Topic: first pair of condensors, AKG c1000s vs. Studio Projects C4

[peetri11]

hey everyone,
  i'm looking to buy my first pair of condensors, and i was wondering if anyone has an opinion about AKG c1000s vs. Studio Projects C4.  that's about the price range i can afford right now.  i'm leaning toward the akg's just based on what i've read online, but i figured i'd ask you knowledgeable souls before i made any decisions.  any help is greatly appreciated!
thanks,
pat

[bgalizio]

Listen to a variety of sources from archive.org. FWIW, I prefer the C4's. They were great first mics for me!

[Oysterhead00]

I have Superlux SMK-H8K cardoids that I LOVE and can be purchased brand new on eBay for under $125 including shipping that come with the mics, wind screens, shockmounts and a (crappy) T-Bar.  The only draw back is getting Hyper or Omni caps is a pain and they're hard to find and relatively expensive (a pair of caps is more than the whole kit).

The Studio Projects C-4s are great and versitile mics that I've never used, but everybody here raves about them and if you check some sigs, there are people with thousands of dollars invested in their primary set of mics that still keep a set of C4s because they like them so much.  They've been popping up in the Yard Sale forum for about $200 for a set lately and that would probably be your best bet.

I looked into the c1000s because I knew AKGs were great quality and it had the switchable modes on it, but after asking around I found that people that had them wish they were versitile and were looking to upgrade....just asking around about them I had several people offer to sell me theres which isn't a good sign

I'll bet that by this time tomorrow, you'll have 10+ posts singing the praises of the C4s.  Also like bgalizio said, go to the LMA and download a bunch of shows (or just single tracks if you're bandwidth challenged) and give a listen.  If you are new to taping and won't be using any kind of Pre-Amp or A/D converter, look for sources that are similar just Mics > Phantom Power > Recorder to get the most accurate comparison to what you could expect.

[dgodwin]

The advantage to the C1000s is that they can be powered with internal 9v batteries.  Most of the other condensors need phantom power, so that means buying a phantom power supply ($130ish) or a mic preamp ($200+) in addition to the microphones unless you have a "all-in-one" recorder that supplies phantom power, etc. 

[Oysterhead00]

If you go the AKG route, just saw this on the Retail Space forum:

Usually $400 for the pair, looks like you can get them for $340 with the deal....but it expires TODAY at noon.

http://micsupply.com/akgmic.htm

 August 29, 2006
PLEASE TELL ALL OF YOUR TAPER FRIENDS....
_____________________________________________

AKG INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE
AKG is leaving Nashville and heading to sunny CA
15% off listed prices at the
AKG product page at MicSupply.com

Orders must be placed by 12 Noon east coast time
on Wednesday, August 30th.
Any back ordered items will still apply
__________________________________________
Festival season is winding down
in most parts of the country...
Sept and Oct can be very windy

Did you experience any wind releated rumble on your recordings this summer?
Solve that problem with Lightwave or Rycote windscreen products
__________________________________________________________
All orders must be called in toll free - (866) 894-3721
____________________________________________

[rdflash]

If you go the AKG route, just saw this on the Retail Space forum:

Usually $400 for the pair, looks like you can get them for $340 with the deal....but it expires TODAY at noon.

http://micsupply.com/akgmic.htm

 August 29, 2006
PLEASE TELL ALL OF YOUR TAPER FRIENDS....
_____________________________________________

AKG INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE
AKG is leaving Nashville and heading to sunny CA
15% off listed prices at the
AKG product page at MicSupply.com

Orders must be placed by 12 Noon east coast time
on Wednesday, August 30th.
Any back ordered items will still apply
__________________________________________
Festival season is winding down
in most parts of the country...
Sept and Oct can be very windy

Did you experience any wind releated rumble on your recordings this summer?
Solve that problem with Lightwave or Rycote windscreen products
__________________________________________________________
All orders must be called in toll free - (866) 894-3721
____________________________________________

i wouldnt go that route, they can be found here for waaaayyyy cheaper.

[dgodwin]

agreed  You can get a pair used for $175 or less without too much looking around

[rdflash]

agreed  You can get a pair used for $175 or less without too much looking around

ebay, they fetch 150 for a single mic over there usually.

[lbgspam]

WOW, I love that mics hold their value!
Well, if you don't calculate the loss in value of the $ over time

I paid like $300 for my pair akg c1000s like 10yrs ago

At the time I think they were like $300/EACH so it was a good deal for me

[peetri11]

thanks for all your input everyone
i have a mixer w/ phantom power so although the battery feature of the akg's would be nice for recording live sound in a more remote location, if the c4's are definately better that wouldn't be the deciding factor.   plan on using these mics both as a stereo pair for ambient sound as well as for various applications in a more studio setting, such as drum overheads, etc.  it sounds likes c4's are getting a lot of praise, lbgspam, how do you like your akg's?

[Brett S.]

This subject is always a debate and for good reasons.  Here is my $0.2!   

 I myself started off w/ the same question and limited budget,  and ultimatly went w/ oktava mc12's.  Which since almost day one I wanted to part with.  My taping days now are few and far between and a patch usually works. 
Still have the oktavas and want to upgrade, but w/ the time spent taping now it just doesn't make sense . Though if I would have originaly got the c100's I would be more content to still run a rig every now and then. 

IMO sp's, octavas, and some of the lower end mics don't have much of staying power(most owners upgrade)  but akg c100's do!!!(opinion) 

 I have heard and still continue to see them in use and pulling quality tapes, were the others?   I think akg c100's owners  have and and still have a good quality mic that is in use today......

[Brett S.]

I missed a few 0's I know  c1000

[lbgspam]

thanks for all your input everyone
i have a mixer w/ phantom power so although the battery feature of the akg's would be nice for recording live sound in a more remote location, if the c4's are definately better that wouldn't be the deciding factor.   plan on using these mics both as a stereo pair for ambient sound as well as for various applications in a more studio setting, such as drum overheads, etc.  it sounds likes c4's are getting a lot of praise, lbgspam, how do you like your akg's?

I LOVE them. For the money I think they can't be beat and have no interest in ever upgrading.  I mean not having to have a phantom power supply in a mic (but it will work with phantom if you want), how cool is that?

Tapers as a group are a little bit "pack mentality."

When my friend, who first got me into taping around 1992, first bought his AKG C1000s NO ONE was using them in the taper scene.  He bought them by going to a sound store and BLINDLY LISTENING to mics and he was shocked at how good a mic they were/are for the money.  Afterwards, at the time tapers had no idea what the mics were and were shocked when he would whip them out at a show.  I think he takes credit for introducing the taper scene to the idea of using AKG C1000s at shows. 

I always chuckle now when I think about how things have changed for the C1000s since I got my pair in ~1996 .  From confusion and disbelief at not getting one of the "standard taper mics", to "oh, ya, i know C1000s, solid mic" .  Judge for yourself.  Go do a BLIND listen test at your favorite music store. Let your ears not your eyes decide.

[peetri11]

well, after hours and hours of reading reviews, looking at specs, and listening to sources from the archive, i've decided to go with the c4's.  i was really leaning toward the akg c1000s for a while, but i liked the sound of the c4's a little more, there was a little more on the low end.  and i think it'll be nice to have the omni caps too.  thanks for everyone's input, and i'm sure i'll have a whole new stock of questions for you all as soon as i take these guys out for some action

i've got a mixer for phantom power/preamping, but i wonder how long it'll be before i throw down on something a little more portable.  anyone have any advice on a good/relatively inexpensive preamp option?

thanks agian everyone 
pat