Ok, so I took apart our M-Audio Luna and a friends GT55...why do they look the same?

[TravisK]

We are contemplating buying a friends Groove Tubes GT55 and we are testing it in our studio to see how it matches up with our M-Audio Luna.

The luna lists for under half of what the GT55 does, but they are giving it to us less than we paid for the new Luna, and it's in IMMACULATE condition.

Well, we haven't got to really test it out, but I decided (being the inquisitive person that I am) to take apart the two mics.

Aside from a capacitor or two, these mics have almost identical circuit boards and components. Is there a reason for this? Does M-Audio license from GT or vice-versa?

Would it be pointless to buy this mic? I realize they have slightly different diaphragms and their frequency response is shown as being different. But is this a weird thing or do all solid state large diaphragm condensors look strikingly similar?

I can take pictures if need be. It's uncanny. I mean, almost identical even down to the PCB color.

 

[PhilGood]

I would LOVE to see pictures. Its not so important for the circuit (which I still wanna see), but if the capsules are the same, I'd have severe suspicions! Could it be that GT is outsourcing from china as well?...

The differences in the grills could result in the frequency graph differences. M-Audio outsources from 797, I believe.

 

[pohaku]

That's not at all surprising. GT had a distribution arrangement with M-Audio for awhile after the deal with Alesis came apart. It is certainly reasonable to assume that there is some licensing of products and technology between them. AFAIK GT hasn't made mics in the US since at least the Alesis partnered mics. They may design them here, but I believe that all manufacturing/assembly is done in China (although some parts, such as transformers, may be of US origin - I think cinemag were used in the Alesis line). The only GT mics that I think were wholly US made are the original MD1, MD2 and MD3 series (and the "a" reissues). The MD2 and MD3 capsules were made by David Josephson. I'm not sure of the origin of the MD1 capsule, but it preceeds the other two MD mics. I think the MD line of mics actually predates the rise of cheap condensor manufacturing in China.

I like GT mics and have quite a few of them. My impression is that they have better quality control than many of their competitors selling Chinese mics. On the whole, however, I like their MD series mics the best, with the exception of the GT-44/AM-40 which I think is a great little mic.

 

[Farview]

Oddly enough, all SS condeser mics really work the same. They would have to, other wise the mic wouldn't work. The difference in mics normally comes down to the capsule, the quality of the electronics, and the physical design of the mic. There isn't much electronicly going on in a mic.

If you take apart a stock pickup from a les paul and a dimarzio super distortion, you will find the same stuff. They sound completely different.

 

[TravisK]

Yeah, if I remember, I'll snap a shot or two of the inside of the mics today. But I do believe the capsule of the M-Audio is 1.1", while the GT55 is 1"

So that will certainly change it a bit. Plus the GT55 has like, a small circle in the middle that is raised, while the m-audio is flat.