Microphone Boutique - AEG Moscow

K67, AC701k equivalent. Sounds like a 269 style mic to me. Looks like an amalgam of the 2. I haven’t tried it though. My FleA 49s have 6S6B-V tubes. It’s a nice tube. Less low end than an AC701k, but very good sounding. Without a K47 or M7 it’s not going to sound like an M49. They have very different responses.

The 6S6B is basically the European 5840 tube. It’s big in European mics like the FleA’s and Soyuz. Not as common here in the states.

What are you looking for with this purchase? Perhaps we can help you find something nice in your budget.

Intriguing but....I personally would never spend that sort of money without some kind of backup plan in case it all goes horribly wrong.  Their site mentions nothing about returns, warranties, etc.  And I'm not seeing any reviews on their site either.  Also, I'd be curious to hear what some other RGO members such as Chad from Signal Arts might have to say about that tube.  
AEG may turn out to be another great example that we're living in a golden age of reasonably priced high end microphones.  But until I've heard from other satisfied customers I think the old adage of buyer beware applies.  

Cover him: he’s gone in !!

I believe malkit actually visited their shop in Rhode Island awhile back... Any opinions? Definitely wouldn’t be giving this a try without the 14 day trial.

ragan
Update from Marc - 
We use our own capsule, Russian and German components, some Chinese capacitors in the power supply. Chinese made body and power supply enclosure. Everything inside is also made by AEG.

1 year warranty of materials and workmanship.

malkit was impressed and even bought a mic when he visited their shop, hopefully he chimes in. 

Im not looking for an actual M49, just a decent mic with some cool character and an interesting back story- this might for the bill. 

The 6S6b-v tube is NOT designed specifically for microphone use. But I guess it is “military spec” because that’s what they were used for, Soviet era military equipment. That fabricated sales pitch right there would be enough to scare me away from this unknown company and microphone, especially since they are based in Russia.

I’ve got a 6S6B-V in my Barbaric M49 clone, and I’ve got 10 more spares sitting in the mic locker.. It’s a great tube, but I’ve never had a chance to compare it directly to an M49 with an AC701k. I’m sure it sounds different. Beesneez uses that tube in their M49 and I think FLEA uses it in some mics too.

They call their M49 a 67 and use a K67 style capsule? Weird. Who made the capsule and how long have they been making capsules? How do you know it’s not an OEM mass produced capsule? $1k and it’s only a single sided capsule with no multi pattern? You haven’t heard it or talked to anyone who has heard it? Man this sounds like an impulse purchase that you will regret.

I would look at one of the plethora of other option available out there. For not much more money you can get an m49 mic from Barbaric with that same tube and a proven capsule of your choice—Heiserman, Maiku, Dany...

 Some of these questions are addressed above - they make their own capsule, only Chinese stuff is the body and some arguably less important elements (see above). AEG is one of the bigger Neumann repair shops in Russia/EU for about 20 years, consulted Blue, Soyuz, etc. 

As I do more digging seems it’s more unknown on RGO than the internet at large. 

With the 14 day trial period, free shipping and 1 year warranty I took the risk. Don’t imagine I’ll regret it even if it’s not a keeper for me. Seems unusual and could be a fun vibe. Not looking for an ‘exact’ sound/clone, just a good versatile mic. 

Keep us posted.

Even the Russians buy famous old brand names these days? There's no shame anymore...

Fellas, fellas,

Marc is good people! It's been a while since I've been out to visit him,but he's got a really cool studio in an old mill/warehouse on the border of Portsmouth NH and Maine.

I had bought a lomo hybrid mic from him, years ago, that I later sold because it wasn't really doing it for me. At that time, they were using a fair number of Chinese capsules and bodies with Lomo circuits, transformers, and a custom power supply by Alexei/AEG. Very interesting combos.

I think they've since started to make more capsules in-house, depending on what you are looking for (their k67 capsule is apparently the one that got them into legal trouble with Neumann....no idea as to when that was).

But to continue my original thought- Marc is a nice guy with a nice approach. He didn't strike me as very up-to-date on the RGO/GS world of diy mics, replicas, and everything in between, but he is THE source for knowledge and entertaining yarns related to all things Russian audio. I believe he has a degree in Russian and is definitely fluent in the language, traveling there a few times a year.

Regarding the mics- lots of wild tales and a very colored history of east/west bloc exchange and manufacturing. Alexei Chkhaidze is no doubt the Guosheng of Russia, only he's sitting on mountains of vintage transformers, tubes, and circuit boards- many made of metals no longer used or with processes no longer legal.

My most recent purchase from Marc was an Oktava mk13m tube mic- a tiny fellow with a massive sweet spot. The capsule is oktava's version of an m7, but the power supply was modified by AEG to offer continuous polar pattern selection (as opposed to fixed omni/cardi). I have to say- the mic is top-of-fleet.


Marc was telling me that Oktava employed little old ladies to wind the majority of these transformers, as their fingers were thin and "experienced".

As far as clones go, I'm not sure if these guys have the upper edge on Stam or the voicing of Guosheng (or the capsule acumen of Heiserman or Campbell)....all of all offer products in a similar price range.

As far as sound goes, though, I'd rate many of the AEG selections up there with any of the above. And you're getting a uniquely crafted piece of Soviet vintage, to boot, with quite a wild history.

Anybody with any time and in close proximity to New Hampshire should definitely try to schedule a visit to Marc's studio and check out his mics.

I think I was the first RGO'er to take a chance on these mics, totally unknown, and I have no regrets.

Hopefully, this purchase doesn't disappoint!
-M
PS- as for the hype, I think their marketing puff may be getting in the way of their otherwise truly cool potential. I may mention that to Marc if I see him, this season. They really should just market these mics on their own, unique merits, but perhaps- like many companies- they have fallen prey to the neumann measuring game.