rob aylestone
Moderator
I rather like the C114. Very, very similar to the 414XLS,
Papanate
Well-known member
They sound similar - but in the silent test the 414 brought forth a high pitch noise - something in the background - the 114 didn’t pick it up - on the guitars the 414 produced a balanced sound - the 114 honked - sort of a midrange punch - that was very noticeable - I suspect the angular build of the 414 caused that - at the Price though I could easily EQ it to sound exactly the same.
TalismanRich
Well-known member
The 114 definitely had a stronger lower mid vs the 414. It showed up on the guitar in spades. It didn't seemed to affect the voice part or the other instruments. I expected to hear it on the clarinet but it wasn't apparent there. Is the increase in the lower mid due to the difference in position rather than the mic itself? Mic placement on a guitar does seem to affect the tonal balance a lot.
I do hear the buzzing on the first part of your "silence" tests around 12 minutes. I put the audio into Audacity and boosted that 6 or 7 seconds by 15dB and you can hear it clearly when you switch mics. The 114 has a bit higher hiss, but the 414 has a buzz, something around 1kHz it seems.
Overall, it seems like a pretty decent mic, especially for the price. The top end seemed to be well matched to the 414.
I do hear the buzzing on the first part of your "silence" tests around 12 minutes. I put the audio into Audacity and boosted that 6 or 7 seconds by 15dB and you can hear it clearly when you switch mics. The 114 has a bit higher hiss, but the 414 has a buzz, something around 1kHz it seems.
Overall, it seems like a pretty decent mic, especially for the price. The top end seemed to be well matched to the 414.
rob aylestone
Moderator
I think the guitar exposed the difference mics in different places make. The buzz was different on the patterns. I wonder if the proximity to the screen did that? For a mic this cheap you could buy a couple for half a 414! I didn’t expect this at all. Not sure if I should keep it or sell it? With mics I don’t need I often do the review then decide to move them on. I think keeping this makes sense.
R
R D Smith
It's as good as it is, for as long as it lasts.
I got my P420 out yesterday and checked it out. I think it sounds good. I didn't have much success recording anything because of all the power glitches. UPS's squealing, and two power transformer explosions in the distance. Between that and the dogs, I gave up. I did notice obvious tonal differences between the different polar patterns. That will be interesting to explore.
CoolCat
Well-known member
Ive never done the AKG classics 414 series/various models...its a deep dive for sure.
The AKG decision to change things is unknown to me, but the Neumann u87ai went through just as many changes and most due to supplied parts becoming obsolete and new parts being forced on them to keep the product line going.
AKG 414, 314, 214, and now the P-series and now the newest C114 and C104 price points "transformerless" mics is similar to Neumanns path of business with TLM.
Interesting line.
as for the U87ai extended 45 days test drive, I had a little more time...in addition to the AKG P420 ( that is really built to be a U87AI...(at the higher 28mv/pa sensitivity and copied AI circuit with the Takstar 87-ish capsule).....I like to do a little, tracking then listen to it back with fresh ears and Open back headphones in ala Engineer Mode.
Its always a reminder when comparing the live take, it has all that stuff going on in the closed back headphones and your brain vibrations while singing or speaking....
so the sitting behind a window as an engineer mode and only listening to the tracks/musicians on the other side of the glass....is a good sales point convincing to Track Clean...in HR land and to not EQ with closed headphones on etc...leave that for the Engineer- Listening Mode later.
P420 and U87AI are so similar in sound.....not in cost though...funny, and in visual looks the U87 (67) visual will always be a classic....no one is going to remove Neumann from the history books is my vibe take on this.
Its funny there's a lot of comments the P420 and U87AI aren't to everyone's taste and for kind of the same reasons.
I don't really see a point in trying to make the P420 sound like a U87i ...other than fun tinkering. In the Recording hacks 87ai 87i the comments were liking the 87AI better, but seems just as many like the 87i for its less sensitivity and that's the main difference....effect of bias on a capsule and tightening the diaphragm Im pure newbie...
U87AI theres R102 that be can changed out to get the HPF closer to 80hz, where its actually higher stock.
maybe a little over 100hz and can make the 87AI thinner sounding, or any mic especially on a male voice, basically dropping everything 125hz and lower, cut.
