Gefell M20 or the AKG CK61/63? better one?

[ninjadave]

hello, looking for advice, might be moving to the new active options on one of these two mics, wondering if the price diff is worth it....i've heard some recordings with both, they sound a bit similar but it was diff styles of music and locations. i know Naiant has an AKG active, he doesn't produce the Gefell right? just Nick at Nbox does those? i know the cables are more, but its not that much more.....

is the M20 that much better? i've gotten quotes around $500 for the CK61 pair and $1450 for a pair of M20s. 3x the price, means 3x better? not sure.....anyone know where to find these cheaper if at all?

i'm looking to go mics>active cable>tinybox>sony M-10.

Probably going to sell my milabs and PMD661 if i do this....i really like the mics but getting tired of the bigger footprint and bodies on the Milabs.....i mostly stealth tape......tough with all that gear + interconnects....

any help or advice is appreciated. thanks.

[cashandkerouac]

the Gefells are great mics, but so are the AKGs.  regardless of price some prefer Gefells, others prefer AKGs.  it's apples and oranges, but this is my opinion... unless you really prefer the sounds of the Gefells get the AKGs and use the money you save to buy more concert tickets so you can put that new quipment to good use.  :-)

[JimmieC]

Or save the extra money for nice preamp (e.g. Neve Portico 5012, my newest obsession). 

[page]

I think the Gefells are better mics, period. I'm not a fan of the AKG house sound and that sizzle on the top end. So while I like the Gefells more, I'm not sure they are 3x better. 2x better, sure, but 3x better is a stretch.

[ninjadave]

thanks for the input.

if i can get a setup where i can eliminate the bodies, i might just keep the milabs. going to check with Jon at Naiant to see what can be done if anything. i think the Gefells are comparable to what i have but at considerable more price to move to an active Gefell setup......might not be worth it right now, esp if i can get the bodies out and not degrade the sound of the Milabs.....

more later if that comes to reality. thanks.

[ts]

the Gefells are great mics, but so are the AKGs.  regardless of price some prefer Gefells, others prefer AKGs.  it's apples and oranges, but this is my opinion... unless you really prefer the sounds of the Gefells get the AKGs and use the money you save to buy more concert tickets so you can put that new quipment to good use.  :-)

/\ 

[acidjack]

Really a personal preference thing. Some swear by their Gefells, others not so much (same being true of most other brands).  I think it is hard to beat the AKG line for the combo of quality and value.

FWIW I ran Gefell hypers for a month and really did not like them.  Quality of the build was outstanding, just sound-wise it didn't work for me with the combo of gear I had.  I've run a lot of different brands of gear, including AKGs (though not the CKx line) but even having said that, it's a little hard for anyone to tell someone else what to get when they don't know their ears or their source material.

For stealthing, can't hurt to start with AKGs. They're a well-respected brand, the quality is good, and if you hate them, they're easy to unload because tons of people have them and they're a good value. Gefells are a bit more of a "specialty" product.

IMHO neither of them are as good as the Milabs you already own, but....

[it-goes-to-eleven]

The body of the Gefell features electrical components which influence the sound.  Without those components the actives are unlikely to sound the same.

[schoepsnbox]

The body of the Gefell features electrical components which influence the sound.  Without those components the actives are unlikely to sound the same.

Your right they sound nothing alike MY actives sound better!!  Have your actives made it out of your basement yet?

[larrysellers]

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Your right they sound nothing alike MY actives sound better!!  Have your actives made it out of your basement yet?

You mean Bill's active buffer design, right?

His design is simpler than the Schoeps buffer circuit.  It is easier to build, but the distortion is higher.

I think most people with Gefell's want them to sound like Gefells, not something "nothing alike".

In what ways would you say it sounds better than Gefell bodies?  Is there a full body comp somewhere?

[schoepsnbox]

Your right they sound nothing alike MY actives sound better!!  Have your actives made it out of your basement yet?

You mean Bill's active buffer design, right?

His design is simpler than the Schoeps buffer circuit.  It is easier to build, but the distortion is higher.

