Interesting Mic controversy

  • Thread starter Thread starter slobbermonster
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But were the previous experiences of the mic not that it was fairly mediocre? Is it only becoming a 'deal' now because of the Telefunken connection? I'm confused. Is anyone actually using their ears here? I mean, I'm enjoying the gossip either way and all, but I'm just wondering whether people are having their ears guided by the scandal.
 
noisedude said:
But were the previous experiences of the mic not that it was fairly mediocre? Is it only becoming a 'deal' now because of the Telefunken connection? I'm confused. Is anyone actually using their ears here? I mean, I'm enjoying the gossip either way and all, but I'm just wondering whether people are having their ears guided by the scandal.
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https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=143587&highlight=apex+460

here it is.

according to the artical
http://www.studioreviews.com/m16-460.htm

the only real differance is the tube.
combine that with our own thread and the result is pritty much a
buy, but with intent to swap tubes. (i think i'll try this)

but i must admit (blush) my opinion of the mic has changed a little with the comparison artical.
 
The truth here is that the pictures are pretty scary in how similar everything is. The truth here is also that initial reports on how the Telefunken actually sounds are very good. The truth here is that almost all of the people commenting on any of the threads have no experience with either the Apex or the Telefunken mic and are just following suit in the witch hunt. The truth here is also that there are more reports that the Telefunken actually does sound quite different (although one of those reports is from Tony himself and should be taken with a grain of salt).
 
xstatic said:
The truth here is that the pictures are pretty scary in how similar everything is. The truth here is also that initial reports on how the Telefunken actually sounds are very good. The truth here is that almost all of the people commenting on any of the threads have no experience with either the Apex or the Telefunken mic and are just following suit in the witch hunt. The truth here is also that there are more reports that the Telefunken actually does sound quite different (although one of those reports is from Tony himself and should be taken with a grain of salt).
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...the truth is...mixed reviews on the Apex, but most agree on the "sizzly high end" :
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=143587&highlight=apex+460
 
Thanks for that addition kidvybes. Its been hard to suss through all the posts about this whole "controversy". Many people seem be adding their opinions to the whole thing without any real experience with either mic, yet some how find ways of commenting on sonic qualities. I hadn't really seen any reviews on the Apex yet (hadn't really looked either). At the price of the APEX mic though, one should expect certain problems. Sizzly high end or not, it's probably still a good value. Maybe its just because when I started recording, there were barely any cheap mics that sounded decent at all:D
 
xstatic said:
Thanks for that addition kidvybes. Its been hard to suss through all the posts about this whole "controversy". Many people seem be adding their opinions to the whole thing without any real experience with either mic, yet some how find ways of commenting on sonic qualities. I hadn't really seen any reviews on the Apex yet (hadn't really looked either). At the price of the APEX mic though, one should expect certain problems. Sizzly high end or not, it's probably still a good value. Maybe its just because when I started recording, there were barely any cheap mics that sounded decent at all:D
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X...as I stated earlier in this thread, I own most of the other "bargain" tube mics like MXL's V69, V77, 960 and ADK's GT2, and while I did audition the Apex 460, I found it noticeably less appealing than the MXL variety...based on that experience, I can only recommend that there are better tube-mic choices in the $200-300. price range than the Apex 460...many of the those familiar with this Tele controversy are seeing this as an opportunity to buy a $1400. tube mic for $200...when in fact, IMHO, it's more accurate to assume that Tele is selling a $200. mic (with minor upgrades/mods) for $1400...there is, in fact, a Canadian dealer that sells the Apex 460 with similar modifications already done for around $300.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29950&item=7324437036&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW )
...if you think the Apex is still "a good value", then I recommend the Nady 1150 (the identical mic with a different "logo) for only $159...now that's a great value!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41466&item=7325023816&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


...oh yeah, just an afterthought...I run these tube mics thru an Amek/Neve 9098, which while being often criticized for not having the "classic darker Neve" sound, has a very clean open sound which seems to permit these "bargain" tube mics to shine...in the current edition of Electronic Music magazine, pro music producer/engineer Tony Shepperd also comments on how great these inexpensive mics sound when run through quality mic pre's (Brent Averill Neve 1073's in his case)...not everybody can afford Neve pre's, but it does seem to make sense to invest in better quality pre's to enhance the performance of these "budget" level mics (along with the tube upgrades)...if you currently own mostly MXL, SP, Nady and some of the less expensive AT, CAD or Shure mics and run them thru the typical "entry level quality" mic pre, it probably would be a better investment to upgrade your mic pre before looking into more expensive mics (and running them thru a $50-200. mic pre)....but again, that's IMHO...
 
