Topic: ADK-TL versus AKG414XLS comp

[SmokinJoe]

Link to 16/44 flac file with sources flipping A/B every 15 seconds.
http://www.archive.org/details/sethyac2010-02-20_adk_akg_comp

attached is a "readme.txt" file to go with it.  Same text is pasted below here:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is my attempt at a good comparision between ADK-TLs and AKG414B-XLS mics.
I don't claim it to be absolutely scientific, but I think it's a reasonably accurate.
I believe the mics are 90% of the difference in this comp, and the other 10% is
uncontrolled minutia.

I own both sets of mics, and I try to be an impartial judge.

Do yourself a favor... listen to the WHOLE sample, or at least half.  Don't listen
to 1 minute, draw immediate conclusions and rant about them.

The artist is "Seth Yacacone Band".
The song is "Chunky Baby Crap Brown Haggis on Toast".
Recorded at The Stone Church, Newmarket, NH  2010/02/20

The two signal chains are:
- ADK-TL      > silvers > V3 > analog  > Busman Tmod R4 (24/48) (Joe's rig)
- AKG414B-XLS > silvers > V3 > SPDIF   > R44 (24/96)            (Ted's rig)

Both raw samples were:
- Recorded cardiod pattern, DIN, about 10' from stage, at the same height,
  clamped to the same overhead I-beam, side-by-side, so the ADKs are about
  6 inches Left of Center, and the AKGs are about 6 inches Right of center.
  There is a mono PA stack to the Left and Right.  I think we are picking up
  about half PA and half directly from on-stage instruments and amps.
- aligned/leveled in Audacity as best as I could, no EQ, compression, or effects.
- resampled/dithered to 16/44 using "ssrc_hp --bits 16 --rate 44100 --dither 3 --pdf 2"
- run through a script which basically does "shntool split" and "shntool join"
  in 15 second intervals while alternating the samples.

I think running V3s in both cases is important in making this an accurate comp.
I've run SPDIF/Analog simultaneously out of my V3 into my R4 and MR1 several times,
and I've done A/B comparisions of that variable and I really can't hear a noticable
difference, assuming the device you go into has a reasonably good A/D. Therefore,
I believe the mics are 90% of the difference in this comp, and the other 10%
is uncontrolled minutia.

The samples alternate every 15 seconds like so:
00:00 - 00:15 ADK-TL source
                                    00:15 - 00:30 AKG-414 source
00:30 - 00:45 ADK-TL source
                                    00:45 - 01:00 AKG-414 source
xx:00 - xx:15 ADK-TL source
                                    xx:15 - xx:30 AKG-414 source
xx:30 - xx:45 ADK-TL source
                                    xx:15 - xx:30 AKG-414 source

My conclusions... There is a difference in flavor, but neither is distinctly "better."
The ADK's have a presence hump in the upper end which tends to make the cymbals
sizzle a bit more.  Whether this is good or bad is a matter of opinion.  I expect the
AKG's are probably more "accurate".  When I listen to the alternating source, in a
few spots when it switches from AKG>ADK I feel like I just dug the wax out of my ears.
In other cases, when it switches from ADK>AKG I consider it an improvement in
"tightness".  In other cases, I don't detect a transition.  It depends on what the
predominant instruments are in the mix at that moment.

Joe Bouchard, aka SmokinJoe. 3/1/2010.

[SmokinJoe]

On a related note, here is a sample comparing the ADK-TLs to AKG481s, although that had different pres, so it's a bit of an apples/oranges comparison.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/kc9yao

[Jimna]

cool!   cant wait to give this a listen at home, thanks joe!

[SmokinJoe]

Anyone got any comments?  I think spcyrfc listened to it and snatched the ADKs in the yard sale soon thereafter. 

[Neilyboy]

Ill get the cans out tonight... my speakers suck

Neil

[rastasean]

Anyone done serious listening to see what they can determine from this? The ADK TL's look nice, real nice.

[Jimna]

I am living proof that ADK TL's are the tittays!   I will be buried with mine.


jus sayin

[kirk97132]

Without even listening I knew the ADK's would hold their own no problem.  I'm with Jimna, for whatever reason, ADK mic's are one of THE most underrated mic's IMHO and a great bargain.  I ran my A51s against a freinds 414's and I think you'd be hard pressed to figure out which is which on this particular recording. 

[Jimna]

The only advantage I see the 414's have over the TL's is a sub-card cap and they are lighter to carry around.

[rastasean]

The only advantage I see the 414's have over the TL's is a sub-card cap and they are lighter to carry around.

I know many people will disagree but that's a real nice statement to hear because it means people who audio record PA musical performances don't necessarily need to spend that much money and buy the 414s. Now if you're building a recording studio, the 414s may be something certain people want to own, but then again it may be hard to distinguish the difference between the two.

[Jimna]

but then again it may be hard to distinguish the difference between the two.

thats what I am saying.   Check out my LMA list for lots and lots of recordings.

[Gutbucket]

Missed this when it was new and the download links are now expired.  Any chance you can re-up them SmokinJoe?  As a ADK-TL user I'd love to give this a listen.

[asobriquet]

Hey, Joe, I'd like to be able check this comp out as well.

Thanks.

[SmokinJoe]

Just saw your comments.  I'll see if I can find the file and upload it again.

[Chuck]

I missed it the first time around too. I'd love to hear it.