Topic: AKG 391s vs Audix 1290s

[johnw]

Has anyone run both these mics? I'd like to get closer to a 480 sound, but can't afford them. I currently run 391/3 into a DIY UA5, and am considering the 1290s. Stealth isn't an issue for me, just the sound. So if you have run or compared both, which would you go with?

[John Kelly]

The 1290s blow the AKG 390s out of the water.

[super-phat-al]

The 1290s blow the AKG 390s out of the water.

did you ever run 390s john?  for some reason i thought you did.  woudl say comparing the 390s to 1290s is like 390s to 480s?

[John Kelly]

The 1290s blow the AKG 390s out of the water.

did you ever run 390s john?  for some reason i thought you did.  woudl say comparing the 390s to 1290s is like 390s to 480s?

Nah I never ran them.  Came very close to running them, but picked up the micros instead.

And yes, I would definitely compare the micros to the 480s.

[johnw]

John, where is the cheapest place to pick up the 1290s and caps? Also what options are there for wind screens? What don't you like about the SMT-Micro? From the picture it looks like a scaled down Sure A53 mount.

[timP]

I am dying to hear a side-by-side test of the 1290 and the 480

not at all trying to say it is not true, just have not heard a true test

just 1 previous owner said they sound alike,once, and people have run with that comment as fact

I really want to own a pair of these, BADLY, just not real sure yet if they have the punch I am looking for with loud azz (mule) music...

[John Kelly]

I am dying to hear a side-by-side test of the 1290 and the 480

not at all trying to say it is not true, just have not heard a true test

just 1 previous owner said they sound alike,once, and people have run with that comment as fact

I really want to own a pair of these, BADLY, just not real sure yet if they have the punch I am looking for with loud azz (mule) music...

I have heard two previous owners compare them to the 480s, and after listening before I purchased I came to the same conclusion, which is precisely why I bought them.  I would love to run a comparison between the two mics, but I haven't had that opportunity yet.

John, where is the cheapest place to pick up the 1290s and caps? Also what options are there for wind screens? What don't you like about the SMT-Micro? From the picture it looks like a scaled down Sure A53 mount.

I really don't know.  I got my mics used and my caps from Cascade.  Frank at Cascade has a great relationship with Audix, so I suggest going to him to see what you can get the mics for.  As for windscreens, with the screens that come with it most other windscreens will fit over top.  I have a set of big DPAs (haven't used them since I first got the mics), a set of Rycote mini windjammers (which work great), and a pair of AT screens made for the 853s.  I like the latter the best just for convenience, but they all seem to block wind just fine.

As for the SMT-Micro, I really can't complain about it.  I have a pair but I don't use them anymore.  Instead I put the standard mounts end to end in a Schoeps A20s, which is way more low profile than any other setup I've tried.  I'm thinking of making a 3' bar for when I run omnis, and I'll probably use my SMT-Micros on that.

[Tim]

The 1290s blow the AKG 390s out of the water.

care to give a comparison of the two? Saying "product X blows product Y out of the water" doesn't help anyone...

[Todd R]

The 1290s blow the AKG 390s out of the water.

care to give a comparison of the two? Saying "product X blows product Y out of the water" doesn't help anyone...

Tim, I think it goes something like this:

Neumann km140s blow AKG 391s out of the water.

Neumann U89s blow Neumann km140s out of the water.

The Soundfield ST-250 blows the Neumann U89s out of the water.

Schoeps cmc6/4 blows the Soundfield out of the water.

 

[Tim]

:rotflmao

sounds about right

oh and fwiw - I have little doubt that the 1290's are nicer than the bluelines, just looking for some sort of description.

[Massive Dynamic]

johnw, I run the Audix 1290, but I can't really give you any comparisons.  Here's Nick's opinion, and I have a copy of Nick's Mule recording I can B&P you.  PM me if interested.

I also have the AT8117 windscreens for the 1290, and you can see a photo in this thread.  I thought the SMT-micro was worthless as a shockmount, another reason for building my own vert bar.

[Ed.]

i could run an a-b test with them...but oh wait, theres only 6 tapers in michigan  heh  we need to start representing up here in the north.

[Todd R]

BTW, I don't know if I'm included in that list of two owners touting the m1290s, but I do.  I really haven't heard enough of the 391s to comment on them.  But I currently own the m1290 cards and the AKG480s.  The mics sound very similar, but the m1290s don't have quite the heft in the low end as the 480s.  Not bad by any means and for instance they did a good job reproducing the loud in your face stockholm syndrome show I taped with them.  The low end of the m1290s is very balanced and tight, but you can notice in a side by side comparison of the 480s the difference of going down to 40hz vs going down to 20hz.  The mids and highs are very similar to the 480s:  same sweet liquid highs, same musical if perhaps subdued mids (and perhaps subdued isn't the word for it--the don't have any grating bite in the mids, but at the same time, they are not in your face either, though it may just be that they are pretty flat in comparison to the hyped small diameter neumanns that I ran for so long).

[John Kelly]

BTW, I don't know if I'm included in that list of two owners touting the m1290s, but I do.  I really haven't heard enough of the 391s to comment on them.  But I currently own the m1290 cards and the AKG480s.  The mics sound very similar, but the m1290s don't have quite the heft in the low end as the 480s.  Not bad by any means and for instance they did a good job reproducing the loud in your face stockholm syndrome show I taped with them.  The low end of the m1290s is very balanced and tight, but you can notice in a side by side comparison of the 480s the difference of going down to 40hz vs going down to 20hz.  The mids and highs are very similar to the 480s:  same sweet liquid highs, same musical if perhaps subdued mids (and perhaps subdued isn't the word for it--the don't have any grating bite in the mids, but at the same time, they are not in your face either, though it may just be that they are pretty flat in comparison to the hyped small diameter neumanns that I ran for so long).

You were included in the two.   And I'd agree, the 480s have a little bit of an advantage in the low end, but I can stealth the micros much easier than the 480s.