Topic: AKG goes to china

[RebelRebel]

Source: http://www.akg-acoustics.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,157,id,940,pid,940,_language,ENUS.html

Here it is, the Perception 100. The first AKG mic built in China. List is $299. Street is $99.

1" LDC, Cardioid.

There's also a Perception 200. Looks the same, but with pad and hipass built in.

 "Designed in Vienna. Built in China."

Makes me appreciate Gefell and Schoeps all the more. Hand Made, no outsourcing..

I love 414s, c12s, 422, c33,426, and well..thats about it for me. I dont like any of their SDCs or dynamics, just the old relaibles.

[F.O.Bean]

gee, thanks for the dis

so what? they outsourced a cheap 100 dollar mic? its not like they sold the company to sennhesier

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

[RebelRebel]

gee, thanks for the dis

so what? they outsourced a cheap 100 dollar mic? its not like they sold the company to sennhesier

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

It is just a sad trend, Bean.Cheap chinese stuff. (remember Oktava?) It wasnt a dis on you or your recordings, their SDCs just arent my cup of tea. I love my 426b though.

And yes, ive heard some fine recordings with those 48XX.

[F.O.Bean]

gee, thanks for the dis

so what? they outsourced a cheap 100 dollar mic? its not like they sold the company to sennhesier

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

It is just a sad trend, Bean.Cheap chinese stuff. (remember Oktava?) It wasnt a dis on you or your recordings, their SDCs just arent my cup of tea. I love my 426b though.

And yes, ive heard some fine recordings with those 48XX.

i was just razin ya, everyones ears are different, hopefully this isnt a permanent traned and just a cheapie mic thing

[wbrisette]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

[F.O.Bean]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

[RebelRebel]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

JNorman says they are pretty transparent(if I recall correctly), but I dont hear that .. Thats why I dont use them for classical work. They have that low end enhancement that I dont care for, and the highs arent as clear as say Schoeps, some Gefells, etc..

[F.O.Bean]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

JNorman says they are pretty transparent(if I recall correctly), but I dont hear that .. Thats why I dont use them for classical work. They have that low end enhancement that I dont care for, and the highs arent as clear as say Schoeps, some Gefells, etc..

we def hear things differently bud i think schoeps/neumanns/MG's have more low-end than the 480's and the 480's have a silky high-end

[RebelRebel]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

JNorman says they are pretty transparent(if I recall correctly), but I dont hear that .. Thats why I dont use them for classical work. They have that low end enhancement that I dont care for, and the highs arent as clear as say Schoeps, some Gefells, etc..

we def hear things differently bud i think schoeps/neumanns/MG's have more low-end than the 480's and the 480's have a silky high-end

Yeah, one thing ive learned is that opinions on gear dont matter much. So many different ears.

[F.O.Bean]

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

JNorman says they are pretty transparent(if I recall correctly), but I dont hear that .. Thats why I dont use them for classical work. They have that low end enhancement that I dont care for, and the highs arent as clear as say Schoeps, some Gefells, etc..

we def hear things differently bud i think schoeps/neumanns/MG's have more low-end than the 480's and the 480's have a silky high-end

Yeah, one thing ive learned is that opinions on gear dont matter much. So many different ears.

true that its really a matter of what pre/ad is behind the mics if they are all HQ

[RebelRebel]

Amen Bean.

One really famous Engineer I know brags about MXL mics, and oktavas.50% of it is how it is situated, and how well the operator knows his job.

you need to hear some 480>v2/v3>modsbm1 tapes and i bet your mind would get swayed

I've heard the 480's. They are great under the right situations, but for a lot of what I do, they are not the mic for me. I want a non-colored, flat mic. That's not the AKG 480 line.  Again, that's not to say it doesn't have it's place, but obviously it's better suited for certain things (just not for what I'm doing or wanting). Likewise sometimes flat mics aren't the answer either.

Wayne

you dont think the 480's are flat? i think theyre one of the LEAST colored mics in the big guns we use

JNorman says they are pretty transparent(if I recall correctly), but I dont hear that .. Thats why I dont use them for classical work. They have that low end enhancement that I dont care for, and the highs arent as clear as say Schoeps, some Gefells, etc..

we def hear things differently bud i think schoeps/neumanns/MG's have more low-end than the 480's and the 480's have a silky high-end

Yeah, one thing ive learned is that opinions on gear dont matter much. So many different ears.

true that its really a matter of what pre/ad is behind the mics if they are all HQ

[terrapinj]

i don't see this as that big of a surprise. while AKG makes and has made some very high end mics it seems that a large bit of their products have no need to be hand made or need to be subject to those type of QC standards. i hope this isn't a sign of things to come for all their products, but from a business standpoint something like this was likely inevitable, particularly for consumer grade products.

furthermore i don't think that a product being manufactured in china is necessarily a terrible thing or a sure sign of poor quality. All of the Studio Projects mics (as far as I know) are made in China and people here are very happy with them as a whole.

[poorlyconditioned]

i don't see this as that big of a surprise. while AKG makes and has made some very high end mics it seems that a large bit of their products have no need to be hand made or need to be subject to those type of QC standards. i hope this isn't a sign of things to come for all their products, but from a business standpoint something like this was likely inevitable, particularly for consumer grade products.

furthermore i don't think that a product being manufactured in china is necessarily a terrible thing or a sure sign of poor quality. All of the Studio Projects mics (as far as I know) are made in China and people here are very happy with them as a whole.

I would trust this mic *a lot* more than MXL, etc.  The reason is AKG (and other major manufacturers, like Audio Technica, etc), have large volumes, and a reputation.  So you expect that they will demand quality in manufacture, and they will verify the stuff before they sell it.  Of course, find out what quality level it is, but as far as consistency goes, I would trust it.

  Richard

[RebelRebel]

i don't see this as that big of a surprise. while AKG makes and has made some very high end mics it seems that a large bit of their products have no need to be hand made or need to be subject to those type of QC standards. i hope this isn't a sign of things to come for all their products, but from a business standpoint something like this was likely inevitable, particularly for consumer grade products.

furthermore i don't think that a product being manufactured in china is necessarily a terrible thing or a sure sign of poor quality. All of the Studio Projects mics (as far as I know) are made in China and people here are very happy with them as a whole.

I dont see it as a surprise either. doesnt mean I like or fully accept it.
to me---MASS production, outsourcing, etc....dont bode well for quality control...nor do they get me excited about things to come.

Like I said, it just makes me appreciate the hand mades all the more.  Look at the C24 and 414EB..

 that mic probably will probably sound like every other "new chinese mic" on the market.

oh well, ive got my 426. im content with that.

[OFOTD]

You know years ago everyone swore that Americans made the best cars and the world was going to hell and a handbasket once the Germans and Japanese came on to the scene.  "Nothing like an American car" , "They're using cheaper parts and cheaper labor"   Whatever!

Big deal so AKG is farming production of their entry level mass produced stuff to China.  So what.  Welcome to the new world economy.  If it allows some new blood to enter the taping world because the price is right then so be it.  Taping does not start for most people at $1000 for a pair of mics.  Also remember that we are low on the food chain for manufacturers like AKG, MG and the like.  Musicians and studios put food on their table first. 

Secondly I could give two shits about what the microphone engineers think about their favorite mic anyways.  Those guys are usually the ones listening to test tones anyways and are not in 108 degree heat set up at a festival in Austin next to me so opinions/schminions. 

AKG has always done me right.  Good people and great service.  That doesn't suddenly change when a product is assembled in China.