistors cure those problems? Does the SC have a transformer output or a balanced electronic output?

I guess I'm mainly wondering if it's a bad capsule design or a bad support package design? Maybe I should say poor rather than bad.
 
SC Issues

JP is totally correct. The SC is the weak link in our line-card.

One of the reasons I asked him to work on it! I am clearly
a long-time Large Diaphragm end-user. The only small caps
in my closet are few Shoeps and B&K. It's not my area of expertise, really! The SC handled the string section for Tony Bennett at Charlotte Symphony last year. But that's live. In critical Studio useage, we know it can be better, and JP is the guy that can do it! He doesn't pull and punches (and neither do I)!

I appreciate candor. If we have faults, we admit it and work on them! And goodness knows we are far from perfect! But: we listen! We truly do!!!

Ref: Eeldips comments. Point taken.

But am I the only one that sees the irony here???

Anti-Competition is when big marketing companies use predatory practices to try to stifle competition (thru a variety of means).

If you allow a few large marketing companies to control the microphone industry, you might just end up with Wonderbread.


For the guy who paid an Extra $100 to buy an Audix C-111 because if its nicely tailored response curve . .

For the guy who saved for a year to buy a Lawson, and then waited patiently for another two months for it to get built . . .

For the top country female artist who said "I never even heard of that mic. How come it sounds better on me than all them old things you keep puttin' up in here." . . .

You are my heros!!! You care about sound ! ! !

I would rather spend my time celebrating the folks in this industry that have made a difference, and who care about the music!

Respectfully,

Larry J. Villella, __ADK)))
www.adkmic.com
larry@adkmic.com
1-360-566-9400

P.S. For the logo that ADK has used for the last two years go to www.adkmic.com For our two year old logo, see Alan's Post.

As for ass-kicking, my butt's sore from all the "slings and arrows".
 
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I wish more (if not all) the microphone manufacture owners, designers, etc would participate more in this mic BBS... I for one like learning from all of them. Welcome aboard JP and Larry.

PS, I also agree with Alan in the fact that CO$T is NOT what determines a good mic. :)
 
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Hi Harvey,

"That sounds more like an electronics package problem, or is it in the capsule?"

The head amp is noisy.
The capsule is not bad, but it ain't no KK84... it's sort of a cross between a typical Neumann KK and an AKG CK. I find it very interesting!

"Wouldn't a better FET and some replacements transistors cure those problems? Does the SC have a transformer output or a balanced electronic output?"

So far, there aren't any Xfo balanced ADK SD mics.
My first impression when I opened the SC was "too much stuff in there!" so ideally, I'd pull stuff out, using a Xfo for the output stage. Chinese Xfos aren't that bad. And, good Xfos cost quite a bit. I think I'll manage to come up with a cost-effective mic using a nice transfo sometime next year, maybe another A51s revision? I have to sort out the current line first.
Back to the SC... I'm still digging but my guess is that something went wrong between the drawing board and production line.
I'm playing with the A48 too, but that one won't change much, because I like the way it sounds, but I want to do something else to it and I'm having a hard time achieving that... anyway...

"I guess I'm mainly wondering if it's a bad capsule design or a bad support package design? Maybe I should say poor rather than bad."

The capsule design is cost-effective, you get good performance at a low price. So there'll be some tweaking to improve specs. Probably capsule AND head amp. And it looks like capsule consistency is improving; the problem being, what's the point in producing 10000 capsules that sound identical, if they don't sound great?

OTOH I think the chinese LD capsules are starting to be really good. I have a couple of german capsules here and I prefer ie. the new LD caps used in the A51ST on most sources. I'm being obective here, I use the mics in my studio. If the capsule works, then fine, otherwise I fit one that I like.

JP
 
replying to a 7 year old thread lol

Thought I would add the Superlux mic cheap and meant to be great plus not a rebadged mic...

Got all the specs.


Oktava MKL 2500 (£230)
Oktava MKL 5000 (£500)
ADK A51TC (£380)
ADK A48 (£550)
ADK GT2 (£250)
Studio Projects T3 (£370) - VG on my voice. Prefered over U87.
Studio Projects TB1 (£195)
Red5 Audio RV15 (£220)
AKG Solidtube (£335)
CAD M9 (£500)
MXL V77 (£250 - £500) - **it's great, love it.
MXL V69 Mogami Edition (£170)
Rode NTK (£330)
Se Electronics Z5600 (£400)
Se Electronics SE5500 (£300)
Groove Tube GT66 (£250)
Groove Tube GT77 (£400)
Audio Technica AT3060 (£400)
SoundKing SKEA001B/W (??? < £600)
SoundKing SKEA002B/W (??? < £600)
SoundKing SKEA006B/W (??? < £600)
Nady TCM 1050 (??? < £600)
Nady TCM 1100 (??? < £600)
Pacific Pro Audio PPA LD-2ube ($299)
JoeMeek TB47 (£400)
**Superlux CMH8G (£130 on thomann £240 everywhere else)
 
Superlux manufactures and sell mics under their own brand, and provides the same mics to various rebranders.

The Apex 460 is currently the reigning best-value tube mic at $189 USD.
 
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