Topic: AKG 300's or SP C4's?

[momule]

Im running a d-mod UA-5 at this point .
with the stock sound which would you suggest .. I have been browsing for 300's for awhile now. but with all the fluffing on the C4's there starting to look like an option.

Just thought I would get other opinon's

TIA.
Nick

[Scooter]

i ran C4's>digiUA5 for a while, I thought it sounded great!  I really liked the C4's

[momule]

I have your 24bit Los Lobos show from here in KC. (thanks again)
this is one of the shows that got me to thinking of the C4's instead..

Nice to see KC sportin' some Gefell's       Do you tape much? Suprised I have not seen ya out..

KcMojoe Runs some Mod 460's>Wmod UA-5 Which was the Best sounding KC Rig I had listened to so far

Thanks For the input.
Nick

[Sanjay]

I ran the C4's and now the 391's and I appreciate the clarity of the 300's a bit more.  But unfortunatly im gonna have to trim down my rig soon and go back to the at 8xx's mics 

[Swampy]

391s!

[Gordon]

akg's rule your face 

[jkoch]

i really liked the 391s when i ran them (and still have them and run them on occassion). they can't compare to the 460s but are def. solid mics.

[mmmatt]

I used to run 391's and I recently traded "down" to the c-4s.  I didn't like the 391's at all.  My issue with the 391's was the higher end and "presence" responce.  IMO they suck in that regard.  Unless you were up close the sound was not at all what I was looking for and even up close they didn't have a very realistic sound to my ears although it was better.  The 393's are a completely different story, they are a far better cap to my ears, but they don't come around very often.  The C-4s have a little bigger presence boost that brightens things up a little more, and also come with a second set of omni caps which I use a lot.  The AKG's are by far a better built mic.  The c-4s don't have quite the engineering built into them, but the sound is far better to my ears, and the cost is substantially better.

Just my .02
Matt

[jpschust]

I used to run 391's and I recently traded "down" to the c-4s.  I didn't like the 391's at all.  My issue with the 391's was the higher end and "presence" responce.  IMO they suck in that regard.  Unless you were up close the sound was not at all what I was looking for and even up close they didn't have a very realistic sound to my ears although it was better.  The 393's are a completely different story, they are a far better cap to my ears, but they don't come around very often.  The C-4s have a little bigger presence boost that brightens things up a little more, and also come with a second set of omni caps which I use a lot.  The AKG's are by far a better built mic.  The c-4s don't have quite the engineering built into them, but the sound is far better to my ears, and the cost is substantially better.

Just my .02
Matt

im curious as to what brings you to believe that the c4s are an inferior build... can you elaborate?

[John Kerry]

AKG

[mmmatt]

I used to run 391's and I recently traded "down" to the c-4s.  I didn't like the 391's at all.  My issue with the 391's was the higher end and "presence" responce.  IMO they suck in that regard.  Unless you were up close the sound was not at all what I was looking for and even up close they didn't have a very realistic sound to my ears although it was better.  The 393's are a completely different story, they are a far better cap to my ears, but they don't come around very often.  The C-4s have a little bigger presence boost that brightens things up a little more, and also come with a second set of omni caps which I use a lot.  The AKG's are by far a better built mic.  The c-4s don't have quite the engineering built into them, but the sound is far better to my ears, and the cost is substantially better.

Just my .02
Matt

im curious as to what brings you to believe that the c4s are an inferior build... can you elaborate?

Sure Jonny,
The way the caps connect is the biggest thing.  The "cam-lock" (for lack of a real name) connection on the AKG caps is a nice solid feel.  Give it a 1/2 twist and it clicks in real solid.  The c-4's have a threaded ring that both threads into the body as well as the cap. I have had the threaded ring actually come out of the body.  Kinda freaked me out the first time it happened.  I went to put the other cap on and said "oh shit" thinking I had broken something.  If the ring isn't seated perfectly in the body you will notice a little gap between the body and the cap, and it absolutely destroys the sound from the mic.  The threads are very tiny so care is required to make sure that you don't cross-thread when you swap caps, and the cap itself is more exposed from underneath when removed.  Overall I just feel I have to be extra careful with the caps, as they feel a bit more delicate than the AKG's.
     One of my body's also hangs up a bit on the xlr connection, and it takes a little bit harder push than the other.  It would also be nice if they marked the caps with the polar pattern, but there are distinguishable differences, so once you know you can tell.  That's it really... I'm a proponent of these mics, and all the little things aren't anything that makes them sound bad.  These are great mics for the money and my impression is that SP put the money into the sound not the "packaging".  If I were to ask someone to design a value priced mic for me that is exactly what I would want.
     As I stated in my earlier post I love these mics so far, and props to SP for being able to produce such a great sounding mic for the money!

