Topic: At853 vs at933 vs ca14

[Phil Zone]

I have a set of ca14, I saw darktrain posted some at933 in ys. I'm curious as to what you think as to what's the best. Also factor in the at853, since its right in that crowd.

So +/- of each? Sound wise and usability. This is cardioid.

Thanks 

[willndmb]

None are as good as the ck61 

I personally had 853
I like them best, but that's all opinion on sound
I wouldn't say there is a big difference between them overall so unless you have a reason to replace the ca14 in your sig just stay with them

[tgakidis]

AT853's are excellent mics.  Especially with the sub-card caps https://archive.org/details/ab2011-01-05.at853subcards.flac

[adrianf74]

I had the 853 subcard, omni and card caps as well as the 933 (back in the day, I had a pair of SP-CMC-8 mics which used the fixed at933 caps) and I've also run the CA-14.  If you're looking to get a pair of CK61 actives NONE of these touch them.

If you're looking for something small, the 853's would be my first choice -- subcard caps are a b*tch to find nowadays (I sold mine last month to fund the CK63 purchase).

[emcdos]

I have CA-14 and AT853, and have been trying both from this last summer...

In my experience, there´s very little diference between both, being both excellent...
When I do a double recording using both, both recording are equally good... It´s possible that the AT853 takes a bit more of high frecuency than the CA-14 and could sound a bit sweeter, but I don´t think this necessarily makes it a better recording,... I think is just a question of taste...

I tend to set up the mics in my neck and in this regard, I prefer the CA-14 because the solder of the clips, ...the clips are very solid and I get a very reliable setup... on the contrary, the AT853 doesn´t have their own soldered clips and so I have tryed Schoeps (if I remember well) clips with them, but they don´t fix them to the collar so strongly, and lose the proper orientation easily... in any case, when I´ve tryed other ways of mounting them in the neck, they make the whole thing very bulky, ...not so with the CA-14....

Anyway you could avoid or reduce this issue mounting the AT853 in a hat instead of your neck, if this can be an option for you....

[adrianf74]

I have CA-14 and AT853, and have been trying both from this last summer...

In my experience, there´s very little diference between both, being both excellent...
When I do a double recording using both, both recording are equally good... It´s possible that the AT853 takes a bit more of high frecuency than the CA-14 and could sound a bit sweeter, but I don´t think this necessarily makes it a better recording,... I think is just a question of taste...

I tend to set up the mics in my neck and in this regard, I prefer the CA-14 because the solder of the clips, ...the clips are very solid and I get a very reliable setup... on the contrary, the AT853 doesn´t have their own soldered clips and so I have tryed Schoeps (if I remember well) clips with them, but they don´t fix them to the collar so strongly, and lose the proper orientation easily... in any case, when I´ve tryed other ways of mounting them in the neck, they make the whole thing very bulky, ...not so with the CA-14....

Anyway you could avoid or reduce this issue mounting the AT853 in a hat instead of your mic, if this can be an option for you....

I found the 853's had a cleaner low-end end and better clarity overall (not that it was miles apart, though).

853 clips here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127169-REG/Shure_RK183T1_RK183T1_Set_of.html

That's what I, and others, used and they worked like a charm.

[Marshall7]

I recently picked up the AT853 cards from darktrain (and the omni caps from Adrian).  Love 'em!

[emcdos]

For clarification, I was talking only about cardioids AT853 and CA-14...

Yeah, the AT853 give you a bit more of clarity, but a bit less of bass as well... or at least is what I´ve got until now... the real thing is that I have little experience with both,...

In any case, I think both mics are ideal for double recordings and they make a great team... they combine perfectly and matrix with both recordings are excellent...

[/quote]
853 clips here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127169-REG/Shure_RK183T1_RK183T1_Set_of.html
[/quote]

That´s it, I said "Schoeps" but I meant that "Shure", sorry...

In any case, for me a very reliable option would be to mount the AT853 capsules in AT933 bodies and use Swivel Alligator clips like that:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=145533.msg1872484#msg1872484

In fact I got from Darktrain my second pair of AT853 with these AT933 bodies (although without that clips)... These bodies give other interestings options,... I still haven´t tryed them but very probably I´ll improve my experience in the future mounting them in my neck....

[acidjack]

Unless size is the main concern I'd skip the 933 cardiod. The omni sounds great, but the cards are thin.

CA-14s vs. AT853s.. I think the ATs have a darker and fuller sound. If you know how to EQ that's fine; if you don't want to EQ you might be better off with CA-14s, which also cost less.

[eman]

For what it's worth, I have 853 cards and hypers, and for some reason the hypers are light years better than the cards. As there is a pair of each, I don't think it is a damage issue as it is unlikely that the two cards would be damaged in the exact same way. I would switch between them for different situations, until I realized the hypers were just clearer and better sounding in every way in all situations, and of course especially if you are trying to pull in a show from far away. I'd love to try the subcards if I could find a pair.

[lsd2525]

I like my 853's but the high end can sound a little flat. I keep them stored in bubble wrap. That wouldn't affect the performance would it? Is there an easy way to check frequency response to make sure everything is OK?

[df]

853 clips here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/127169-REG/Shure_RK183T1_RK183T1_Set_of.html

That's what I, and others, used and they worked like a charm.

I bought a set of these clips for the AT853's, but they are off axis clipping to a hat.  It's like you have to right clips and you need a left and right - one points inward.  Is there a way to adjust one of the clips or any other options on the market?

[sos]

Umm... mebbe try rotating them, like a lid on a jar?     

[opsopcopolis]

Unless size is the main concern I'd skip the 933 cardiod. The omni sounds great, but the cards are thin.

CA-14s vs. AT853s.. I think the ATs have a darker and fuller sound. If you know how to EQ that's fine; if you don't want to EQ you might be better off with CA-14s, which also cost less.

That's what I've found as well having used both at853 and ca14 as well as ca11 (which are now my go to).  The ATs can be a bit on the dark side, but clean up very nicely with some minimal eq

[Humbug]

What I'm mostly gathering from this thread, is that people have different ears. 

I like AT853 cards just the way they are, and hate using EQ (very much a last resort).

Here's a funk recording from last year, nothing special about the venue (pretty average to good for a small London venue):

https://archive.org/details/lisaandthelips2014-05-01.at933

Fun listen!