Marshall revives the V77s Tube Mic in a newly designed body...

  • Thread starter Thread starter kidvybes
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new and improved...

...OK...I've got some new soundclips comparing the new V76t to the discontinued V77s...these are much cleaner and more usable comparisons than the first set posted (we recorded these BEFORE the night's sessions this time, and we even paid attention to the monitors)...tracking was done thru a Rane MS1-B (simple/clean/direct pre)... we also recorded both vocal trax and guitar cab trax...we thru in the same samples recorded with a V67g, just as a reference, since most of the readers here are somewhat familiar with that mic...these trax are all "dry"/unprocessed...I've IM'd Bleyrad to post the files again, but if he's unable (or unavailable) to do so, is there anyone else interested enough to post the files for me?...please let me know (IM me or email me) and I'll send the files to you for posting...I hope these files offer at least a reasonable/usable reference to those of you who have voiced an interest in MXL's newest/affordable tube mic...thanks!...
 
my 2 cents

on the vox the choice was clear, the v77 seemed to me to really stand out. it had a more body and much less of that crappy hi-end whatever i've come to associate with cheep condensers.
2-67 ok, but wierd in mids, kinda wierd in hi's
3-76 don't favor the hi end.

on git to me the differances were less pronounced, but the order seemed the same.

77- better mids, tighter bass
67- slightly boxier
76- like it much better here than on vox.

the end result is that i'm sorry i didn't get a v77.

that's just what i got out of it, and thank you for dooing this!!!
 
giraffe said:
on the vox the choice was clear, the v77 seemed to me to really stand out. it had a more body and much less of that crappy hi-end whatever i've come to associate with cheep condensers.
2-67 ok, but wierd in mids, kinda wierd in hi's
3-76 don't favor the hi end.
Click to expand...

The high end seems to change depending on the preamp you use. I've used a Grace 101, Focusrite Green, Eureka, 1272 (Brent Averil), ThreeQ. The 1272 and Eureka deliver a silky smooth high end; the others don't. For vocals, you have to step into it, in order to get some bass proximity; otherwise it's just right.

The V76, offers little coloration and doesn't flatter the source. So, if you can't sing or play, then this isn't for you. But if you can, then it's capable of delivering. For the $199 I paid, I'm going to keep it and probably use it on some other sessions, which is more than I can say for the other budget mics I've used.
 
Hey Kidvybes, my question's a little off topic, so I pm'd you.
 
kidvybes said:
Phil...why all the hostility...all I said at the beginning of this post is that I felt the V77s is a notch above the Apex 460/Nady 1150...I maintain that position...I DID audition the mic...I've also auditioned the Nady 1150 (same mic)... if I didn't have 3 or 4 other Chinese tube mics already, I probably would have purchased the 460...I, as I stated before, am NOT trashing the 460...

Here's a list of the Tube mics I currently own (all with upgraded tubes except the Royer & Rode), listed in order of most preferred (#1) to least preferred/ignored (#5):
#1. Mojave/David Royer MA-200 (modded ADK51)
2. Rode NTK
3. 2 MXL V77s
4. MXL V69M
5. ADK Generis GT2

...don't know if the 460 adds much to the mix...but for $159 (Nady version) guess it's worth a shot...
Click to expand...
what do you think of the adk gt2 vs your v69 or v77s?
 
Scoob said:
what do you think of the adk gt2 vs your v69 or v77s?
Click to expand...

...well, I sold the Generis, but I kept the others, so I guess that answers your question...not a bad mic, but a bit non-descipt...not enough character to hold a place in my mic cabinet...replaced by a Nady ribbon mic, which definately added a very distinct and different "flava" to the selection...(Generis is a bit too much like "generic", and so was the mic)...
 
I've been thinking of picking up an MXL V77 or 2 for a while but can't seem to find one anywhere (thanks to the hype!). I know they are discontinued. Can anyone verify that the Nady TCM1100 and the MXL V77 are indeed the same mic? I see the specs are the same (3 micron, 6072 tube, transformer, yada yada). Anyone know for sure? Thanks : )

McKay
 
OT, but man, Love that Avitar.

One of my favorite singer/songwriters ever.

teddy
 
BigRay said:
OT, but man, Love that Avitar.

