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Post by m03 on Jul 26, 2020 23:11:48 GMT -6
having the actual Neumann capsule will definitely help T-Funk out I wonder if this is the sort of offering that will eventually lead Neumann to limit who they sell service replacement parts to.
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Post by drumsound on Jul 27, 2020 0:40:54 GMT -6
Nah they know how to mount an XLR straight 😎 Probably one of those optical illusions. You just have to stare at it for a while and it will appear straight. Hey, man. Don't be bringing that conversion therapy BS here.
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 27, 2020 2:42:31 GMT -6
I concur. That XLR is crooked as hell.
For $10k!?
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 27, 2020 2:45:10 GMT -6
They should have mounted it from the inside. Then any canting doesn’t show.
But who am I to say.
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Post by teejay on Jul 27, 2020 6:57:46 GMT -6
They should have mounted it from the inside. Then any canting doesn’t show. But who am I to say. I appreciate your humility here, Dan. It's not like you've ever designed, assembled, or successfully sold any of your own great equipment.
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 27, 2020 7:12:57 GMT -6
Do you think it's just a bad photoshop job? Does the aspect look funny to you? Like the housing is slightly turned at an angle, but the XLR and tube cable sockets are facing straight ahead? Maybe I just stared at it too long.
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Post by Ward on Jul 27, 2020 7:18:03 GMT -6
I’m glad to hear all the love for the Heiserman. Based on the clips I’ve heard here, it’s hard to imagine any 47 clone sounding any better. It’s definitely on the wish list. The telefunken USA U47 is a clone. It has a VF14m shaped metal shell holding two RCA408 tubes, but only uses one of them and is not similar to an an actual VF14 VF14M EF14 EF12 or other similar repurposed Luftwaffa radio tubes. The flea and the Heiserman are closer to Georg Neumann's original. The Heiserman uses an EF800 and they handpick through many to find the absolute best. All modern day U47 reproductions follow the original circuits as much as possible. Some are closer than others. Renowned Nashville microphone technician Dave Wheeler did much of the circuit work on the Heiserman 47. There is only one other (each) capsule manufacturer coming close to Eric Heiserman's K47 and M7 capsules and that is Danny Bouchard for the K47 and Neumann-Gefell themselves with the M7. For further information, we have occasional visits from Heiserman tskguy mdmitch2 and wave. with any luck, they'll shed further light on this. Buy a Heiserman. EDIT. P.S. I didn't miss your original intent, just adding to the discussion. And yes, I love my H47!
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Post by Ward on Jul 27, 2020 7:25:33 GMT -6
I have compared, side by side, the Heiserman 47 with both K47 and M7 capsules and the TeleFunken U47m and the Heiserman H47tube wins HANDS DOWN. It isn't even a minor difference. It is clearly superior. Do you really want that VK limited edition? Just buy 3 or 4 Heisermans and you're WAY ahead. JMO. What did you think of the M7 in comparison? The Heiserman K47 has that annoying 'characteristic' 9.86Khz ping (like gen 3 Neumann U47s have) that can easily be notched out if it starts bothering you too much. The T-Funk has it as well, but not as much . . . making it less 'Neumanny'. The Heiserman with the M7? Sweet Savior above . . . pure silk. But you don't have the 'gack' or 'mask' as much. When i need grip accentuation, I'll use the K47 headbasket. When I need pure classic smoothness and realism, I'll use the M7 headbasket. I haven't heard a T-Funk U47 with an M7 capsule. Never even considered the possiblity of saying to tskguy, "Hey, let's see if we can put the M7 headbasket on the T-Funk U47 clone" at January's Namm - since they were in the booth directly across the aisle. But if you were alluding to that? Genius. edit: I should have not been so critical sounding about the ping. I don't always notch it out, but you all know what it is and where it is . . . and some people notch it out when used on a singer with a lot of natural 'grip'!
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 27, 2020 8:24:01 GMT -6
What is a gen 3 Neumann U47? What years?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 27, 2020 10:39:51 GMT -6
I don't really hear the top end push thing in the Heiserman...I actually heard that in all three of the wunders I owned...and I’ve heard other people say that about the Flea...but I don’t hear it in yours. One reason I really like it.
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Post by Ward on Jul 27, 2020 14:56:26 GMT -6
What is a gen 3 Neumann U47? What years? Not really generations, more like variations and if memory serves me correctly, The first gen was 1949, which was the long body M7 capsule unit. Second gen was about 1953 when they went to the short body but still M7 Third Gen was when they went to the K47 capsule (because the Democrats were in office in East Germany and Biden wouldn't let Georg Neumann across the border to get the M7 capsules from his Gefell factory) I'm kidding about the last bit.
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 27, 2020 15:57:39 GMT -6
I am suspicious. How much will that $10,000 mic be worth on the used market in a year? How about 10 years from now? 70%? 65%?
For $10k, you could be in the neighborhood of a vintage U67 that will appreciate in value through time.
I suspect folks who buy this are gonna regret it.
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 27, 2020 16:00:17 GMT -6
AND THE FREAKING XLR IS CROOKED!!! IN THEIR ROLLOUT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! EVERY SCREW, NUT, CONNECTOR, AND HANDLE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PERFECT FOR $10k!!!!
Would you buy a $10,000 car if the stupid front tire was canted inward like that XLR plug?
