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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: F.O.Bean on March 03, 2007, 03:43:56 AM

Title: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 03, 2007, 03:43:56 AM
I had to start a poll and see which model of the 414's everyone prefers and why.....Thanks in advance everyone! The reason I poll'd this is because someone PM'd me and said the ULS/TLII sound better than the newer XLS/XLII, so I had to get some other opinions and see what I can do...hopefully someone wants to switch for awhile and maybe for good, tho id like to just outright buy some 414's for the right price >:D Theyre really not as big as you'd think either, you can fit 2 ULS's into a pelican 1060 i believe :)

Thanks alot,
Bean
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: sygdwm on March 03, 2007, 02:20:09 PM
i would prefer the xls for the sub card pattern alone.
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: PH on March 03, 2007, 03:23:57 PM
The EB's are the best ones to get, but they are getting harder to find.
They have been out of production for a while now.

I like all of the varieties of this mic, it just sounds solid on most everything.
I picked up my pair off ebay for $1000. Already modded.
Great deal, be patient and those kind of deals are out there on these mics.

Cheers, Phil
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: Lil Kim Jong-Il on March 03, 2007, 03:32:58 PM
Already modded.

Anyone have or heard a straight up comp tape of the modded and stock versions?
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: Kindguy on March 04, 2007, 01:18:31 PM
Voted XLS. But I've only ran/owned XLS. I really liked them. Also the only mics I owned that sound fantastic XY.
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 04, 2007, 05:19:08 PM
Voted XLS. But I've only ran/owned XLS. I really liked them. Also the only mics I owned that sound fantastic XY.

agreed. jesse scott's recent RAQ recording was hypers/XY and it sounds like hypers DINa IMO. so spacious and full of sound :) I HATE XY with SD'd but with the 414's coincident is a beautiful thing
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 04, 2007, 06:16:07 PM
i would prefer the xls for the sub card pattern alone.

so it looks like the XLS's it is :) Now I am debating if I wanna sell the 480's to fund the purchase or just bite the bullet and buy some XLS's ??? Ideally I would like both the 480's and the 414 XLS's anyway so.........

Thanks for all of the ideas and suggestions guys! I appreciate all of the responses!

Bean
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: balou2 on March 05, 2007, 02:30:35 AM
i would prefer the xls for the sub card pattern alone.

so it looks like the XLS's it is :) Now I am debating if I wanna sell the 480's to fund the purchase or just bite the bullet and buy some XLS's ??? Ideally I would like both the 480's and the 414 XLS's anyway so.........

Thanks for all of the ideas and suggestions guys! I appreciate all of the responses!

Bean
Somebody's gettin' tax money back! ;D
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: ~~~> on March 05, 2007, 07:19:26 PM
Sure hope you don't buy gear based on a 14 to 4 vote.   ???  Surprise they all run the new ones.

Nashphil had the correct answer by the way.  Look at Gearslutz.  Read some reviews.  Read what Jim Williams has to say about the new 414's.  It ain't pretty.

JMO which ain't worth much.
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 05, 2007, 09:50:02 PM
Sure hope you don't buy gear based on a 14 to 4 vote.   ???  Surprise they all run the new ones.

Nashphil had the correct answer by the way.  Look at Gearslutz.  Read some reviews.  Read what Jim Williams has to say about the new 414's.  It ain't pretty.

JMO which ain't worth much.

nope, just wondered what most folks preferred and why. i have wanted that subcard option BAD for a LONG time anyway so......even if i used it once a year
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: spyder9 on March 06, 2007, 09:22:46 AM
Sure hope you don't buy gear based on a 14 to 4 vote.   ???  Surprise they all run the new ones.

Nashphil had the correct answer by the way.  Look at Gearslutz.  Read some reviews.  Read what Jim Williams has to say about the new 414's.  It ain't pretty.

JMO which ain't worth much.

Here's what they have to say at gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/search.php?searchid=3973899


A lot of good responses on the XLS over there.  Could you post the link for Jim Williams' opinion?
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: musicsherlock on March 06, 2007, 09:44:36 AM
Sure hope you don't buy gear based on a 14 to 4 vote.   ???  Surprise they all run the new ones.

Nashphil had the correct answer by the way.  Look at Gearslutz.  Read some reviews.  Read what Jim Williams has to say about the new 414's.  It ain't pretty.

JMO which ain't worth much.

Here's what they have to say at gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/search.php?searchid=3973899


A lot of good responses on the XLS over there.  Could you post the link for Jim Williams' opinion?

I'm not sure what Jim's opinion is on XLS vs. ULS... but I think he spoke highly of the teflon ring vs. brass...

found it: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/tree/browse_frm/thread/31e89207b5310d5b/5d364f98744f04d2?rnum=1&_done=%2Fgroup%2Frec.audio.pro%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fthread%2F31e89207b5310d5b%3Ftvc%3D1%26#doc_cfdee40b803a5c6a
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: jessedscott on March 06, 2007, 01:49:26 PM
Bean, it was hypers x,y, vert. sometime I run them horizontal x,y as well. Havn't tried the XLS series. I like the sound I get. very 'true' sound, imo. V3 adds a nice touch. Subcards would be nice. They handle real well up close as well.

split omni's I've made are some of my favorite recordings.

sample 1.  split 10ft. clamped to the stacks. in a bar. melow song, nice detail..

http://www.mediafire.com/?4nnlinjgmgd

sample 2. same config. more uptempo song..

http://www.mediafire.com/?0ywmwdmqhnd
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: spyder9 on March 06, 2007, 03:06:50 PM
I'd really like to try the XLS' with the Aerco out in front.  I bet it sounds ridiculously smooth........   8)
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: easy jim on March 06, 2007, 07:33:59 PM
I'd really like to try the XLS' with the Aerco out in front.  I bet it sounds ridiculously smooth........   8)

So far, that has been my impression, although I have only tried out the combo a couple times.
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: heikki on March 08, 2007, 08:34:38 AM

Ideally I would like both the 480's and the 414 XLS's anyway so.........


...the only way to go  8) 
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: kindms on March 08, 2007, 10:48:29 AM
We run the 414XLS/st and we have a set of 460's

The 414XLS/ST are a very nice set of mics. They are very sensitive. A few things not mentioned yet are they also offer:

Attenuation on the mic w/ 4 settings.
There is also several bass roll off settings ( I haven't used those at all yet)
They are supposed to be immune to RF

The only downside to running them is their size. They are definitely not a low profile setup. I love the way they sound. I still haven't run them enough since picking up the V3 but it is a very nice combo. We usually always run coincident unless I am feeling lazy.
Title: Re: AKG 414 ULS vs. XLS [Poll]
Post by: spreetaper on March 08, 2007, 12:14:12 PM
I run the Special Edition ULS 414's.. last pair that was handmade..
they sound good to me but what do i know