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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 4, 2014 11:35:14 GMT -6
Anybody used these new Telefunken mics? What have you using? What have you compared them to? Do you dig them? Give me your experiences.
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Post by svart on Mar 4, 2014 11:49:15 GMT -6
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 4, 2014 12:00:06 GMT -6
Well, balls. That's not very cool.
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Post by svart on Mar 4, 2014 14:35:07 GMT -6
Don't let that discourage you though. Those are the RFT version mics, and as far as I know the "telefunken" mics are still high quality. These RFT mics are still the cream of the crop of chinese mics though. Most people wouldn't even tell the difference if nobody told them they were chinese mics.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 4, 2014 14:43:30 GMT -6
I was thinking about selling off my BeesNeez Frank and trying to grab an R-F-T AR-51 and an ELA M 260. I don't really want to downgrade from where I'm at though.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 4, 2014 14:58:31 GMT -6
Yeah - that Apex thing was quite the scandal...I guess these things are only worth as much as people will pay for them, and having the name "Telefunken" on them doesn't hurt. I have no doubt that the Tele RFT mics are no better or worse than the Mojave, Mikteks, etc. These guys need to make a profit - and there's nothing wrong with that - but it's when they pull something like the Apex/AK47 thing - it kind of burns my ass. And the fact that you're paying several hundred dollars more for the name.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 4, 2014 15:00:37 GMT -6
BTW - I've heard various things about the high end Teles...Some people say they're great, some say they are crap. I demo'd an $11K Tele 251V AC that sounded absolutely incredible...but it had a vintage capsule and tube in it...so, of course it did.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 4, 2014 15:42:46 GMT -6
BTW - I've heard various things about the high end Teles...Some people say they're great, some say they are crap. I demo'd an $11K Tele 251V AC that sounded absolutely incredible...but it had a vintage capsule and tube in it...so, of course it did. Plus it was $11k. Haha. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 4, 2014 15:51:57 GMT -6
It was 75% vintage...so not really Tele USA
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 4, 2014 15:53:01 GMT -6
I believe Greg Wells posted about how great his TeleUSA 47 on GS...
but I'm sure there might be incentive...it's the way the world works
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Post by kidvybes on Mar 4, 2014 15:58:39 GMT -6
...that might be just a bit harsh...yes, the M16 fiasco was truly a rebranded Chinese mic, but the current lineup of RFT models now have circuits designed in the US, PCBs are manufactured and stuffed in the US, and the transformers are custom made for Tele domestically, from my understanding...the capsules, body/headbasket assemblies, shockmount and PSU are of still of Asian origin...so, not quite "rebranded" since the designs are not Chinese, nor is the circuitry or transformers...let's say "hybrid"...not unlike the Miktek CV4 or Mojave MA200/300... ...the Beesneez Frank is of a higher quality, no doubt... |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 4, 2014 15:58:43 GMT -6
If any of the manufacturers here want to get some gear in my hands, I'll sing to the high heavens about it!  |
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Post by popmann on Mar 4, 2014 18:39:16 GMT -6
Yeah, I actually did have an eval AK47 here at some point...I found it utterly shitty and was amazed they were thinking someone would pay $1500 for what sounded like a random cheap chinese LDC.
....later we learned that my ears don't lie.
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Post by svart on Mar 5, 2014 8:59:42 GMT -6
Yeah, I actually did have an eval AK47 here at some point...I found it utterly shitty and was amazed they were thinking someone would pay $1500 for what sounded like a random cheap chinese LDC. ....later we learned that my ears don't lie. Honestly, I've been pretty amazed at how shitty a lot of big named modern mics have sounded these days too, even those which aren't OEM'd chinese mics. For the price, I do think that there are a handful of chinese mics that have reset the bar in what we can expect from china. Once they figure out how to properly tension a capsule, and start putting the correct capsules with the correct mic circuits, the big guys are screwed for sure. Opinions and assholes I suppose. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 7, 2014 6:02:35 GMT -6
...that might be just a bit harsh...yes, the M16 fiasco was truly a rebranded Chinese mic, but the current lineup of RFT models now have circuits designed in the US, PCBs are manufactured and stuffed in the US, and the transformers are custom made for Tele domestically, from my understanding...the capsules, body/headbasket assemblies, shockmount and PSU are of still of Asian origin...so, not quite "rebranded" since the designs are not Chinese, nor is the circuitry or transformers...let's say "hybrid"...not unlike the Miktek CV4 or Mojave MA200/300... ...the Beesneez Frank is of a higher quality, no doubt... Anyone know anything about the ELA M 260? Is this a hybrid like the other R F T mics or more on par with the rest of the ELA series? Anyone use these? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 7, 2014 8:09:17 GMT -6
Speaking of Chinese...I can't figure out why someone doesn't come out with a VERY authentic looking 47 body with all Chinese parts. Basically, a $1500 mic that looks exactly like a 47. If I understand it correctly, you can go to China and have them tweak a capsule until you ok it...Or have someone design a capsule for it ( @sinsay ) - I firmly believe that's 85% of the sound anyway. "It would sell like freaking HOT CAKES. Advertise it as what it is - a damn great bang for the buck...I don't know what kind of money it would take for that kind of venture - a million? - but if I had it, I could make some money.
