Topic: MG SMS2000 v. AKG 480

[thoman8r]

So I'm thinking about going in a different direction with my rig.  I've been considering AKG 480's with the ck63 (first) and then later ck61 caps.  Now I see a good deal on a pair of MG 210's.  Looks like I could get either for about the same price.  I was wondering if I could have some expert opinions regarding these two lines.  Right now I'm running EW SR-77s.  I've heard the MG's compared to neumann's but I haven't heard much made with them overall.  I have a ton of stuff done with the 480 line.  What are the major difference sonically between these two mics?

Thanks,

Dave

[Tim]

while 480's show up for the price quite frequently the MG's do not. I'd buy the MG's and if you don't like them you can always sell them and find a pair of 480's...

[jlykos]

I own Gefells and have tons of recordings made with 480s so that should tell you my bias right there.

The Gefells are more pronounced in the way they handle sound; you will get a sharper, more focused presentation.  The AKGs may be a bit more natural sounding and have a more laid-back presentation.  The biggest difference is in the midrange.  I don't think that the AKGs have much of one while the Gefell midrange is unbeatable and is the best around IMHO.

The Gefells have a heavy, prominent bass and are very sharp with guitar and saxophone sounds.  If you like guitar-based rock (as I do) the Gefells really shine there.  The high treble can be a bit piercing if you do not set them up properly; they are a less forgiving mic than the 480s.  By forgiving, I mean more in terms of mic placement and configuration than in how they handle poor-sounding acoustic environments.

Edit: The Gefells also have the option of adding the M27 omni capsule which is unbelievable.  If you do any festival taping, you will not believe the results.

[thoman8r]

I own Gefells and have tons of recordings made with 480s so that should tell you my bias right there.

The Gefells are more pronounced in the way they handle sound; you will get a sharper, more focused presentation.  The AKGs may be a bit more natural sounding and have a more laid-back presentation.  The biggest difference is in the midrange.  I don't think that the AKGs have much of one while the Gefell midrange is unbeatable and is the best around IMHO.

The Gefells have a heavy, prominent bass and are very sharp with guitar and saxophone sounds.  If you like guitar-based rock (as I do) the Gefells really shine there.  The high treble can be a bit piercing if you do not set them up properly; they are a less forgiving mic than the 480s.  By forgiving, I mean more in terms of mic placement and configuration than in how they handle poor-sounding acoustic environments.

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know.  I do listen to a decent amount of guitar rock, but I was also wondering how they do with acoustic music?

[jlykos]

Don't know about acoustic music; I have never taped any.  Not my thing.

Edit: One more thing, while the mics may be the same price now, if you want to add additional capsules, then price becomes a major consideration.  I believe that new capsules for the SMS2000 series run like $750+ a pair now and you won't find them used.  Additional capsules for the AKGs are significantly less, in the order of like half as much for a new pair and you occassionally can find them used.

[muj]

you might want to run the m294's 0.8 micron nickel diaphragm..

sorry for the spam

 

[scb]

>>I do listen to a decent amount of guitar rock, but I was also wondering how they do with acoustic music?<<


i think gefells ROCK on acoustic music

dave, check out the PMB 10-30 and 10-31-98 shows i converted a while back.  those were the 2 shows they recorded for the "General Admission" live disc and were when the band still rocked.  Plenty of acoustic stuff there, plus great shows.  They let Ron diaz tape that night, though we weren't give the ok to spread until later on.  he ran bill lakenan's gefells > m148 > sbm1 that night and they flat out rock.  should be enought o convince you to get the geffels

(and jamie, i apologize for spelling them "geffel" and not "gefell" on the info files

[thoman8r]

>>I do listen to a decent amount of guitar rock, but I was also wondering how they do with acoustic music?<<


i think gefells ROCK on acoustic music

dave, check out the PMB 10-30 and 10-31-98 shows i converted a while back.  those were the 2 shows they recorded for the "General Admission" live disc and were when the band still rocked.  Plenty of acoustic stuff there, plus great shows.  They let Ron diaz tape that night, though we weren't give the ok to spread until later on.  he ran bill lakenan's gefells > m148 > sbm1 that night and they flat out rock.  should be enought o convince you to get the geffels

(and jamie, i apologize for spelling them "geffel" and not "gefell" on the info files

Damn Scott, I thought you'd be the one trying to talk me out of getting rid of the EW's! :-)

Well I'll ponder this financial transaction on the way home.  Thankfully I've got a no-interest CC so I could try them out for a few months at least and sell them if I needed to.  Although really, between the two sets of EW mics that should really cover the cost of the MG's.

