compairisons of cheap ribbons

[petimar]

Before you buy a cheap ribbon, try to demo a Royer or AEA. There really is a huge difference, very much worth the extra $.

 

[kid klash]

All of our pricing is on our site. I think it would be perceived as pretty spammy for a dealer to do this. The pricing you're quoting is cheaper than us, if you would like to post links go right ahead. I've been asked to match Full Compass around those prices, I suspect it is them. There is no profit at that price.

As far as putting the thing into focus if my clips help, great. I never ask or insist or generally even suggest that anybody on these boards buy them from me though at any price.

If price is all that matters, I would not make clips or even bother listening to anything we sell...!

Carry on.

War

Thanks for your comments War - I understand your point about you, as a dealer, being perceived as spamming if you added your prices.

I on the other hand, am not a dealer, just a consumer that has to weigh performance versus price on every purchase, regardless of whether it's a car, food, internet providers, clothing, etc.

Part of this "weighing" has to do with expected results for a given product, perceived level of quality of the product, how well the product performs for the task at hand, and whether I just want an item or actually need an item. I don't actually need any more mics, but I do need food, clothing and a roof over my head!

With that said, I looked up the prices, and post them here simply for reference for myself and others. The clips you provided are VERY helpful, and are very much appreciated!

Apex 205: Great bang for the buck, pretty balanced sound - $99
Apex 210: Best overall detail and balance on this guitar - $140
Avant CR-14: Dense mid / mid-low response, soft top end - $249
Beyer M260: Brightest, best attack etc, lacks body - $349
CAD Trion7000: Most classic sounding / round & full ribbon - $259
Oktava ML-53: Midrange intensive, better suited to vocals - $365

 

[MichaelJoly]

Originally Posted by kid klash: "The Apex 205 is running around $82 and the Apex 210 is around $90, but I'm not certain about the others). Prices help bring the "price versus performance" thing into focus for a lot of people, especially after hearing your samples."

All of our pricing is on our site. I think it would be perceived as pretty spammy for a dealer to do this. The pricing you're quoting is cheaper than us, if you would like to post links go right ahead. I've been asked to match Full Compass around those prices, I suspect it is them. There is no profit at that price.

As far as putting the thing into focus if my clips help, great. I never ask or insist or generally even suggest that anybody on these boards buy them from me though at any price.

If price is all that matters, I would not make clips or even bother listening to anything we sell...!
War

Warren makes a point I'd like to amplify. He has taken the time to shootout a few different ribbon models, including the Apex 205 (which is a high-interest mic right now) and post the results. Full Compass comes along, rides on a service provided by him (ShinyBox too for that matter) and information provided by others then uses the Apex 205 as a no-profit or loss-leader item to drive traffic to their mega store.

I think this is an excellent example of the difference between an order-taking corporate behemoth with limited product knowledge that can only compete on the basis of price, and a personal-service oriented retailer offering exceptional product knowledge. In my opinion that added-value is worth $20.

 

[kid klash]

Originally Posted by kid klash: "The Apex 205 is running around $82 and the Apex 210 is around $90, but I'm not certain about the others). Prices help bring the "price versus performance" thing into focus for a lot of people, especially after hearing your samples."




Warren makes a point I'd like to amplify. He has taken the time to shootout a few different ribbon models, including the Apex 205 (which is a high-interest mic right now) and post the results. Full Compass comes along, rides on a service provided by him (ShinyBox too for that matter) and information provided by others then uses the Apex 205 as a no-profit or loss-leader item to drive traffic to their mega store.

I think this is an excellent example of the difference between an order-taking corporate behemoth with limited product knowledge that can only compete on the basis of price, and a personal-service oriented retailer offering exceptional product knowledge. In my opinion that added-value is worth $20.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not a dealer, just another consumer. Full Compass didn't just "come along and ride on Warren's and Shinybox's service"; I'm just a guy that did my homework on the Apex 205 pricing, as other consumers that hang out here do, and passed on the info for others to see.

You are right - Warren DID provide good information about the mics that his company sells, and again, I say "thank you" to him. He's a straight-up guy, and is more than generous with his knowledge. And you're right again - service is an important part of buying any product, and I've heard that Warren's company is second to none when it comes to service. I buy "things" from companies that have given me good pricing and good service, small and large alike. I've personally had good pricing and good service experiences with Full Compass (along some other "large internet sellers"), which is why I mentioned their Apex mic prices. Same thing goes for "little internet sellers" like Humbucker Music, and my local "brick-n-mortar" MI store, Showcase Music.

eBay, Guitar Center ("large internet sellers") and Apple Music (another local "brick-n-mortar" MI store) on the other hand, are on my "never again" list, and wouldn't mention them as a source to buy anything, even if Pamela Anderson was giving free lapdances to everyone spending $5 or more at those places.

 

[Big Kenny]

No such thing as a free lap dance.....

 

[Warhead]

For the record I did not mean to start a shit storm here.

Quote: I'm just a guy that did my homework on the Apex 205 pricing, as other consumers that hang out here do, and passed on the info for others to see.

I have to ask: so why are you making statements about this pricing and that pricing which has nothing to do with our site, yet asking me to clearly post prices on the mics? I'm sorry, it just felt like you were setting up some kind of "trap" for me because I'm "too high" or something. You obviously already did your homework on me, then lay it out in some strange way like this.

I don't get it, I try to help...you don't have to buy it from me. Yet you are compelled to make an example out of me after I share clips and ask for nothing in return. At the very least you put me in an uncomfortable position, and I just don't see how I earned that today.

War (lap dancing mic guy)

 

[kid klash]

For the record I did not mean to start a shit storm here.