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got to worry when you read this:

*** DURING OUR THIRTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY... WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY WE HAVE EVER HEARD!!! WE WERE TOLD THAT THE APEX ENGINEERS WERE TRAINED BY NEUMANN DURING THE COLD WAR AND CLOSE INSPECTION OF THESE MICROPHONES SEEMS TO VERIFY THIS***
 
krs said:
got to worry when you read this:

*** DURING OUR THIRTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY... WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY WE HAVE EVER HEARD!!! WE WERE TOLD THAT THE APEX ENGINEERS WERE TRAINED BY NEUMANN DURING THE COLD WAR AND CLOSE INSPECTION OF THESE MICROPHONES SEEMS TO VERIFY THIS***
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...the truth is that German engineers did tutor the Chinese electronics manufacturers back when China was developing as a cheaper source of labor for western markets, but what bearing that has on the Apex mic is at best, speculation...
 
Update

...check out this thread on Recording.Org... one of the contributors to the thread has purchased both the Apex and the Tele and has posted the results of the comparison:

http://www.recording.org/ftopict-28972.html


...now, read this thread which includes first impressions of the Tele M16 from Gearslutz's "Dan O" (before the discovery of the Apex controversy)...substitute the Apex 460 for the Tele M16, as the mic "Dan O" critiques (since they are essentially the same mics) and you can see how bizarre this whole issue becomes (especially considering the similar results of the 2 mics on the thread above)...

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=28184


...and here's another entry for the "Bizarro World" file...check out this website for Tele's sister company:

http://www.vintagetones.com/719026.html

...is it just me, or is their logo kind of a "Telefunken/Chinese" hybrid design...if someone recognizes the calligraphy style used in that logo, please respond...
 
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now i'd really like to see the comparisons between either of those 2 mics and the AKG C12 VR and of course the original C12. Anyone have these 3 or 4 mics hanging around that they'd like to unscrew and photo for us? :)
 
sorry if this has already been asked and answered....... but are there any reviews of the telefunken prior to the controversy? i'm curious to see what people were saying before they knew what was inside them
 
kidvybes said:
As I listed above, the same guy who blew the whistle on Tele had this to say about the mic before he discovered the Apex similarities
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I think those are two different guys named Dan.
 
I was under the impression that 'Dan-O' at Gearslutz was NOT Dot. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
...at closer inspection, I was wrong...2 different Dans...2 dramatically different opinions...sorry...but still, imagine if "Dan-O" had been reviewing the $200. Apex rather than a $1400. Telefunken (since they are obviously the same mics sans the mods), and having those same responses...comparing it to all those high-end mics and prefering the Chinese knockoff...pretty scary stuff!
 
So far, all of the reviews on the Apex have been pretty bad. So far all but one of the reviews on the Telefunken have been really good. Hmmmmmm.......
 
xstatic said:
So far, all of the reviews on the Apex have been pretty bad. So far all but one of the reviews on the Telefunken have been really good. Hmmmmmm.......
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...maybe it says a little something about the power of the "marque" (logo)...let's put a Neumann badge on an MXL 960 tube mic and see if it "flies"...
 
Maybe, or maybe there is more to the whole thing than we know about. I am not sure how much Telefunken wants to release ALL of the details on waht they do to the mic, otherwise people would all just buy the Apex and do it themselves. Maybe thats why it looks like Lawyers are getting involved.

I stand by my original thoughts though. All but one report so far lead me to believe that these mics sound different. In the end it is up to the end user to decide if the Telefunken's sound is worth $1400 to them.
 
xstatic said:
So far, all of the reviews on the Apex have been pretty bad. So far all but one of the reviews on the Telefunken have been really good. Hmmmmmm.......
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No. Of all the guys who actually have both, they sound remarkably the same.
 
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