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Post by chessparov on Jul 27, 2020 16:02:42 GMT -6
Ward, that last bit could be even be considered... Downright "infuhrerating". (rimshot please Drummer!) Chris
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 27, 2020 16:04:59 GMT -6
Oh, wow! VK has removed the advertisement and photos. I bet word got around.
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Post by chessparov on Jul 27, 2020 16:06:45 GMT -6
AND THE FREAKING XLR IS CROOKED!!! IN THEIR ROLLOUT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! EVERY SCREW, NUT, CONNECTOR, AND HANDLE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PERFECT FOR $10k!!!! Would you buy a $10,000 car if the stupid front tire was canted inward like that XLR plug? Turns out... I have a bunch of crooked XLR cables, so I just bought the whole lot of them from VK-that's why! Chris
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Post by teejay on Jul 27, 2020 16:23:06 GMT -6
AND THE FREAKING XLR IS CROOKED!!! IN THEIR ROLLOUT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! EVERY SCREW, NUT, CONNECTOR, AND HANDLE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PERFECT FOR $10k!!!! Would you buy a $10,000 car if the stupid front tire was canted inward like that XLR plug? And we're really talking the equivalent of a new, high-end car that only a certain clientele can afford. Choose your own example: Maserati, Lambo, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Bugatti, etc. Those are the high-dollar brands, and their craftsmanship is reflective of the price. And certainly you'd never see a flaw in one of their advertisements.
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Post by Guitar on Jul 27, 2020 18:18:04 GMT -6
I'm enjoying Crooked XLRgate
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jul 27, 2020 18:56:35 GMT -6
AND THE FREAKING XLR IS CROOKED!!! IN THEIR ROLLOUT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! EVERY SCREW, NUT, CONNECTOR, AND HANDLE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY PERFECT FOR $10k!!!! Would you buy a $10,000 car if the stupid front tire was canted inward like that XLR plug? And we're really talking the equivalent of a new, high-end car that only a certain clientele can afford. Choose your own example: Maserati, Lambo, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Bugatti, etc. Those are the high-dollar brands, and their craftsmanship is reflective of the price. And certainly you'd never see a flaw in one of their advertisements. Well at least they would photoshop it out!
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Post by chessparov on Jul 27, 2020 21:11:55 GMT -6
The price? Chris
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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 27, 2020 21:55:49 GMT -6
The page on VK's site seems to have disappeared now.
I have never heard the Tele in person, but when I have heard comparisons between it and the FleA whether on YouTube, AudioTestKitchen, etc, I've always leaned toward the FleA. Between the FleA and the Heiserman there are great choices for less than half the price. I might also try and find a second hand Wagner U47 at that price; NOS Capsule, BV8, VF14M tube, etc. That mic was incredible to hear in person.
I will say there must be a little magic in those Neumann Capsules. I heard clips of the Zen Pro WA47 mod in which they replace the stock capsule with Neumann's and the change in sound is no joke. I'd be curious to hear this special edition.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 27, 2020 22:10:54 GMT -6
Someone mentioned today that they wondered how they were getting the capsules...Surely Neumann isn’t selling them to them?
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Jul 28, 2020 6:10:07 GMT -6
Someone mentioned today that they wondered how they were getting the capsules...Surely Neumann isn’t selling them to them? That is the $10,000 question! Maybe that’s the real reason for the “VK” editor, they are a Neumann dealer!
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Post by swafford on Jul 28, 2020 6:19:46 GMT -6
I'm pretty happy with the AEA44 or Horsch RMJ2 or U67 RI I have. Next time I drop $10k+ on anything it will be this: And believe me, it will sing.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 28, 2020 7:03:20 GMT -6
I haven't heard the FLEA U47's other than online posts. I have heard the Telefunken briefly. I have to say the 9G Telefunken was flawless. It had every quality we all look for. Transparency, no excessive sibilance, perfect balance and a huge sound. We've all tried finding a holy grail clone or "style of" mic because mics like a vintage 47 are rare, expensive and all sound different now having been used under different circumstances and exposed to different climates over the decades.
It's been the smallest of details that don't feel right which has pushed so many of us to buy and sell quite a few high end mics. What I felt you were buying with the Telefunken USA clone was peace of mind. It sounded perfect, and you could forget about needing mods, upgrades, etc. and just use it professionally. Today, given a $9,000 budget I'd buy a Chandler REDD before any 47 clone and a couple of Stam's, but I can understand how certain studios might feel the Telefunken badge will give customers confidence, even though we know it's not an original.
I do believe it's quite possible that a mano a mano shootout with some higher end clones might make many of us with good ears pick the boutique brand like FLEA, Stam, Golden Age, Heiserman and others. But it wouldn't be because of a flaw in the Telefunken, it would be preference, and that's cool. Where it's been most difficult is finding something comparable in the $1,800-$2,500 range. So far, my Stam SA67 is the first mic in that range that gets it right that I've tried. The Max mod Neumann U67 was very good too, but more like a U87 on steroids to my ears. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The Blackspade UM17R was excellent also, but closer to an M49 than a U47. The Soyuz 0-17 gets there, it's like a lush 67, but that's $3,500.
So I guess the super high price is for a specific customer, not for most of the cats here who'd likely put that money to better use. I'm just saying the Telefunken's not a rip off, just not the kind of value most real gear guys would look for.
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