I can see an ad now, "Does this mic sound exactly like a 1956 U47? Well, no...but it's $1500 and is damn close..." Then small print is, "We have gone to great lengths to maximize performance and minimize cost...to bring you what you love about the 47 - midrange - and leave out what you hate about other budget mics - shrill top end"
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 7, 2014 8:41:55 GMT -6
...that might be just a bit harsh...yes, the M16 fiasco was truly a rebranded Chinese mic, but the current lineup of RFT models now have circuits designed in the US, PCBs are manufactured and stuffed in the US, and the transformers are custom made for Tele domestically, from my understanding...the capsules, body/headbasket assemblies, shockmount and PSU are of still of Asian origin...so, not quite "rebranded" since the designs are not Chinese, nor is the circuitry or transformers...let's say "hybrid"...not unlike the Miktek CV4 or Mojave MA200/300... ...the Beesneez Frank is of a higher quality, no doubt... Anyone know anything about the ELA M 260? Is this a hybrid like the other R F T mics or more on par with the rest of the ELA series? Anyone use these? I found a quote from Fletcher (from when he worked there) on the matter... I'm not as familiar with the ELA M 260 as I am with most of the other products [sorry, I'm still on a bit of a learning curve], but I do know that the ELA M 260 comes with 3 capsules all built in China and rigorously tested to insure they meet specification in South Windsor, CT. The amplifier is based around a NOS TELEFUNKEN EF-732 tube [which is similar to an AC-701 but far less expensive and we have a few thousand in stock]. The power supply is also made in China... I believe the cable is made in Switzerland and assembled in the US but I'm not 100% sure of that... never thought to ask. Transformer is proprietary and built in the US. There are at least 3 companies that build transformers for TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik, and I ain't tellin' you which one did this one. Tube is a "NOS" TELEFUNKEN EF-732. Hand assembled in S. Windsor, CT USA. |
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Post by svart on Mar 7, 2014 8:57:47 GMT -6
The ELA-M SDC? That was made by AKG. I don't know if there is a modern chinese version. A quick look on google doesn't mention this at all. The only information I found was here: recordinghacks.com/microphones/Telefunken-USA/ElaM-260Which says it's "not a historical reproduction", but the picture looks like it's made from good parts. |
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Post by svart on Mar 7, 2014 9:01:26 GMT -6
Speaking of Chinese...I can't figure out why someone doesn't come out with a VERY authentic looking 47 body with all Chinese parts. Basically, a $1500 mic that looks exactly like a 47. If I understand it correctly, you can go to China and have them tweak a capsule until you ok it...Or have someone design a capsule for it ( @sinsay ) - I firmly believe that's 85% of the sound anyway. "It would sell like freaking HOT CAKES. Advertise it as what it is - a damn great bang for the buck...I don't know what kind of money it would take for that kind of venture - a million? - but if I had it, I could make some money. I can see an ad now, "Does this mic sound exactly like a 1956 U47? Well, no...but it's $1500 and is damn close..." Then small print is, "We have gone to great lengths to maximize performance and minimize cost...to bring you what you love about the 47 - midrange - and leave out what you hate about other budget mics - shrill top end" No two U47's sound like U47's.. So I don't see a problem with a chinese mic that gets 90% close to U47 sound. I think the issue is the VF14 tube, which is rare as hen's teeth. Some "replacement" designs get pretty close though. In the U47, I think that's probably the "sound" that is the hardest to copy. Capsules are easy to copy. China just doesn't know how to tension them properly. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 7, 2014 9:12:17 GMT -6
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Post by kidvybes on Mar 7, 2014 9:36:31 GMT -6
Speaking of Chinese...I can't figure out why someone doesn't come out with a VERY authentic looking 47 body with all Chinese parts. Basically, a $1500 mic that looks exactly like a 47. ...actually, they offer a pretty decent version, sans the tuchel connector...there are modders/cloners using this Chinese produced version... |
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Post by kidvybes on Mar 7, 2014 9:56:27 GMT -6
Speaking of Chinese...I can't figure out why someone doesn't come out with a VERY authentic looking 47 body with all Chinese parts. Basically, a $1500 mic that looks exactly like a 47. If I understand it correctly, you can go to China and have them tweak a capsule until you ok it...Or have someone design a capsule for it ( @sinsay ) - I firmly believe that's 85% of the sound anyway. "It would sell like freaking HOT CAKES. Advertise it as what it is - a damn great bang for the buck...I don't know what kind of money it would take for that kind of venture - a million? - but if I had it, I could make some money. I can see an ad now, "Does this mic sound exactly like a 1956 U47? Well, no...but it's $1500 and is damn close..." Then small print is, "We have gone to great lengths to maximize performance and minimize cost...to bring you what you love about the 47 - midrange - and leave out what you hate about other budget mics - shrill top end" No two U47's sound like U47's.. So I don't see a problem with a chinese mic that gets 90% close to U47 sound. I think the issue is the VF14 tube, which is rare as hen's teeth. Some "replacement" designs get pretty close though. In the U47, I think that's probably the "sound" that is the hardest to copy. Capsules are easy to copy. China just doesn't know how to tension them properly. ...there are some very capable techs on the Group DIY forum that will build a clone for you (if you're soldering challenged like myself) based on the kits/components available there...here's one that just sold for about $1350 on DIY that incorporates the dual-tube "V14-like" solution designed by Max of Ioaudio as well as his replica BV8 transformer and a Dale M7 capsule...whether or not it sounds just like a vintage original may be debatable, but the quality is clearly there... |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 7, 2014 9:58:51 GMT -6
Awesome! Can you link?
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Post by kidvybes on Mar 7, 2014 10:03:57 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 7, 2014 10:10:49 GMT -6
So - is this using the MK47 design from DIY? And that's cool? Has anyone used one of these?
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