One of my favorite singer/songwriters ever.

teddy
Click to expand...
I deleted that post because I realised bounce already new the V77 was discontinued. :o

Yeah, Will Oldham's one of my heros.
 
i can't confirm or deny that they are the same mic.......but i would seriously doubt it. call it a gut reaction.

if you watch the for sale forum, they pop up from time to time--usually about 1 a month or so. likewise, there are usually several of them on ebay at any given time.

i strongly recommend the V77. excellent mic.


cheers,
wade
 
One post in this thread mentioned that they were more than likely the same mic (I believe the info came from the 797 factory in China). Looking at the specs, body, etc. they really look the same...hmmm. Check this out:

http://www.newworldproaudio.com/Nady_TCM1100_Microphone.htm

They are on ebay for $169.00. If these are the same mic, I'm gonna have to steal a couple. Anyone know for sure? Thanks ;-)

McKay Garner
Bounce Inventive Audio
Los Angeles
 
from what I've been reading, it seems like a mic can be tuned or modified by someone who knows what they're doing and get some different results from stock. So when you have a mic that seems to be the same as another model, I wouldn't assume that it performs the same.

You always hear about how capsules and tubes are "selected," leading one to believe that there are differences in sound because of variations within a group of the same component! That's another reason why I have a hard time believing the model and guts with different labels mean equality.

Also, somewhere here is a process describing how to choose a mic out of a group of the same model and manufacturer when you go to buy one in a store. So that really drives home the point about how there can be huge differences from not only mic to mic, but add on label to label and components, etc.

When it's cheap enough, I could chance it, but when prices are up around $200, then I'd rather go for $100 more or $200 more and get something that is known to have the time put in at the manufacturer for testing and adjustment a.k.a. QA.
 
bounce said:
I've been thinking of picking up an MXL V77 or 2 for a while but can't seem to find one anywhere (thanks to the hype!). I know they are discontinued. Can anyone verify that the Nady TCM1100 and the MXL V77 are indeed the same mic? I see the specs are the same (3 micron, 6072 tube, transformer, yada yada). Anyone know for sure? Thanks : )

McKay
Click to expand...

...I know I briefly touched on this earlier in the thread, but the story is that 797 Audio in China (who currently manufacture for Studio Projects) designed/manufactured the original V77s for Marshall AND the TCM1100 for Nady...since MXL/Marshall has set up their own manufacturing facility (the V77s was discontinued once the MXL/797 Audio relationship was terminated), Nady has also chosen to go elsewhere to get their mics made (cheaper labor on South China)...so, although the design of the Nady remains the same, the quality of the manufacturing is questionable, as 797 no longer is the source...797 Audio remains one of the best of the Chinese manufacturers, still making some of ADK's better (tube) models as well as the SP line...
...now, as an afterthought, while chatting with Scott at MXL about a month ago, he told me that MXL was actually considering re-issuing a limited edition V77 possibly with a vintage NOS 6072 tube in it (using 797 Audio to manufacture it once again)...if enough people email him at Scott@mxlmics.com and request that they re-issued the mic, it might be enough to get them going...just a thought...

...also, the V76t that was acquired as an "evaluation" purchase from MXL (so that the sound/tracking samples could be used in the comparisons for this thread) is available for purchase at a very reasonable price (with the option of an upgraded vintage NOS GE 5-star 6072A tube)...if anyone on HR.com is interested, PM me...the price is exactly what MXL charged me (I will include the actual Marshall invoice)...still, much cheaper than available elsewhere...and brand new...
 
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...and for anyone who is curious, here's the link to 797Audio's original stock version of the V77, still part of the company's line of OEM mics:
http://www.797audio.com/products/mic/condenser/cr100.htm
...one actually sold on Ebay (with the CR100 and 797 logos) a few months back, for less than $200...

...this other model was the prototype for the MXL 2003/V93M models:
http://www.797audio.com/products/mic/condenser/cr616.htm

...and the 603:
http://www.797audio.com/products/mic/condenser/cr1-4.htm

...let's see...what do you think this one's modelled after?...hmmmm...:
http://www.797audio.com/products/mic/dynamic/cd58.htm

...and some interesting company historical background (including pictures of early prototype designs):
http://www.797audio.com/about/history.htm

...797Audio's cheif competitor, Feilo, has been a source for many of the other inexpensive OEM Chinese mics...check out their site and see what familiar mics you recognize (SE, ADK, etc...):
http://www.feilo-china.com/

...and many smaller companies round out the microphone manufacturing community in China...for example:
http://www.azusa.cn/
http://www.alctron-audio.com/new/default.asp
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11066627/Wire_Dynamic_Microphone.html

...ribbon mics, anyone?...:
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10936132/Professional_Studio_Ribbon_Microphone.html

...you can even source vintage Neumann mics in China:
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11147286/Neumann_U67_Tube_Condenser_Microphone.html

...can't find what you want in China?...how's about Taiwan:
http://www.jts.com.tw/index.php?lg=eng&mode=products&id=307
 
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