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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Pieteker on August 23, 2024, 11:30:13 AM

Title: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: Pieteker on August 23, 2024, 11:30:13 AM
I’ve heard some great tapes using the Rock edition.
They’re for sale here for a good price:
 https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/ (https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/)

How do they perform compared to CA-14, CA-11, or AT853?
Title: Re: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: beatkilla on August 23, 2024, 12:30:02 PM
They are extremely fragile.

I don’t recommend them at all.

AT 853 way more sturdy
Title: Re: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: Pieteker on August 23, 2024, 01:51:20 PM
Quote from: beatkilla on August 23, 2024, 12:30:02 PM
They are extremely fragile.

I don’t recommend them at all.

AT 853 way more sturdy

Good to know, thx.
Title: Re: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: stl_oni on August 23, 2024, 03:10:33 PM
Quote from: Pieteker on August 23, 2024, 11:30:13 AM
I’ve heard some great tapes using the Rock edition.
They’re for sale here for a good price:
 https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/ (https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/)

How do they perform compared to CA-14, CA-11, or AT853?

I used the older version (up to 2003) and that was great - you could not overload them. Sometime later they changed the caps and now they easily distort, even if you‘re recording with -20 db or less. If you use the A3 and the bass roll of (at 300hz), then they are fine, but the sound is very thin. That destroyed some otherwise great recordings in 2018/2019 that’s why I switched to the DPA 4061 and never looked back.
Title: Re: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: Pieteker on August 24, 2024, 08:14:26 AM
Quote from: stl_oni on August 23, 2024, 03:10:33 PM
Quote from: Pieteker on August 23, 2024, 11:30:13 AM
I’ve heard some great tapes using the Rock edition.
They’re for sale here for a good price:
 https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/ (https://soundman-hk.store/product/a3-adaptor-with-okm-ii-rock-microphone/)

How do they perform compared to CA-14, CA-11, or AT853?

I used the older version (up to 2003) and that was great - you could not overload them. Sometime later they changed the caps and now they easily distort, even if you‘re recording with -20 db or less. If you use the A3 and the bass roll of (at 300hz), then they are fine, but the sound is very thin. That destroyed some otherwise great recordings in 2018/2019 that’s why I switched to the DPA 4061 and never looked back.

Thanks! I will not buy them.
Title: Re: How good are the Soundman OKM II mics?
Post by: fotoralf.be on August 28, 2024, 07:12:41 AM
As others have said, they are rather fragile. On top of that, the foam tends to disintegrate within a year or two. I've always had free replacement oams from Soundman but it gets a little old with time.

For me they aren't very comfortable to wear. Either I push them into the ear so far that the little spikes hurt or they're constantly at the risk of falling out. My solution has been to incorporate a pair into a polystyrene head with silicon ears. Works nicely.

Then again, I don't record rock concerts.

Ralf