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Post by hadaja on Jan 9, 2021 23:04:13 GMT -6
I see that ADK is running $1000 off there Z-mod range. Who here on RGO has used a Z-mod mic and can make a comment about there experiences?
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Post by Mister Chase on Jan 9, 2021 23:29:46 GMT -6
Had a z67 for a few months and had to sell it for financial reasons.
It sounded killer on my voice. Really great on electric guitar. Really good on other sources too. Wish I still had it. If I was cutting a lot of vocals and had the money I would have several of those mics.
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Post by indiehouse on Jan 10, 2021 6:46:27 GMT -6
I had a Z-67 as well. Sounded really nice. Had sort of a pre-eq’d sound. A big top end lift. It’s a “pretty” sounding mic. I think most of the sound comes from a tuned capsule. Mine had a 12AX7 tube, which I thought was a bit lame.
Was this mic moddeled after a M269?
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Post by Tbone81 on Jan 10, 2021 9:50:26 GMT -6
Yes the z67 is modeled from the m269. A z67 is on my short list of mics to buy. I’ve heard sample and they sound great. I owned the ADK tc-67 which was like the entry level ADK line and that mic was better than my Miktek CV4 in every way. Only sold it to save up a zmod.
ADK, from what I understand, gets their sound by tuning their capsules and pairing them great transformers. I believe the actual circuits are all the same.
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Post by teejay on Jan 10, 2021 9:58:56 GMT -6
I had a Z-67 as well. Sounded really nice. Had sort of a pre-eq’d sound. A big top end lift. It’s a “pretty” sounding mic. I think most of the sound comes from a tuned capsule. Mine had a 12AX7 tube, which I thought was a bit lame. Was this mic moddeled after a M269? As many here know, I have the ADK Z-251. Have a NOS Telefunken tube in it now, and it sounds really good. Even with my recent REDD purchase I'm keeping the ADK. Yes, there is a post from Larry in 2012 on the purple site regarding the M269 modeling: "I do still have my M-269 and it was in fact the inspiration for our Z-67. If you want to check out Real Life by Lincoln Brewster, you can hear it on male vox. Lincoln said I should re-name the mic, but I didn't think the broader public would 'get it'. Our concept was to put the DNA of the historical curve in the capsule so that the high frequency filtering was not needed. Maybe I'll bring my M-269 to the next AES show I do and let folks A/B Compare them so they can decide for themselves. . . .Personally I want the Tone of the Classics, without the self-noise and headroom issues." I demoed the Z67 recently. A great mic, but just did not fit my harsher vocals. And I believe every ADK mic is based on the 12AX7 reissue Mullard tube. FYI that Larry indicated he's moving all of his distribution to a reseller in 2021, so time is limited to get better prices directly from him. Real easy to demo from him directly if you have interest.
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Post by Tbone81 on Jan 10, 2021 10:02:25 GMT -6
Do you have more info on that? ADK is already distributed through front end audio (and maybe a few others)...is he saying he’s just going to stop selling direct? If that’s the case prices should stay the same, i’d think.
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Post by teejay on Jan 10, 2021 12:15:29 GMT -6
Yes, he's going to stop selling direct. No guarantees, but I found his demo process to be so easy directly from him, and some of his pricing better as well.
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Post by ragan on Jan 10, 2021 12:40:54 GMT -6
I tried (I think) the whole Z Mod line. Larry is easy to work with and offered better prices than you see advertised. I’d get in touch with him if you’re interested.
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Post by ml on Jan 10, 2021 16:01:14 GMT -6
Definitely message Larry directly he will hook you up. I have a z-251 here.
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Post by hadaja on Jan 10, 2021 16:18:35 GMT -6
Definitely message Larry directly he will hook you up. I have a z-251 here. Did you jo with jensen or sowter transformer?
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Post by plinker on Jan 10, 2021 16:23:06 GMT -6
Is this the range of mics that uses the 3U Audio capsules?
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Post by teejay on Jan 10, 2021 17:48:13 GMT -6
Definitely message Larry directly he will hook you up. I have a z-251 here. Did you jo with jensen or sowter transformer? I have Jensen.
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Post by ml on Jan 10, 2021 19:03:21 GMT -6
Definitely message Larry directly he will hook you up. I have a z-251 here. Did you jo with jensen or sowter transformer? I have the Jensen. Sometimes I wish it had a little more mids though. It’s very airy without any harshness.
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Post by Tbone81 on Jan 10, 2021 19:42:20 GMT -6
Is this the range of mics that uses the 3U Audio capsules? No, they design their own capsules.
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Post by hadaja on Jan 10, 2021 20:15:46 GMT -6
Might try the sowter .
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Post by ragan on Jan 10, 2021 21:59:06 GMT -6
Is this the range of mics that uses the 3U Audio capsules? No, they design their own capsules. You sure?