I have a preamp/channel with "adjustable HPF freq" and confirms the HPF on U87ai is 100hz+.... I think it makes the mic too thin so I leave it off. The same with the Pad on 87ai, its known for some tone-change, but Im not using the AI on a kick drum or anything loud. Not using the Pad either.
Then being a amateurish (no offense to amateurs) low usage player....I don't even use the MultiPatterns either.
P420 was a surprise U87AI clone....I was late to the party on this one. Amazing deal for so cheap too?
The visuals are nothing a like but for $150 a person can toss it around and not worry about it.... its made so well, it will probably take a lot of work.
So 97% of the time both mics will not use the Pad, not use the HPF, and never use the multi-patterns... but the vibe to own a U87AI is there, like owning a US Fender Strat along with the Squiers? weird... like Rob, you mentioned the U87ai is kept safe in a box....I could see that happening here too. If there was a jam recording session the P420 would be there amongst the SM7b and SM57's....which can take a beating and I don't care......not really going to do that with a $2k mic.
I spent too much on a SM7 US collector mode mic...and never use it much either, but owning it is cool vibe for some reason...but the new SM7b gets used on vocals kick drum and sits and gets bumped around no problem...no worry's.
rock on!
The AKG decision to change things is unknown to me, but the Neumann u87ai went through just as many changes and most due to supplied parts becoming obsolete and new parts being forced on them to keep the product line going.
AKG 414, 314, 214, and now the P-series and now the newest C114 and C104 price points "transformerless" mics is similar to Neumanns path of business with TLM.
Interesting line.
as for the U87ai extended 45 days test drive, I had a little more time...in addition to the AKG P420 ( that is really built to be a U87AI...(at the higher 28mv/pa sensitivity and copied AI circuit with the Takstar 87-ish capsule).....I like to do a little, tracking then listen to it back with fresh ears and Open back headphones in ala Engineer Mode.
Its always a reminder when comparing the live take, it has all that stuff going on in the closed back headphones and your brain vibrations while singing or speaking....
so the sitting behind a window as an engineer mode and only listening to the tracks/musicians on the other side of the glass....is a good sales point convincing to Track Clean...in HR land and to not EQ with closed headphones on etc...leave that for the Engineer- Listening Mode later.
P420 and U87AI are so similar in sound.....not in cost though...funny, and in visual looks the U87 (67) visual will always be a classic....no one is going to remove Neumann from the history books is my vibe take on this.
Its funny there's a lot of comments the P420 and U87AI aren't to everyone's taste and for kind of the same reasons.
I don't really see a point in trying to make the P420 sound like a U87i ...other than fun tinkering. In the Recording hacks 87ai 87i the comments were liking the 87AI better, but seems just as many like the 87i for its less sensitivity and that's the main difference....effect of bias on a capsule and tightening the diaphragm Im pure newbie...
U87AI theres R102 that be can changed out to get the HPF closer to 80hz, where its actually higher stock.
maybe a little over 100hz and can make the 87AI thinner sounding, or any mic especially on a male voice, basically dropping everything 125hz and lower, cut.
I have a preamp/channel with "adjustable HPF freq" and confirms the HPF on U87ai is 100hz+.... I think it makes the mic too thin so I leave it off. The same with the Pad on 87ai, its known for some tone-change, but Im not using the AI on a kick drum or anything loud. Not using the Pad either.
Then being a amateurish (no offense to amateurs) low usage player....I don't even use the MultiPatterns either.
P420 was a surprise U87AI clone....I was late to the party on this one. Amazing deal for so cheap too?
The visuals are nothing a like but for $150 a person can toss it around and not worry about it.... its made so well, it will probably take a lot of work.
So 97% of the time both mics will not use the Pad, not use the HPF, and never use the multi-patterns... but the vibe to own a U87AI is there, like owning a US Fender Strat along with the Squiers? weird... like Rob, you mentioned the U87ai is kept safe in a box....I could see that happening here too. If there was a jam recording session the P420 would be there amongst the SM7b and SM57's....which can take a beating and I don't care......not really going to do that with a $2k mic.
I spent too much on a SM7 US collector mode mic...and never use it much either, but owning it is cool vibe for some reason...but the new SM7b gets used on vocals kick drum and sits and gets bumped around no problem...no worry's.
rock on!
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