Topic: Affordable AKG Sound

[OFOTD]

I guess then i'll have to agree to strongly disagree with some of you guys.   

The OP said he is looking at Peluso and Busman stereo sets witch include accessories within a $600 limit.  Why upsell him on just mics without accessories when for the same money he can purchase something far more versatile that IMO has every bit of that AKG sound that people at that price point are looking for.    For the $600+ he'd spend on some 460 bodies and one set of caps he could be running the 390's with actives and most likely two sets of caps and accessories (shocks, mounts, screens, etc).   

You're basically confining him at his max price point with less gear instead of selling him on versatility and value and that AKG sound that the 390's have just as well as the 460's.   

[SmokinJoe]

Going back to the original question... I don't think Peluso's sound much like AKG's at all (I've had both).  I can't comment on Busman's.

A couple of years ago, I bought 480's with Cards and Hypercard caps.  I hadn't really thought much about 390's...  Until my buddy got some 390's at which point I did some listening of his rig versus mine, and I thought to myself "I should have bought 390's and saved myself a lot of money".  Just my opinion.

[illconditioned]

My opinion, having owned 390's, 460's and many others.  The 393 (300 + ck93 hyper caps) have a great pattern, but lack detail of other options.  I really like 463 (460 + ck63 caps), these have great pattern and tons of detail.  In fact, I prefer the 460 over the 480.  460 have a transformer, and bit less "edgy" sound than the 480.

I would recommend getting a used pair of SP C4's.  You can sometimes find these for $200.  Those sound nicer than the 390's in my opinion.  And you can upgrade to 460 later when you need it.  Keep the C4's as a backup, or resell them for $200.  You'll have to wait a while fo find C4's used here, but this is really the best starter mic out there.  I've got two pairs of these C4's "in service" as we speak.

  Richard


PS: If you want to hear various options, go listen to clips on my webpage (http://Soundmann.com).  I've got examples of CK91 and CK93 (just the caps, running with a battery box, but similar to what you'd get with the SE300 bodies) there as well as lots of others.

[Shawn]

Going back to the original question... I don't think Peluso's sound much like AKG's at all (I've had both).  I can't comment on Busman's.

this. if you want the AKG sound pelusos won't give you that. If you just want a nice set of $600 mics with all the accessories pelusos will do just fine.

[OFOTD]

I would recommend getting a used pair of SP C4's. 

Where do SP C4's have ANY relation to having 'affordable AKG sound' ?

 

[page]

Going back to the original question... I don't think Peluso's sound much like AKG's at all (I've had both).  I can't comment on Busman's.

I've been privy to setups of busmans and akgs in the same room before a number of times and I don't think they sound like the akgs.

My advice is; If you like the house akg sound, buy akgs. That said, I support the 390 recomendation, it leaves a bit of cash left over for accessories that you may not think of, and the mics will probably move later with a small hit and you can use that cash with some money down the road to upgrade.

[illconditioned]

I would recommend getting a used pair of SP C4's. 

Where do SP C4's have ANY relation to having 'affordable AKG sound' ?

 

All I am saying is that I much prefer SP C4 over AKG 391/393.  I'm recommending skipping the 39x step, that is all.


  Richard

[OFOTD]

All I am saying is that I much prefer SP C4 over AKG 391/393.  I'm recommending skipping the 39x step, that is all.

I can understand skipping the 390's but again to suggest something that is clearly NOT an affordable AKG sound?    Really?  Why even comment if you don't have a different or suitable 'affordable AKG sound' suggestion?   

Seriously why is it that when people are looking for specific things do people try and recommend something that does not either fit the description of what they are looking for or try and oversell?   

Richard you've clearly modified your 9x caps in a way that takes out 50% of that AKG sound.  I can understand not liking them if i've bastardized them by completely cutting out an essential component (bodies).   

Whatever happened to making a suggestion within the confines of what the OP stated and making that suggestion based that was suited best for what the OP wants instead of what 'I' would do?

[newplanet7]

This is foolish.
Then why not recommend him the AKG PERCEPTION LINE??
Even cheaper than the 391's and has the AKG stamp on it.
Truth be told, if you look back to the original post, he says nothing about wanting a lot of gear
IE hypers, actives. etc. what he said was he wanted the AKG sound closest to 480's.
You suggested actives, with cards and hypers, windscreens, mounts and the rest.
WE suggested the 460's would get him closer to HIS STATED 480's sound.

[acidjack]

^^ I guess it all depends what "AKG sound" means.  Do 414s and 480s sound that much alike, for that matter?

At least in terms of this board, the most commonly used AKGs are the 46x/48x series probably with ck61s.  Whatever sounds the most like that is what should be recommended.

I liked the 39x mics when I had them (mine were also a "bastardized" set without bodies).  Whether they sounded much like 460s or 480s, I couldn't say.

I assume that although they have "AKG" written on them, the Perception line probably lacks the performance of the 460/480.   Because going down that road, one could also recommend the C1000s, which also say AKG on them, but IMHO sound like garbage.

[newplanet7]

That's all I'm saying.
Read the original post. He wants something that sounds like 480's.
The 460's are the closest thing at that price range.
391/393's dont sound like 480's. If they did we would be recommending them.

[OFOTD]

That's all I'm saying.
Read the original post. He wants something that sounds like 480's.
The 460's are the closest thing at that price range.
391/393's dont sound like 480's. If they did we would be recommending them.

Again they are ABOVE his stated budget.  So they shouldn't even be a consideration unless he increases his budget.   


So what gives you that AKG sound similar to the 480 at $600 or less?   Ding Ding Ding the 390's.

[rockymtnryan]

How important is it to have a matched stereo pair?  Do most people that own AKG pairs have matched pairs?

I appreciate all the comments, really, lets all just get along

Lately I've been leaning towards the Busman/Peluso stereo sets since they seem like such a great deal, and they are.  But having a box full of mic gear with all the accessories is not as important as being satisfied with my recordings.  Rome wasn't built in a day, so I know building the rig that is right for me will take some time.

Just when I'm about to pull the trigger on Busmans or Peluso I start to have second thoughts in my gut.  I don't want to buy a lower priced stereo kit and then not be happy with it and wish I would have saved a little more or worked out something with a seller of AKG's.

While I would love to have caps > actives > bodies as the ultimate setup, I would be fine with bodies/card caps and try to get the actives later.  Again, the most important thing is being happy with my recordings and I think I have to pursue AKG's since to my ears they are my favorite.

[newplanet7]

HERE YOU GO DAVID!
A PAIR OF AKG's 460's with ck3 CAPS FOR
DRUM ROLL................
$600, which is the stated budget!!!!!
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=136372.0

[OFOTD]

AKG does not match their microphones.    Matching sets of microphones seem to be more a piece of mind purchase than it is a distinct perceivable audio similarity/difference at least in the case of most of what we do (concerts).