Does Every Mic With A Chinese Capsule Suck!

[PhilGood]

I really wonder...

I really do!

Just to add my limited viewpoint, I bought alot of chinese mics when I started doing this, but I will tell you this: Some chinese capsules suck and some are OK. When I started modding mics I listened to the qualities of variuous brands before and after modifications. My opinion is that the capsules are very hit or miss. A capsule that sounds shrill or thin in one mic will have a completely different sound in a different circuit. Conversley, a certain circuit will have a similar sound with different capsules. Some just don't mix, and I mean similar capsules.

Some are just complete crap, but you can have good capsules stuck in bad mics. The two best capsule kinds I have found for all the tube mics I have built are from 797 (which is what Studio Projects uses) and believe it or not, the ones inside Superlux condensers.

Example 1: The "Royer mod" tube circuit sounds unbelievable with Superlux capsules, with 797 coming in a close second. It sucks with the capsule from an MXL 2001 in comparison (which is really not that bad, except for muddy low end).

Example 2: The M-Audio Nova is a fairly mediocre mic, but take the capsule and put it in an MXL 2003 with the capacitor mods that Gus gave out (to Flatpicker and others) and that mic becomes a serious contender with other famous mics. The capsule from a V67G sounds better in the 2003 than the 797 capsule. I think Marshall had a bad match on that design.

Example 3: The capsules from the Apex 460 just don't work with the 460's circuit, but I put one in a mic I built from a Sony C800G circuit (without the peltier element) and it was just the ticket over a 797 capsule.

It really is a matter of manufacturing quality. I have found a few capsules that just don't work in anything. The ones from 797 and Studio projects are very close in design to a U67 capsule. The diaphragm may be tuned differently.

That's just my experience. I am by no means an expert on the subject.

 

[noisedude]

I just like to mess with you when you play your Jedi Mind tricks on me.

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He does look a lot like Alec Guinness ....

My point is that China is a vast country and microphones are made a dozens of locations, by different companies. Some are designed at those factories, others are designed in America, Austria, Germany, Britain and Australia. There just isn't a case for generalising Chinese-built mics because the factories, machines and employees are all different!

If you ask me, the reason so many Chinese mics are quite bright is because it makes them so much more immediate to a first-time listener. You put on a pair of cans on a display stand and talk into a mic - if you hear an incredibly crisp and present sound there's a good chance you'll be impressed. Go to the C414 next to it and you'll probably think it sounds dull by comparison, and so it won't grab you as much.

The experienced listeners and users can pick out the different 'sounding' mics for their different tasks - as you obviously have, Chessrock.

I think it's sensible for those manufacturers looking to make some headway in the market to come out with a present-sounding mic ... because who's going to buy an expensive, dark-sounding valve mic from a complete no-name company besides a handful of experienced users who really trust their ears?

Just a thought.
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[easlern]

I think noisedude has a good point.
I'm pretty happy with my Rode NTK. I don't think there's any shrillness at all- just a little sibilance. In fact, I think it sounds better when I EQ down the mids and lows a little. That's probably due to my room though. For the price I paid and the voice I have, I don't think I could have done much better.

 

[MCI2424]

Well i've tried quite a few Chinesey mics on vocals and they all have that raspy top end, they try to hide it and smooth it over with a valve amp but you've still got a nasty, raspy capsule to start with. Am i right here, does anyone have a Chinesey mic that produces stellar results? If so what is it?
Perhaps i've got a raspy voice!
Vikki(uk)

I have a GT 44 SD mic that is a very smooth mic. I have not tried any others except a Studio Projects B1 someone brought by for 2 days. I really did not like it much, but I am spoiled by better mics for 30 years.

Try some of the Groove Tube mics, you might like one of them.
Another mic that CAN be great is the Oktava MK319. I have a pair that are really smooth (no hi-fizzle) but you have to select one in person to hear it.