Topic: best budget mics: AKG-214 stereo kit

[burris]

Just saw these even though they have been out for a couple years, but I think these are the best budget mics available.  It's a single sided 414, which is a great mic.   At $1000 or less for the stereo kit with elastic suspensions, its a great deal and a lot cheaper than Neumann SKM-184 (but bigger and heavier.)  You can't get better sound without spending more (and it would be arguably better) and I doubt you can get as good for less.  Costs about the same as, but sounds far better than, Chinese white label mics when you factor in the fancy cables and deck mods that people mate them to.  One pair of great cardioids beats a set of three mediocre capsules any day.  The best opamps can't make up for poor input.  Unlike your deck, these will remain excellent mics for decades.

(no, I don't own any AKG mics or stock but if I were starting out and didn't have the dough for Neumann, Schoeps, or DPA I'd get the 214s)

[NOLAfishwater]

Just saw these even though they have been out for a couple years, but I think these are the best budget mics available.  It's a single sided 414, which is a great mic.   At $1000 or less for the stereo kit with elastic suspensions, its a great deal and a lot cheaper than Neumann SKM-184 (but bigger and heavier.)  You can't get better sound without spending more (and it would be arguably better) and I doubt you can get as good for less.  Costs about the same as, but sounds far better than, Chinese white label mics when you factor in the fancy cables and deck mods that people mate them to.  One pair of great cardioids beats a set of three mediocre capsules any day.  The best opamps can't make up for poor input.  Unlike your deck, these will remain excellent mics for decades.

(no, I don't own any AKG mics or stock but if I were starting out and didn't have the dough for Neumann, Schoeps, or DPA I'd get the 214s)

save up a couple hundred extra and pick up a nice set of used 414XLS. that way you can have 5 patterns as opposed to only cardiod.

[burris]

I think $1000 is already pushing the limit for "budget" but most importantly I don't think multiple patterns are all that important.  Especially for people with no mics and a limited budget.  It's the siren song of 3 or 4 patterns that cause people to buy mediocre mics when they (and the people who listen to the recordings) would be better served by one good pair of cardioids.

[newplanet7]

Have you heard them yet?

FWIW BVAZ on here runs them.
He said his phish tapes didn't come out great.
Multiple shows at different venues too.

Also Neil uses them I do believe. Neilyboy

[NOLAfishwater]

$1200 for this used matched stereo set of 414xlii  http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gearslutz-secondhand-gear-classifieds/548976-fs-akg-414-xl-ii-matched-pair-1200-a.html

you have to sign up on their forum to be able to view the second hand classifieds

[newplanet7]

^^^

I think $1000 is already pushing the limit for "budget" but most importantly I don't think multiple patterns are all that important.  Especially for people with no mics and a limited budget.  It's the siren song of 3 or 4 patterns that cause people to buy mediocre mics when they (and the people who listen to the recordings) would be better served by one good pair of cardioids.

This I do agree with 100%

[ero3030]

1000 bucks is'nt low budget.  heard/ran plenty of sub 700, and even sub 500 mics that performed very well.  u have to do alot of comps from diff sources/venues.  YOU have to make the dission based what u hear, not brand or what your friends have. IMO of course.  ed

[illconditioned]

For audience recording I think you'll be better off with a small diaphragm cardioid.


I think it is hard to go wrong with Beyerdynamanic MC930 stereo pair.  What are they now, $800 or so?  That is a nice price for a new, matched, set of mics, with great quality.  I'm still using these after many years of taping and have no complaints.


The best deal for a budget set is something like a used pair of SP C4, if you can get them for $200 that is really a deal.


  Richard

[darby]

For audience recording I think you'll be better off with a small diaphragm cardioid.

having owned a pair of 414s for 3 years...
I got to the point where I really didn't care for the large diaphragm sound when doing far field recording

I won't even suggest alternatives, because that's up to personal taste 

[kirk97132]

At a grand you can find a pair of SKM 184 mics.  And I don't really think that $1000 is a budget mic. 

[flipp]

For LDs, the recent ADK A51 eBay specials can NOT be beaten - 10% the price of the ADKs you mention.

but your ears may prefer something different

[MarkE]

I owned some 414's for a few years, I loved the LD sound. and the extra patterns were "fun". Taping the same band with different patterns and comparing, etc.. I think the 214's would be great, but I agree about saving the extra couple hundred bu ks for the 3 extra patters... Blumlein was may favorite. In the right space this patters is excellent.

I kinda miss my 414'a, I like them better than my 4022's *gasp*
MarkE

[airbladder]

There are lots of great mics out there but if I were you I would go with an established performer, don't try something new.  For under 1k you can akg 460s, akg 480s, mbho 603s,  or (you could buy my) neumann km184s to name a few.  These are mics that people buy and keep for years because they are good at recording concerts.  You are not doing something that hasn't been done before.  Look everyones suggestions on archive.org and see what you like, then put up an ISO post in the yard sale.  These days it's a buyers market so you should get a good deal.

[GDfan]

Just saw these even though they have been out for a couple years, but I think these are the best budget mics available.  It's a single sided 414, which is a great mic.   At $1000 or less for the stereo kit with elastic suspensions, its a great deal and a lot cheaper than Neumann SKM-184 (but bigger and heavier.)  You can't get better sound without spending more (and it would be arguably better) and I doubt you can get as good for less.  Costs about the same as, but sounds far better than, Chinese white label mics when you factor in the fancy cables and deck mods that people mate them to.  One pair of great cardioids beats a set of three mediocre capsules any day.  The best opamps can't make up for poor input.  Unlike your deck, these will remain excellent mics for decades.

(no, I don't own any AKG mics or stock but if I were starting out and didn't have the dough for Neumann, Schoeps, or DPA I'd get the 214s)

you can find these for around 650-700 a pair on Ebay. they are a very nice mic. I made some great recordings with them. However for OTS taping they are lacking. if you are going to be in a smaller venue and close to stage they are a excellent choice.
For any of the larger venues and if you are in a tapers section by the sbd they will be lacking in detail and not as desirable as some of the other mics mentioned here.

[Belexes]

These are a great deal: http://www.busmanaudio.com/bsc1.html

$450 and you get 4 capsule choices. Not LD's I know.