*crossing fingers that they are not already sold*

Dave

[nickgregory]

In the short time that i have had these mics, I have been AMAZED at how good the guitar/mandolin sounds through them.  Jamie is right, the midrange is incredible.  I am in the process of mixing a Cast Iron Filter show (my gefell AUD and Jamies SBD source) and quite honestly, the AUD almost doesnt need it...the detail these mics catch is incredible...

[scb]

>>Damn Scott, I thought you'd be the one trying to talk me out of getting rid of the EW's! :-)<<

seemed like you were set on selling them, and i'm just saying i'd take the gefells over the 480s

[nickgregory]

while 480's show up for the price quite frequently the MG's do not. I'd buy the MG's and if you don't like them you can always sell them and find a pair of 480's...

Tim is right...at the price the MGs are going for, I would be shocked if you turned around and sold them in a couple of months and lost money...hell, I paid a couple hundred dollars more than that a month ago....

[muj]

Dave,
go for them.I might be the biggest gefell slut here,but with that price alone ,do it...unless it were sanken cu-31's.....

[Tim]

when a deal like this comes along you gotta jump. once you buy into the higher end gear then you can just sell your old gear to finance the new gear. it's that initial jump into highend that can really sting the pocketbook... this deal will soften that blow.

good luck!

[plucks]

Edit: The Gefells also have the option of adding the M27 omni capsule which is unbelievable.  If you do any festival taping, you will not believe the results.

So true, so true  
Some of the best omni's out there!

I have found the highs in the MGs to be quite sharp and as Jaime, said they are very very focused sounding.  They generally get great results.  I find the bass in the AKGs to be a little more natural sounding though.  Mid's in both AKG and MGs are similar.  
MG20:  

AKG ck63:

.02

Phil

[thoman8r]

nervously waiting for his response...

[jhirte]

If you want a Gefell sample:
http://home.comcast.net/~jhirte/lizard.mp3

Jesus Lizard
05/06/98 @ Club Soda, Kalamazoo, MI
Gefell SMS 2000 w/cards -> SX-M2 -> DA-P1

someone gets some bonus points if they can tell me the taper!

-Jim

[Jason B]

*crossing fingers that they are not already sold*

Well, I am in talks with the seller too.  

-JB

[Joe w.]

and jamie, i apologize for spelling them "geffel" and not "gefell" on the info files

i have goofed on that one as well.

[Brian Skalinder]

*crossing fingers that they are not already sold*

Well, I am in talks with the seller too.  

-JB

Hah.  I beat you both to the punch.  





























Well, no...not really.    

[thoman8r]

you guys are killing me :-)

Jason, may the best man win!  

And by best man, I mean me  

Dave

[Jason B]

you guys are killing me :-)

Jason, may the best man win!  

And by best man, I mean me  

Dave

  +T

-JB

[F.O.Bean]

i think some mg's w/ a v3 could sound GREAT.....

although they had a lil too much punch for me at times, id think theyd sound a lil cleaner outta a v3

[thoman8r]

 

One guess why I'm happy!

[nickgregory]

congratulations....new mics are always fun!

[greenone]

One guess why I'm happy!

Congrats, Dave! Now change yer damn .sig.

[scervin]

Now you want to buy my card caps!!

[Tim]

congratulations!

[thoman8r]

Now you want to buy my card caps!!

I wish.  If you still have them when I get my tax refund (hopefully I'm getting one), I may consider.  But I have to curb spending after this unexpected expense.

Besides, I think a V3 might be first on the agenda...

[thoman8r]

One guess why I'm happy!

Congrats, Dave! Now change yer damn .sig.

Happy Dave?

All in all, I am gonna miss the 77s.  I wish I had the money to keep them too.  Someone's going to be getting themselves a good pair of mics.

[F.O.Bean]

Now you want to buy my card caps!!

Besides, I think a V3 might be first on the agenda...

smart man

[nickgregory]

Dave, for what it is worth, I run my MGs into the MP-2->Oade Mod SBM-1 also and am EXTREMELY happy with the results...really, really great!

[thoman8r]

Dave, for what it is worth, I run my MGs into the MP-2->Oade Mod SBM-1 also and am EXTREMELY happy with the results...really, really great!

I'm in no hurry to get rid of my mp-2 and sbm-1, believe me.  If anything, I might try to borrow a v3 and do a comp at some point.

[Nick Culbreth]

I'm in no hurry to get rid of my mp-2 and sbm-1, believe me.  If anything, I might try to borrow a v3 and do a comp at some point.

if you get the chance try out the mme as well, i've heard a couple gefell > mme tapes and they've always sounded nice.