Tube Mic on the Cheap - MXL V69

  • Thread starter Thread starter jitteringjim
  • Start date Start date

was this mini-review useful?

  • thanks for taking the time, dude.

    Votes: 64 91.4%

  • you've just wasted my time, dude.

    Votes: 1 1.4%

  • you suck, don't post about mics again.

    Votes: 5 7.1%
  • Total voters
    70
According to the review here it sounds mostly identical to V69, but by the time you buy a shock mount (included with the V69 - not with the V6) the price is exactly the same. So, the only good I see is that you get the "sound" without having to deal with the tube supply.
 
Flatpicker said:
So, the only good I see is that you get the "sound" without having to deal with the tube supply.
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...true, but the "old school" style just got more "soul" (AND higher voltage!)...
 
Innovations said:
Speaking of cheap tube mics from MXL, the MXL web site litst a tube mic in their 900 series line supposedly available only from Musician's Friend, but the Musician's Friend site does not list it!
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that's the 960 I have it not sure where I got it, I got so many lately, I'll have to look it up!
 
Warhead said:
The V69 is a winner.

War
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Agreed. I use a pair as my main overheads now.
They also did quite well in a Blumlein pattern.

I had them in a small hall for acoustic gtr about 5 feet away.

Great results.

-Finster
 
chessrock said:
I don't think Marshall Electronics would know a good output transformer if it bit 'em in the aZZ. :D

. . . Probably trew a coupla' JFETs in there. I know nothing about this stuff, but I just thought I'd throw that term out there (JFET) so I could look cool.
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The Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) offers very high input impedance along with very low noise figures. It is very suitable for extremely low level audio applications as in audio preamplifiers. The JFET is more expensive than conventional bipolar transistors but offers superior overall performance. Unlike bipolar transistors, current can flow through the drain and source in any direction equally. Often the drain and source can be reversed in a circuit with almost no effect on circuit operation. This is one reason why a JFET is a good choice for mic pre-amps. The JFET ,though, would not really give a mic any kind of "tube" sound as it makes the signal cleaner with lower distortion and noise (the exact opposite of a tube)

It is an interesting mic though and one that would be good to discuss!
 
In march 2003 I got my V69 mogami. Lately it was a tad noisy, kind of a zoom, very soft but not like the mic used to be.

So I asked about it here and Brent Casey told me about the tube, that was soldered to the pcb and Brent said this tube was replaced by another (12ax7?) in a socket because of some noise problems.

I made a phonecall with my gear pimp and told him about it, he promised to call me back. This morning he called me and asked me to send the mic back to him with it's cables, PSU, schockmount and in the original case.

So I asked him what he will do with it, nothing he said, a new V69 is on it's way to your place. Service he said.

Thumbs up!
 
Han said:
In march 2003 I got my V69 mogami. Lately it was a tad noisy, kind of a zoom, very soft but not like the mic used to be.

So I asked about it here and Brent Casey told me about the tube, that was soldered to the pcb and Brent said this tube was replaced by another (12ax7?) in a socket because of some noise problems.

I made a phonecall with my gear pimp and told him about it, he promised to call me back. This morning he called me and asked me to send the mic back to him with it's cables, PSU, schockmount and in the original case.

So I asked him what he will do with it, nothing he said, a new V69 is on it's way to your place. Service he said.

Thumbs up!
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MXL has got a 3 year warranty on their mics...that's impressive!...I've had excellent service from them everytime!...most problems are solved by replacing the product with brand new product...gotta like that!
 
Warhead said:
Those V6 / V12 mics are actually not tube mics, but they've been engineered to give a very similar sound. Just listening at AES and comparing to the V69 it did have a tube like sound to them.

We shall see, still waiting to check them out fo' real...

War
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...the first review of the V6 Silicone Valve mic has been published...anyone considering the V69 might want to give this one a listen, since it seems to share sonic characteristics with the V69, WITHOUT the need of an external power supply...price points are the same for both mics ($299)...check out MIX mag's review:

http://industryclick.com/magazinear...seid=13220&magazinearticleid=222162&siteid=15
 
i just orderded 2 v69m mics. and i will be posting my impressions when i get them... i've been very satisfied with my v67g and i am very anxious to find out how the v69 stacks up.
 
How does the V69 compare to the V67? is it worth the extra expense? I know this is subjective, but I can't audition these mics so I have to buy on others' opinions... :o

I record male vox, female vox and acc guitar, and occasionally my guitar cab.
See my sig for my current stuff...

Stan.

edit: whoa I can get the V69M set for €195, that's good deal right?
 
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I want to upgrade from my MXL 990 on vocals. As I wrote in the Other Eqpt forum, I'm willing to wait to buy something more expensive, if it's a great improvement. I'm looking to spend my money once on a good vocal mic, not three times on something cheap.

Now I can get a new MXL V69M for 195 euros, which I find to be a real deal, normally it runs 300 here in europe. Would you say go for it, it's a great mic and you'll love it for a few years, without feeling a real need to upgrade, or would you say wait a bit longer, save up, buy a neumann tlm 103 one day or something?

Please advise

Stan.
 
that's something that only you can decide for yourself. every mic, even the cheapest non-pro junky mic can be placed somewhere and amplified enough to be a useful tool on a track with a good performance.

how long have you had the 990? what preamps are you using?
 
I've had the 990 for a year and a half now, and I use the DMP-3 pre...
 
for vocals you might want an LDC, I have a 960, a SP B3, and a nady tube, and I had to test out a cheapo nady scm900 for fun. The most versatle for me is the B3 since it has 3 patterns and it really helps when I'm in fig 8 mode and it's between 2 spaced sdc directionals pointed at my acoustic. also nice to be able to test out omni on vocal for comparisons, and I think it sounds nice, but it's also bright. 960, much deeper, darker. Nady, not enough time on it yet.

Good pre tho, I just got that one. before I get my V6, I'll have to spend a lot of time with all my mics to hear them on the new pre, it should take 6 months or so. I'm done collecting tube.
 
Since this thread started seven years ago the real sweet spot in tubes mics has moved to the nine pattern, $189 Apex 460 - a U 47, M 49 shoot out winner once modified.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
We had the V12 prototype in here briefly, and I was pretty impressed with the sound of it.
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Harvey would/could you tell me the impressionability of the V12 when you had it at ITR in comparison to when you first heard and used the MXL V67G that you speak of so highly of, for I was considering getting the V67 but if the wait is worth it for the V12 I'll wait.

I'm sure that they are both to different beast but if you can explain what you had seen - that is heard that would be great.

But I have a strange feeling after the explanations etc that you'll say to get the V67 for its strengths and when out get the V12 for what it does - which I don't mind just want a little more insight beyond marketing.

Thank you so much.

Henry

PS I just noticed that this is an old thread that has been brought back up but still would like your opinion if at all possible Harvey for I still do not own either mic. or have tested them and I have all but the V67 set up in vocal land, always with the need for something different. Once again Thank You
 
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