Topic: How hot is the output on Avantone CK-1's ?

[sanaka]

Avantone spec page says 15mv/Pa, which relatively seems a nice strong output, say halfway between DPA 4011 at 10mv and AKG 480 at 20mv (note that I am NOT implying that that signal hotness=sound quality: I know AKG & DPA are better than Avantone). I usually record fairly quiet "sensitive" unamplified acoustic stuff and getting good levels without cranking gain way up and into the noisy zone has been a problem in the past. I just got an R-44, whose preamps I think blow away anything I've had before (various cheap mixing boards), but still, they have around 56dB gain versus 72dB for say Sound Devices (which I can't afford). So a nice hot mic signal would be a big help. If I had $2800 laying around, I'd get a pair of Sennheiser MKH40 (25mv/Pa x 12dB noise!!) right now As it is, $300 for a pair of Avantone is looking mighty sweet, and I'm leaning that way over Busman (9 or 10 mv) just on the output strength too.

Do folks have opinions about whether the Avantones seem "hot" or not? Thanks!

Peace,
Sanaka

[Roving Sign]

Certainly not as bangin' as a 480 -- but nice a nice strong signal. I generally run the -20db pads on my pre for onstage use...

Note - the CK1s sold by the ebay retailer "AAA Audio" come with only the Cardioid caps lately and sell for 99 dolllars...

[sanaka]

Thanks RS. As you can see I'm talking myself into these    The three (well, 6) caps is definitely a big draw for me as well - Does AAA sell them this way too? Where's the good place to pick up some Avantones (assuming there are none on the Yard Sale)?

Peace,
Sanaka

[newscane]

I got mine from Front End Audio when they were first coming out... August 2007 or so.

[sanaka]

Thanks newscane

How do you like yours? I saw Front End, but it was the weekend and I was impatient, so I ordered a pair from Pro Audio Solutions in Nashville on Saturday. Can't wait, my rig is finally filling out!

Peace,
Sanaka

[rsimms3]

I have a set of Busman Modded CK-1s for sale.  Check my signature for the link.  The hypers are really nice and get lots of thumbs up from myself and others that have used them.

[newscane]

Thanks newscane

How do you like yours? I saw Front End, but it was the weekend and I was impatient, so I ordered a pair from Pro Audio Solutions in Nashville on Saturday. Can't wait, my rig is finally filling out!

Peace,
Sanaka

I like mine.  My tapes from one local club are pretty decent... a little iffy-er at another, but that's more of the result of venue acoustics.  My DMB tapes have been pretty decent... nothing on the scale of a DPA or Schoeps (and I've sometimes been on the same stand as those), but decent.  I'd say the Avantones have proved to be a very good value!

[jnorman34]

i just got through testing the CK1s against pairs of AT4051s, KM184s, and MC930s.  the 184s had the lowest signal level, the other three pairs were comparable in output level strength.  the avantones did pretty well against some pretty stiff competition in my testing - a pretty good value, IMO.

[sanaka]

Thanks!

i just got my CK-1's in the mail Thursday night! Tried them yesterday just to make sure they were all working, and they are, so I'm stoked! I plugged my PZM's into the other 2 channels of the R-44 and recorded double stereo. The Avantones are defintiely hotter than the PZM's which are 7mv/Pa. So that's good. Only -T type thing I noticed on the Avantones is the pad and rolloff switches feel very flim-flam, and they even rattle a little if you tap the mic bodies. But I guess I won't complain for $150 per mic!

Peace,
Sanaka

[sanaka]

Hey jnorman, thanks for the info about your testing.

Here's some data from Rycote's microphone database:

Neumann KM184
AT4051a
Beyerdynamic MC 930

It shows the Neumann KM184 output at 15mv/Pa, the same as Avantone's spec for the CK-1. The 4051 shows 20mV, and the Beyer MC 930 clocks in at 30mV!!

For the same input/gain, this would suggest roughly equal output for CK-1 and KM184, then pretty wildly different, hotter, outputs for the other two, which doesn't seem to track with your results. I am in truth a serious noob as far as experiencing lots of different mics. Obviously the numbers don't tell the story of different mics' character and flavor, but is this also the case as far as signal output strength? I.e. maybe the test tones from which sensitivity specs are derived don't reflect the output given real world sounds and music?

In any case I am more and more encouraged about my CK-1'S 

Peace,
Sanaka