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Post by Guitar on Jan 11, 2021 6:52:19 GMT -6
I don't have any of the mics, but I do have a capsule. GK-12d. I love it. It's a lot better than the Peluso CEK-12 for me. Have been living with it happily for a few years now. Got it from Front End Audio.
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Post by Guitar on Jan 11, 2021 6:53:00 GMT -6
The capsules are manufactured in China but I don't know "who" makes them, nor "who" designed them.
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Post by teejay on Jan 11, 2021 8:28:27 GMT -6
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Post by drumsound on Jan 11, 2021 17:03:56 GMT -6
I wish I had the cash right now. I really like what Toddj has done with the Z251.
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Post by reddirt on Jan 11, 2021 18:05:09 GMT -6
Had a listen - would prefer a combination of the 2 - maybe the Lundahl would do it? Cheers, Ross
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Post by teejay on Jan 11, 2021 19:26:43 GMT -6
Transformer Characteristics as described by ADK
Jensen USA Transformer: The Jensen adds a bit of a “smiley face” character to the response of the microphone. Translated, that means a lifted top and bottom. It’s like having a built in sweetening curve on top of the capsule’s response. Our Golden-Ear Engineers all preferred the Jensen in the Z-Mod-251.
Lundahl Transformer: Lundahl transformers are known for their flat-frequency-response. So, nothing is hyped here. Our Beta-Testers again were all agreed the Z67 and Z-49 were best when paired with the Lundahl. The Lundahl keeps the top smooth and the perception of the mid-range is that it is increased. The lows stay well behaved – not bloomy. But certainly not a boring choice of transformer! Lundahl is a truly hi-fi tranny.
Sowter Transformer: There is just something “magical” that happens with the Sowter and our testers all preferred the Sowter Transformer in Z-Mod-12 or in the Z-Mod-47. The mid-range comes alive in a special fashion!
Lehle Transformer: The Lehle is a Custom Transformer with what is considered the most Audiophile Characteristics of all our Transformer Options. The Lehle when combined with the ADK-251 Capsule adds even more sheen, creating a modern sound that closely emulates the rising top-end of a more modern “800” Series Mic.
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Post by ChaseUTB on Jan 13, 2021 5:05:17 GMT -6
Why are these mic companies using one circuit and tuned capsules for the whole range of mics? I think Advanced Audio does this too...
Will a 12AX7 circuit mic sound like a EF86/800 67 based mic even with a tuned cap. I assume capsule tuning is based on freq response & sound, is what tuning means ?
Is the capsule the main factor in tone? I would think a mic’s tone/ sound would be its sum of its parts.
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Post by Guitar on Jan 13, 2021 5:13:07 GMT -6
Why are these mic companies using one circuit and tuned capsules for the whole range of mics? I think Advanced Audio does this too... Will a 12AX7 circuit mic sound like a EF86/800 67 based mic even with a tuned cap. I assume capsule tuning is based on freq response & sound, is what tuning means ? Is the capsule the main factor in tone? I would think a mic’s tone/ sound would be its sum of its parts. Not all amplifiers are flat response. In the U67, for example, and to a lesser extent the ELA M 251, there would be a high frequency roll off inside the amplifier, to compensate for a brighter capsule. In order to use the same flat response amplifier with a bunch of different capsules, they had to make them all "tailored" at the capsules themselves, if this makes sense. If you stick an ADK GK-67d in a Neumann U67 it would likely sound way too dark for example, due to double "roll off." But in a chinese microphone, it would likely sound "way better" than an un-damped K67 in those mics. The "classic chinese mic mistake" that Michael Joly made a career off of could be fixed this way. They also likely simplified the CK-12 capsules to a single backplate, to make them cheaper and easier to manufacture than what Tim Campbell, Heiserman are doing and so on. Another advantage is they can use the same stock power supply for every mic. They don't need different polarizing voltages, bias voltages, and so on, since the mics have been "standardized." I am just assuming this. What I am guessing, and I can't prove this, is they get big shipments of amplifiers and mic bodies, capsules, from overseas, then install the transformer, capsule, and so on in a small shop, tune them up, burn them in, select tubes and so on. Building a microphone is a fairly delicate process that does take some care and time. A process like this would be considerably less painful and expensive than hand building a turret board, etc.
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Post by guitfiddler on Jan 14, 2021 23:19:23 GMT -6
This is something I've been looking into for years...thought about building my own mics to tweak them to what I want on my own vocal. I searched and tweaked with a few different builders out there still coming up short. Shannon Rhoades was getting closer after about the 3rd tweak and more money down the drain. Then he disappeared with my capsules and an incomplete mic. I reached out to Tim Cambell to look at his 251 capsule, but he hasn't got back with me yet. I tried the Heisermann capsule, but it just didn't work for me with that mic and it’s design. Not to discredit Heisermann at all, they make incredible mics!
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