Topic: Looking to move to AKG C414B-XLS..

[Bdifr78]

I submitted a "Best Offer" to musician'sfriend.com through an Ebay auction.  $1340 after shipping! 

[beanstalk]

I got a $1250 from musiciansadvocate.com on ebay.

Are there much differences between the XLII and the XLS?

Working on a straight up trade for the Ho's+Peluso for a set. Hopefully it will go through.

[Brian Skalinder]

Are there much differences between the XLII and the XLS?

The XLS are flatter.  The TLII's have a frequency boost for intended for vocal recording.  (More info at AKG USA)

[Bdifr78]

I got a $1250 from musiciansadvocate.com on ebay.

Are there much differences between the XLII and the XLS?

Working on a straight up trade for the Ho's+Peluso for a set. Hopefully it will go through.

Whoa, is that for a factory sealed matched pair?  Those bastards!  The offer I submitted was for $1250 and they told me there was no way in hell they could sell them for less than $1325. 

[beanstalk]

I got a $1250 from musiciansadvocate.com on ebay.

Are there much differences between the XLII and the XLS?

Working on a straight up trade for the Ho's+Peluso for a set. Hopefully it will go through.

Whoa, is that for a factory sealed matched pair?  Those bastards!  The offer I submitted was for $1250 and they told me there was no way in hell they could sell them for less than $1325. 

That's for 2 factory sealed singles.

[Bdifr78]

I got a $1250 from musiciansadvocate.com on ebay.

Are there much differences between the XLII and the XLS?

Working on a straight up trade for the Ho's+Peluso for a set. Hopefully it will go through.

Whoa, is that for a factory sealed matched pair?  Those bastards!  The offer I submitted was for $1250 and they told me there was no way in hell they could sell them for less than $1325. 

That's for 2 factory sealed singles.

Still majorly sweet!

[TNJazz]

If I were you I'd skip the new crop of 414's and find yourself a couple of the older EB's.  (Not the "P48" model though.)  They can be had for anywhere from $500-700 apiece on Ebay.  The original EB's were the best sounding "late model" 414 by a long shot.

The current line is..good.  The silver EB's are better than good, even the ones with the teflon capsules.

Dirk

[jeromejello]

If I were you I'd skip the new crop of 414's and find yourself a couple of the older EB's.  (Not the "P48" model though.)  They can be had for anywhere from $500-700 apiece on Ebay.  The original EB's were the best sounding "late model" 414 by a long shot.

The current line is..good.  The silver EB's are better than good, even the ones with the teflon capsules.

Dirk

but no subcards mon... the subs rule 

[TNJazz]

but no subcards mon... the subs rule 

 

I'd rather have a good sounding mic in general.

[RebelRebel]

If I were you I'd skip the new crop of 414's and find yourself a couple of the older EB's.  (Not the "P48" model though.)  They can be had for anywhere from $500-700 apiece on Ebay.  The original EB's were the best sounding "late model" 414 by a long shot.

The current line is..good.  The silver EB's are better than good, even the ones with the teflon capsules.

Dirk

Yep, the older EB had the ck12, the extremely desirable "brass" hand-made CK12 capsule .. The CK12 capsule is considered by many to be the single most important factor contributing to the sound of these microphones. AKG was never able to recreate the magic of that particular capsule design

That being said, I need two of those brass capsules to frankenstein my 426. If someone has a pair of original caps laying around, holler back.

[Bdifr78]

How do you know if one of the older models has the CK12.  From ebay auctions, I can see that usually they state that in the description.  Are the EBs the only ones that had them?  Or is there a date range that the ULS had them?

[RebelRebel]

How do you know if one of the older models has the CK12.  From ebay auctions, I can see that usually they state that in the description.  Are the EBs the only ones that had them?  Or is there a date range that the ULS had them?

Just the EB(im pretty sure), and not all of the ebs had them..just the older ones. Some of the newer EBs have the teflon/mylar cap.

[TNJazz]

Yes, only up to the EB models (not the P48 EB's though) and only the first run or so.  They switched to the teflon capsule soon after the introduction of this mic.  The brass CK12 capsule is sort of a "holy grail" for mic lovers, although just like anything else there were plenty of crappy sounding brass CK12 capsules.  So getting one is only half the battle...I know a couple of folks who have paid dearly for brass CK12's and been sorely disappointed.

Even with the teflon capsule though, the 414EB typically runs rings around the current crop of AKG 414's.  (sorry 414 XLS/ULS owners, but it *is* the generally accepted truth...)

[Bdifr78]

Even with the teflon capsule though, the 414EB typically runs rings around the current crop of AKG 414's.  (sorry 414 XLS/ULS owners, but it *is* the generally accepted truth...)

Could you go into a little more detail around this.  Cause I could see myself switching to the EB, and eventually getting the ak43s for subcards...somewhere down the road.

[TNJazz]

Start here:

http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/story%20of%20the%20akg%20c414.htm

"Better" is always subjective, but in multiple shootouts most people have preferred the EB's over the newer versions.  I hear a difference, for sure.  Maybe it's the transformers?  (gotta love em!)