Quote: I'm just a guy that did my homework on the Apex 205 pricing, as other consumers that hang out here do, and passed on the info for others to see.

I have to ask: so why are you making statements about this pricing and that pricing which has nothing to do with our site, yet asking me to clearly post prices on the mics? I'm sorry, it just felt like you were setting up some kind of "trap" for me because I'm "too high" or something. You obviously already did your homework on me, then lay it out in some strange way like this.

I don't get it, I try to help...you don't have to buy it from me. Yet you are compelled to make an example out of me after I share clips and ask for nothing in return. At the very least you put me in an uncomfortable position, and I just don't see how I earned that today.

War (lap dancing mic guy)

Sorry Warren,

I guess I didn't think asking what the prices were of the mics you made clips of was a big deal. And it didn't seem to be a big deal until the mic modder made it a big deal. Actually, it still doesn't seem like a big deal, at least to me.

Anyway, again I thank you for posting your shootout clips.

My intention was not to make you feel bad or put you in a tight spot - I just wanted to add another dimension to the good clips and mini reviews that you kindly posted.

When I read comparisons of different cars in Consumer Reports, they not only list the model and a review of each car, but they also list the price of all the cars in the comparisons so that the consumer can weigh the functional review and general performance with the cost of the car. For someone looking for good, inexpensive transportation to drive to work and back, they might be willing to accept a Ford compact, even though it has a rougher ride than a Lincoln or Cadillac. But without the prices listed of the cars being compared, it'd be tough to make the right decision. Same thing with mics.

Anyway, again, thanks, and sorry for the heartburn.

Edit :

Sheesh - I wish I had seen this thread at Gearslutz earlier, where you posted the price of the mics - it probably would have saved a lot of effort, heartburn and raised eyebrows :

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/102366-best-chinese-ribbons.html

 

[Warhead]

No sweat - War

 

[omtayslick]

Click the right arrow and download it. It should not be a stream situation if you click that one!

War

That did the trick. Duh! Thanks Warren for helping out this space cadet.

 

[soundchaser59]

I think this is an excellent example of the difference between an order-taking corporate behemoth with limited product knowledge that can only compete on the basis of price, and a personal-service oriented retailer offering exceptional product knowledge. In my opinion that added-value is worth $20.

Which is a good reason to to find what you want first (within your budget limits) then go find the best price. I have never started witht he cheapest mic, see if I like it, if not then go to the next higher price and see if I like it, etc... I find a mic I like or want to try, then find the best price on it. Fullcompass has a lot of mics, and they usually have the best price, but they dont always have the mic I want.

Appreciate the compares Warhead! Thank You! I bought my 210 from fullcompass, but I also wanted a Fathead which i ended up just buying from Cascade directly. I agree with the opinions above. The 210 for my voice beats all the budget (under $200) condensors every time. The Fathead on my guitar cab beats every budget dynamic out there every time. I'm having great luck with entry level ribbons.

 

[giraffe]

actually quite a helpful thread, thanks to all who gave their opinions so far!

 

[MichaelJoly]

Audio files of Coles 4038 vs. OktavaMod Apex 205 on drum OH are now up:
http://www.oktavamod.com/news.html

This is my stock 4038 compared to an Apex 205 with full acoustical, mechanical and Lundahl transformer upgrades. Recorded by Juan Lardizabal at the Los Angeles Recording School.

 

[tarnationsauce2]

Audio files of Coles 4038 vs. OktavaMod Apex 205 on drum OH are now up:
http://www.oktavamod.com/news.html

This is my stock 4038 compared to an Apex 205 with full acoustical, mechanical and Lundahl transformer upgrades. Recorded by Juan Lardizabal at the Los Angeles Recording School.

Love the performance.

Anyways, the 205 is more articulate to me, but I am on my home PC with Altec PC speakers.

Do you know what input impedance the AD2022 was set to?

I modded my "205" varient with a Cinemag CM9887 and I noticed an improvement in the highs, and a slight drop in the low end strangely enough. I also hear Edcore makes a pretty good transformer that's well suited in these ribbon mics.

I am scared to remove the inner mesh (if I remember correctly there is thick heavy grating over the ribbon, then silky material, then an inner mesh just within the outer grille).
When I had my mic apart I just barely breathed on the ribbon and I saw it deflecting what seemed like 1/4"!
They are very sensitive to plosives. Do you give some sort of disclaimer to always use a pop filter on vox with mics that have had so much grille removed? Or is what you have a sufficient amount of pop filtering?
I like to use my ribbons on vocals sometimes.

 

[Gilliland]

When I had my mic apart I just barely breathed on the ribbon and I saw it deflecting what seemed like 1/4"!

Some of these mics come from the factory with improperly tensioned ribbons. If the ribbon is so loose that it easily moves out of the gap between the magnets, that you may want to have it adjusted.

I thought the clips were very telling. The two mics were "voiced" very similarly, but Michael's modified 205 definitely has the crisper high end.

 

[rickshawrecords]

thinking about a cheep ribion mic and was wondering if any one had experience with more than one of the different models? whatever the badge, the mic probably came from alctron at the end of the day, so which one do you like? is there even a difference, or is it all the same mic in different cases?

Giraffe,
If you're interested in building your own ribbon mic, check out the complete tutorial from www.RickshawRecords.com/ribbonmic

A full-step-by-step manual on how to build your own ribbon mic for about $100 in parts as a weekend project, or over the course of several evenings.
It's no Royer or AEA, but it definetly competes with the Chinese Ribbon mics... And you can say you built it yourself.

- Rickshaw

 

[MichaelJoly]

Do you know what input impedance the AD2022 was set to?

It was set to "mic" which the recordist believes is 1500 ohms.