Topic: AKG 460, mod 460, 480, comparison

[johnw]

I periodically get emails from people asking about the difference between the 460s before and after I got the mod done. Since I changed from a UA5 to a MiniMe at the same time, I can't tell what difference in sound quality is due to the mics alone. I will say that I was happy with the 460s>DIY UA5 and the difference from JWmod460s>MME isn't that draumatic IMHO. I do remember one post where someone was under the impression that the JWmod increases the sensitivity of the mics draumatically and this is definitely not true.

Ideally what I think would answer everyone's questions would be to get an Edirol R4 and run stock 460s into channels 1&2 and mod460s into 3&4 using the same caps, cables, configuration and location (ie both ORTF on the same stand at about the same height). It would also be nice to run a similar comparison with the 480s and mod 460s and maybe even a JKlabs setup.

Does this sound like a good idea? Would anyone else be willing to lend out an R4 or mics?

[thegreatgumbino]

Just missed your post while I was posting my own JW mod thread (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=48168.0)    I'd love to hear some of these comps.  I've read several posts that the JW mod 460's outshine the 480's, but not heard it myself. 

I'm really curious as to what pre/adc is the ideal match with the JW mod 460's.

[F.O.Bean]

been dying to know/have the same comp results

ive been teetering on buying 460 bodies and getting them modded, but cant bring myself to do it right now w/ the out of hand money, i would ideally like to A/B/switch out bodies for two set shows and see which i like better! and then sell the bodies i dont prefer, rather than selling the 480 bodies and then not noticing a huge difference

what im ideally after is that akg sonics from the 480's, but w/ not so much of that high-end bite! just a tad calmer in the highs is what i want, not much, just a tad!

[dgodwin]

Assuming I finally get one of the teaching jobs I've been interviewing for, I'll be sending my 460's to be modded in late september or early october.  If you haven't found anyone to loan you a set Bean, you'll be more than welcome to try mine once I get them. 

[Tim]

IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO MOKE"S COMP YET STOP READING












I just had my first taste of the mod-460's and they seemed a bit hyped in the mid-hi's and the high end... not as smooth as the dpa's in the comp

[dgodwin]

agreed, while I'll get the jw mod on my 460's (can't afford dpas) I liked the 4022 recording better. 

[johnw]

IF YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO MOKE"S COMP YET STOP READING

I just had my first taste of the mod-460's and they seemed a bit hyped in the mid-hi's and the high end... not as smooth as the dpa's in the comp

Tim I have no idea what this has to do with comparing the mod460s to stock 460s or 480s. I wouldn't expect them to sound like the DPAs and I've only seen one post where someone thought they sounded similar. I believe that same person also said that the ck1x caps that were used tend to exaggerate the high end. On the other hand, I have seen plenty of posts from people thinking about buying 460s wondering about how they sound compared to stock and 480s. I also wouldn't expect the mod Octavas to sound like schoeps or Neumanns 

[Tim]

huh?

It was just a comment on the overall quality of the mod 460's... so in that sense it had a lot to do with the comparison. I'll be more explicit for you next time 

 

they sound great, way beyond their price range.

[johnw]

huh?

It was just a comment on the overall quality of the mod 460's... so in that sense it had a lot to do with the comparison. I'll be more explicit for you next time 

I started this thread to gauge interest in doing a true A-B comparison of the mod460 to the 460 and 480. The reason I am interested in doing this is because it seems like quite a few people have picked up 460s recently and there seems to be a belief that the 460, when modded, sounds equal to or better than the 480s. Perhaps my first post wasn't very explicit and the goal of testing this belief didn't come across, but an A-B comparison to DPAs with a critique of the 460s based on that comparison doesn't tell me much about how these compare to the 480s. Also, I suspect that the capsule (ck1x) might have colored your overall impression of the microphone and since it is pretty hard to come by, I would think that the ck61 might be a better choice for any comparison. Hope that makes more sense.

I agree that these sound great and beyond their price range. +T and thanks for sharing your opions. 

[EA]

I don't think that the mod 460's and the 480's sound anything alike. Not one better than the other...just different sounds. Two different animals really. Everyone insists on trying to compare them though. But the mod 460's are far superior to stock 460's. No freakin' doubt. If you like transparent, super detailed mics (the "high speed sound"), the mod 460's are the way to go. But not everyone likes that sound. It's like V3 Vs. Mme. Different sounds for different tastes.

[thegreatgumbino]

I started this thread to gauge interest in doing a true A-B comparison of the mod460 to the 460 and 480. The reason I am interested in doing this is because it seems like quite a few people have picked up 460s recently and there seems to be a belief that the 460, when modded, sounds equal to or better than the 480s. Perhaps my first post wasn't very explicit and the goal of testing this belief didn't come across, but an A-B comparison to DPAs with a critique of the 460s based on that comparison doesn't tell me much about how these compare to the 480s. Also, I suspect that the capsule (ck1x) might have colored your overall impression of the microphone and since it is pretty hard to come by, I would think that the ck61 might be a better choice for any comparison. Hope that makes more sense.

I agree that these sound great and beyond their price range. +T and thanks for sharing your opions. 

I've read several posts where people think the ck6 series caps have better sound than the ckxx caps, albeit minimal difference when you gain the ability to run actives.  Also read a few that say the active cables make the ckxx a bit brighter than with out the actives.  Haven't heard a comp myself, but taking these statements, I'd say that the ck6 caps would be to my liking over the ck1x.  Moke's mod 460 sounded a tad bright to me through the V3 compared to the DPA.  Not bad, just brighter comparitively.  I think if the ck6 series is a bit warmer than the ck1x series, it could sound damn fine with the V3.  I already know the ck6 series sounds damn fine with the T+mod. 

So, in short, I think a comp of the JW mod 460 with the ck1x & ck6 caps and the 480's would be ideal.  The ck1x's are harder to come buy, but if I'm dreaming might as well dream big right?

[johnw]

I've read several posts where people think the ck6 series caps have better sound than the ckxx caps, albeit minimal difference when you gain the ability to run actives.  Also read a few that say the active cables make the ckxx a bit brighter than with out the actives.

The problem is that there were 3 ck1 capsules. The ck1, ck1s and ck1x. Both the ck1 and ck1s have freq response curves available, but the only thing available about the ck1x is the technical data, which is different from the ck1. The ck1s definitely has a bump in the high end that AKG calls "presence" but no technical data available. I believe that all 3 capsules likely have subtle differences from each other and are definitely different from the ck61 not only in the response curves/technical data, but also that the ck1 caps are all FET whereas the ck61 is a true condenser cap. If anything, I would suspect that the ck1x cap sounds like the ck91 since it is also a FET cap. I think that the ck1s may be the one that people think of as bright, but without a curve on the ck1x, who knows? It would be great to AB all four, but like you said, it is darn hard to find the ck1x and ck1s caps.

If anyone wants to look at the ck1 cap specs, I can post them or you can go to the AKG site and download the zip file that contains gif images of all three ck1 caps.

[ts]

How do you tell the difference between the 3 caps? I have 3 ck1x caps, at least I think they are all x caps. 2 have the same shape(cone) and one is more of a funnel shape. None of them have any markings, other than ck1 and  one has a 4 digit serial #. That would be a bummer if I'm recording with one x and one s cap.

edit. after looking at the AKG website archive, looks like I have 3 CK1x caps, one being a slightly different shape, as like the one in the picture archive.

[johnw]

Only the ck1x caps have the lemo connection - the other two are threaded and a totally different shape. I'd say you would definitely know the difference. Congrats on having 3 of those bad boys!

[tfrench]

Anyone seen the 460's with horizontal switches?