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Post by EmRR on Oct 12, 2021 6:20:36 GMT -6
Who’s put the Stager SR-5, AEA KU5A, Telefunken RM-5C / Silvia Classics SC-5C up for a comparison against the RCA BK-5?
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Post by bricejchandler on Oct 12, 2021 8:27:13 GMT -6
I've used the AEA next to an RCA and I found it a bit dull.
I really like the BK5 for its bite. It always kind of reminded me of the Royer+57 combo but in one mic.
The AEA really didn't wow me, just sounded a little boring. I honestly think for my needs I'm happier with the Beyer M160 or vintage m260.
A friend of mine recorded a singer songwriter with the AEA and the vocals sounded really nice so on the right source I'm sure it's great but I spent a week with it I didn't walk out of that studio thinking I absolutely need a KU5A. Now a nice BK5 at the right price I'd love.
To be honest, I've never been wowed by the "cheaper" AEAs, I had an AEA R44 for years and that was a keeper, it was a glorious sounding mic and I wouldn't have sold it if I hadn't moved to a much smaller space but the 84, N22, KU5a all kind of left a bit dissapointed.
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Post by Ward on Oct 12, 2021 11:51:02 GMT -6
I've used the AEA next to an RCA and I found it a bit dull. I really like the BK5 for its bite. It always kind of reminded me of the Royer+57 combo but in one mic. The AEA really didn't wow me, just sounded a little boring. I honestly think for my needs I'm happier with the Beyer M160 or vintage m260. A friend of mine recorded a singer songwriter with the AEA and the vocals sounded really nice so on the right source I'm sure it's great but I spent a week with it I didn't walk out of that studio thinking I absolutely need a KU5A. Now a nice BK5 at the right price I'd love. To be honest, I've never been wowed by the "cheaper" AEAs, I had an AEA R44 for years and that was a keeper, it was a glorious sounding mic and I wouldn't have sold it if I hadn't moved to a much smaller space but the 84, N22, KU5a all kind of left a bit dissapointed. It totally depends on the preamp. Run that AEA KU5 through AEA's ribbon preamp, the RPQ500 for example, and it'll open up like a flower in full bloom! |
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Post by enlav on Oct 12, 2021 13:00:26 GMT -6
It totally depends on the preamp. Run that AEA KU5 through AEA's ribbon preamp, the RPQ500 for example, and it'll open up like a flower in full bloom! Just curious, is this due to the preamp itself, or is it mostly the "curve" or air-band option that AEA's preamp has that open the mic up? (bracing for puns/jokes about physically opening/taking apart the microphone) |
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Post by EmRR on Oct 12, 2021 17:34:58 GMT -6
Anyone ever use a Telefunken RM-5C / Silvia Classics SC-5C? Old news, been gone awhile. Internet reviews were not good, but hell, that's the internet. A couple pro's loved them. Been curious.
That was the first BK-5 tribute product, Jerry Silvia was one of the early RCA mic restoration experts, but he passed away in 2012.
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Post by Ward on Oct 12, 2021 18:17:02 GMT -6
It totally depends on the preamp. Run that AEA KU5 through AEA's ribbon preamp, the RPQ500 for example, and it'll open up like a flower in full bloom! Just curious, is this due to the preamp itself, or is it mostly the "curve" or air-band option that AEA's preamp has that open the mic up? (bracing for puns/jokes about physically opening/taking apart the microphone) Ok then, I'll dispense with the cornball dad jokes. It's the impedence. If you really want to open up the ribbon, give it some hard work. Put some massive impedence in its path. Old RCA preamps do this as well. The RPQ500 is amazing, before you even touch the EQ. But it's there to totally curve-bend and mind-bend as well. It makes a huge difference in the way the mic responds. The Grace in ribbon mode ain't too shabby either! |
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Post by enlav on Oct 13, 2021 7:42:19 GMT -6
It's the impedence. If you really want to open up the ribbon, give it some hard work. Put some massive impedence in its path. Old RCA preamps do this as well. *face palm* Of course. It also didn't occur to me that the Grace's ribbon button also increases the input impedance as well. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2021 12:51:18 GMT -6
I've used the AEA next to an RCA and I found it a bit dull. I really like the BK5 for its bite. It always kind of reminded me of the Royer+57 combo but in one mic. The AEA really didn't wow me, just sounded a little boring. I honestly think for my needs I'm happier with the Beyer M160 or vintage m260. A friend of mine recorded a singer songwriter with the AEA and the vocals sounded really nice so on the right source I'm sure it's great but I spent a week with it I didn't walk out of that studio thinking I absolutely need a KU5A. Now a nice BK5 at the right price I'd love. To be honest, I've never been wowed by the "cheaper" AEAs, I had an AEA R44 for years and that was a keeper, it was a glorious sounding mic and I wouldn't have sold it if I hadn't moved to a much smaller space but the 84, N22, KU5a all kind of left a bit dissapointed. Damn that’s a shame about the AEA. I’ve been wondering about it for a while and only have the money now. People said it wasn’t as good as the RCA. Beyer ribbons I love. Some of the coolest mics ever. They have built in crack and smack. |
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Post by sean on Oct 14, 2021 7:54:35 GMT -6
Used the Telefunken and AEA and wasn’t blown away. I own a BK5B. That probably answers your question.
