Is it Me?

[Lee M.]

or does the M-Audio Sputnik seem to be a Solaris with a tube. The specs look pretty close.

 

[Robert D]

If it is, that's a quantum leap in their marketing hype, given what they're comparing it to. They're usually not given to over the top marketing, so it's curious for them to make such bold claims here, especially if they just stuck a tube in a Solaris. I checked out the Luna once - nice but nothing to get too excited about. They seem pretty excited about this one, and I'd like to hear one.

 

[flatfinger]

Your forgeting about that magical, mystic tube mojo!! It adds harmonics from a parallel universe that makes even the most crappy american idol reject singer sound great! Get out your checkbook fool !!!

 

[tdukex]

One is an FET mic, the other is a tube mic. They are two different animals. A lot of mics have similar housings, caps, and specs.

 

[Brackish]

They seem pretty excited about this one, and I'd like to hear one.

I have heard one. It really is nicer than the price would
indicate. I haven't read their marketing materials
but if I were getting a tube it would be that one.

 

[Lee M.]

"One is an FET mic, the other is a tube mic. They are two different animals. A lot of mics have similar housings, caps, and specs".


I realize that they are two different animals. But the specs are thisclose, they
have the same polar patterns and use the same capsule/diaphragm. The only significant difference that I can see is that the Sputnik uses a sub-mini tube instead of a fet and costs $300.00 more. Of course I could be wrong.

 

[tdukex]

I realize that they are two different animals. But the specs are thisclose, they have the same polar patterns and use the same capsule/diaphragm. The only significant difference that I can see is that the Sputnik uses a sub-mini tube instead of a fet and costs $300.00 more. Of course I could be wrong.

No, you are right. The Sputnik is probably just a Solaris with a tube but costs $300 more.

And an AT 4060 is really an AT 4050 with a tube, but with only one polar pattern and similar specs, and yet costs $500 more. Whats going on here?

Could it be that tube mics cost more to build than FET mics? Could it be that some manufacturers try to keep overall costs down by sometimes using the same case, head, or diaphragm in different mics? Could it be that hundreds of mics made by various manufacturers share the same polar patterns and similar specs?

Nah!

 

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

hmm

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=microphones

the solaris info says something like "1.1" brass capsule w/ gold sputtered mylar diaphragm" Does that mean the same as a 1.1" diaphragm?

Also, the sputnik case is brass, while solaris does not specify brass.

 

[zbert]

Hey Lee
You from Joisey? I'm from Joisey! What exit?

 

[dgatwood]

the solaris info says something like "1.1" brass capsule w/ gold sputtered mylar diaphragm" Does that mean the same as a 1.1" diaphragm?

I'm pretty sure all capsule/diaphragm measurements are based on the outside of the metal rim... so yeah.

Also, the sputnik case is brass, while solaris does not specify brass.

I've never seen a capsule made of anything else---probably because it's easy to mill & drill. In a web search, I found a couple of people who claimed that certain mics used stainless steel, but I've never seen one.

 

[Lee M.]

Hey zbert. I'm between exit 9 and 8A (which is good if I have a dumb attack and miss my turn off at 9!).

 

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I'm pretty sure all capsule/diaphragm measurements are based on the outside of the metal rim... so yeah.

ok. weird how they use different words to describe each, though.

Obi-Wan retsdaoR 18'

 

[dgatwood]

ok. weird how they use different words to describe each, though.

Obi-Wan retsdaoR 18'

I could easily be wrong, but I suspect if I were, I'd have been corrected by MsHilarious or someone by now.