Matt

[Brian]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

[jpschust]

good comments, i would agree with all of those.  i dont know that i would qualify that as an inferior build though, just a different system.  but i may just be thinking in semantics

[mmmatt]

Yes... that is true.  It is a different system and that may be where you get what you pay for.  I'm sure all that stuff on the akg's, as well as the name, are part of the reason they cost more.  I would recomend these mics to anyone in the price range.  New or used you can't get more for your buck IMHO.  Especially if you like to have the omni caps.

Matt

[mmmatt]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

Actually I've been thinking real hard about a pair of TL's.  Maybe we could do a little temporay swap sometime?  Drop me a pm if you are interested.

Matt

[Scooter]

I have your 24bit Los Lobos show from here in KC. (thanks again)
this is one of the shows that got me to thinking of the C4's instead..

Nice to see KC sportin' some Gefell's       Do you tape much? Suprised I have not seen ya out..

KcMojoe Runs some Mod 460's>Wmod UA-5 Which was the Best sounding KC Rig I had listened to so far

Thanks For the input.
Nick

I tape about 1-2 times a months prolly, alot in Lawrence lately it seems.  Ya, Joe's rig sounds great!  I think he runs a P or T mod though...  I do run into him alot at shows.  One of my buddy's runs 480>V3 rig (phil on this board), and it puts out some great tapes too!  I've got some shows up on Archive too, if you want some more shows with that C4 rig.  Good luck!

[mirth]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

Actually I've been thinking real hard about a pair of TL's.  Maybe we could do a little temporay swap sometime?  Drop me a pm if you are interested.

Matt

Matt, are you aspiring to be the Gear Slut of the Month for December?

[mmmatt]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

Actually I've been thinking real hard about a pair of TL's.  Maybe we could do a little temporay swap sometime?  Drop me a pm if you are interested.

Matt

Matt, are you aspiring to be the Gear Slut of the Month for December?

Nah... there is a minimum dollar amount for that award!!!  Without still having Grace or Schoeps  in my vocabulary, I'm sure I don't qualify! 
     A pair of fatty TL's would be cool though.  I doubt I would actually take the plunge before spring.  Ideally I would like to have 2 sets of nice mics for next years Wu Reunion.  Nothin' wrong with a little interview though... right?

Matt

[mirth]

Nah, nothing wrong at all. If you'd want to borrow the 393's I'm sure it could be arranged. My brother also has a pair of the Superlux cards, and I have some C1000s if you really wanted to get complex.

[momule]

I have your 24bit Los Lobos show from here in KC. (thanks again)
this is one of the shows that got me to thinking of the C4's instead..

Nice to see KC sportin' some Gefell's       Do you tape much? Suprised I have not seen ya out..

KcMojoe Runs some Mod 460's>Wmod UA-5 Which was the Best sounding KC Rig I had listened to so far

Thanks For the input.
Nick

I tape about 1-2 times a months prolly, alot in Lawrence lately it seems.  Ya, Joe's rig sounds great!  I think he runs a P or T mod though...  I do run into him alot at shows.  One of my buddy's runs 480>V3 rig (phil on this board), and it puts out some great tapes too!  I've got some shows up on Archive too, if you want some more shows with that C4 rig.  Good luck!

ya your right . Joe runs the P-mod.
I have met Phil a couple times.  If it is the same Phil (shnmusic.com) down in St louis for the 11-03-2002  Mule gig , Funny enough he was running 391's back then. I dont see Phil out and about to much these days.
well Hopefull I'll get a chance to a face to your name/Tapes sometime.

Take care
Nick

edit for fat fingers. (i need to get a spell check)

[Scooter]

ya it's shmusic.com phil, he used to run 390's a while back

[Brian]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

Actually I've been thinking real hard about a pair of TL's.  Maybe we could do a little temporay swap sometime?  Drop me a pm if you are interested.

Matt

very cool offer!  if you can wait until after the new year i'd be more than happy to do a temporary trade

[mmmatt]

matt,

much thanks for the detailed post on the quirks of the c-4's......been thinking about picking up a set lately.

Actually I've been thinking real hard about a pair of TL's.  Maybe we could do a little temporay swap sometime?  Drop me a pm if you are interested.

Matt

very cool offer!  if you can wait until after the new year i'd be more than happy to do a temporary trade

That would work well for me also as I don't think I'll be taping too much before then.  If we can work it out I would want to try them wioth my matrix rig as well as my audience rig.  We can talk about it down the road!

Matt

[Brian]

sounds good