I also am a fan of Beyer M160’s, have a pair.
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Post by Ward on Oct 14, 2021 8:03:51 GMT -6
Used the Telefunken and AEA and wasn’t blown away. I own a BK5B. That probably answers your question. I also am a fan of Beyer M160’s, have a pair. I feel you. I have a bunch of ribbons, and the most action goes to my pair of Samar VL37s |
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Post by EmRR on Oct 14, 2021 8:22:53 GMT -6
Used the Telefunken and AEA and wasn’t blown away. I own a BK5B. That probably answers your question. I also am a fan of Beyer M160’s, have a pair. I have one M160 and like it a lot, but it usually lives on OH so almost never gets used anywhere else anymore. It did see heavy electric guitar use at one point, nice on acoustic too. Won a vocal shootout once. Several Samar types have been first pick for awhile but I have been getting used to various RCA’s in different positions, 44/77/BK-11. Haven’t had a BK-5 trial in a long time, and the one go was on a pretty screechy electric guitar, it's qualities not actually needed in that case. |
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Post by jmoose on Oct 14, 2021 12:41:36 GMT -6
It totally depends on the preamp. Run that AEA KU5 through AEA's ribbon preamp, the RPQ500 for example, and it'll open up like a flower in full bloom! Do you have the RPQ preamps? Use 'em with anything else besides ribbons? Have a friend who swears by 'em for all kinds of things even standard 57/421 on guitar & drums... says they sound great & his stuff always sounds good to me. Haven't tried 'em myself. Kinda bummed to hear that about the KU5A its been on my short list of stuff to check out. I dig a good BK5... can we say that the KU5A is at least a good mic "in the spirit of" or at least on its own measure or something like that? I'm a little gunshy on Beyer in general. I've blown up more of those then any other brand... bad luck? Couple of 160's at least 3 M88's. Someone once gave me an M500 and 260 that sounded like baby rattles... Beyer USA repair was non existent at the time and wanted nothing to do with any of them. Not sure if the repair situation is any better in 2021 but it left a bad impression. |
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Post by Ward on Oct 14, 2021 16:26:17 GMT -6
It totally depends on the preamp. Run that AEA KU5 through AEA's ribbon preamp, the RPQ500 for example, and it'll open up like a flower in full bloom! Do you have the RPQ preamps? Use 'em with anything else besides ribbons? Have a friend who swears by 'em for all kinds of things even standard 57/421 on guitar & drums... SNIP Yes, I do, and I love the RPQ! on Ribbons especially, but killer on KM84s, other SDCs and SDDs as well. Your friend is right. |
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Post by srb on Oct 14, 2021 17:39:42 GMT -6
I have the AEA RPQ2. It's a great value, I think. It gets used mostly with a pair of R44's in Blumlein for drum room. They've had a significant impact on drums here.
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Post by ulriggribbons on Oct 15, 2021 8:09:17 GMT -6
Anyone ever use a Telefunken RM-5C / Silvia Classics SC-5C? Old news, been gone awhile. Internet reviews were not good, but hell, that's the internet. A couple pro's loved them. Been curious. That was the first BK-5 tribute product, Jerry Silvia was one of the early RCA mic restoration experts, but he passed away in 2012. I owned a pair of the Silvia Classics for a short while. Although the build of the microphone was pretty impeccable, the sound of the mic fell short of the BK-5 to me. I sold both of mine. Haven't heard the AEA or the Stager, so can't offer any comment there. Regards Jon |
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Post by EmRR on Oct 15, 2021 8:14:20 GMT -6
Anyone ever use a Telefunken RM-5C / Silvia Classics SC-5C? Old news, been gone awhile. Internet reviews were not good, but hell, that's the internet. A couple pro's loved them. Been curious. That was the first BK-5 tribute product, Jerry Silvia was one of the early RCA mic restoration experts, but he passed away in 2012. I owned a pair of the Silvia Classics for a short while. Although the build of the microphone was pretty impeccable, the sound of the mic fell short of the BK-5 to me. I sold both of mine. Haven't heard the AEA or the Stager, so can't offer any comment there. Regards Jon Thanks Jon, I was hoping you might chime in. |
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Post by ulriggribbons on Oct 15, 2021 8:25:43 GMT -6
I'm out of the shop till November, working from Austin TX, took me a bit to remember my password =S
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Post by delcampo on Oct 15, 2021 14:18:27 GMT -6
I don't have the RPQ but do have something comparable in the Integer RMP2. It's great for ribbons but also for dynamics! RE20, RE10 Beyer etc... when followed up with a tube comp like BG2, much like.
Samar MF65 and Bk5 usually stop in there first.
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Post by jaba on Oct 15, 2021 15:10:42 GMT -6
From some of the descriptions the BK-5 seems like it'd be similar to the M160.
True? Somewhat true? Somewhat false?...
Just curious as a big Beyer fan.
I recall the RCA being used in a few sessions long ago but I didn't have much of a mental reference then.
Sounded pretty fine on the guitar amps though.
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Post by peterhess on Oct 15, 2021 15:29:51 GMT -6
The KU5A is crazy great on baritone saxophone.
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