I think most people with Gefell's want them to sound like Gefells, not something "nothing alike".

In what ways would you say it sounds better than Gefell bodies?  Is there a full body comp somewhere?

I don't need comps to tell me what sounds good..where are your actives so we can compare your design if you think yours are so great?
Bill has made some of the best recordings my ears have ever heard and if I'm not mistaken you even have a bill box..you must not think it sounds good since you sold all your other pres and kept it..you want some comps..send me your gefells and I'll be happy to make some comps of a concert and not a cho cho train going down the track..Brian please keep your comments to yourself..unless you are willing to loan you gefells for a comp then your opinions don't mean shit!

[willndmb]

Good luck on finding naiant actives for the akg mics right now
There is a thread with like 8 or 9 people looking for them
You didn't mention it so I am not sure if you are aware up nick has akg actives too

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Your right they sound nothing alike MY actives sound better!!  Have your actives made it out of your basement yet?

You mean Bill's active buffer design, right?

His design is simpler than the Schoeps buffer circuit.  It is easier to build, but the distortion is higher.

I think most people with Gefell's want them to sound like Gefells, not something "nothing alike".

In what ways would you say it sounds better than Gefell bodies?  Is there a full body comp somewhere?

I don't need comps to tell me what sounds good..where are your actives so we can compare your design if you think yours are so great?
Bill has made some of the best recordings my ears have ever heard and if I'm not mistaken you even have a bill box..you must not think it sounds good since you sold all your other pres and kept it..you want some comps..send me your gefells and I'll be happy to make some comps of a concert and not a cho cho train going down the track..Brian please keep your comments to yourself..unless you are willing to loan you gefells for a comp then your opinions don't mean shit!

The topic was the sound of the Gefell bodies.

You want to claim that Bill's design sounds better than full Gefell bodies?  Cool - most of us would like to hear those recordings.  Or even the specifics of how you think it sounds better, regardless of distortion levels.

But to launch into yet another personal attack and tirade, making all sorts of demands that I send you my gear, that I not post my opinions.  Grow up.

Like anyone else here, I am entitled to post my comments and opinons.  Especially in threads where people are asking for, you know, opinions on gear purchases.  I have made and posted as many gear comps as anyone on this site, perhaps more.

The RMOD? I haven't run it in many, many years. I mainly run a psp2, usually with full bodies. I'd sell my RMOD if there was a market for it, and it had some value. But few people want RMODs or nboxes since the PFA came out. 

[schoepsnbox]

Your right they sound nothing alike MY actives sound better!!  Have your actives made it out of your basement yet?

You mean Bill's active buffer design, right?

His design is simpler than the Schoeps buffer circuit.  It is easier to build, but the distortion is higher.

I think most people with Gefell's want them to sound like Gefells, not something "nothing alike".

In what ways would you say it sounds better than Gefell bodies?  Is there a full body comp somewhere?

I don't need comps to tell me what sounds good..where are your actives so we can compare your design if you think yours are so great?
Bill has made some of the best recordings my ears have ever heard and if I'm not mistaken you even have a bill box..you must not think it sounds good since you sold all your other pres and kept it..you want some comps..send me your gefells and I'll be happy to make some comps of a concert and not a cho cho train going down the track..Brian please keep your comments to yourself..unless you are willing to loan you gefells for a comp then your opinions don't mean shit!

The topic was the sound of the Gefell bodies.

You want to claim that Bill's design sounds better than full Gefell bodies?  Cool - most of us would like to hear those recordings.  Or even the specifics of how you think it sounds better, regardless of distortion levels.

But to launch into yet another personal attack and tirade, making all sorts of demands that I send you my gear, that I not post my opinions.  Grow up.

Like anyone else here, I am entitled to post my comments and opinons.  Especially in threads where people are asking for, you know, opinions on gear purchases.  I have made and posted as many gear comps as anyone on this site, perhaps more.

The RMOD? I haven't run it in many, many years. I mainly run a psp2, usually with full bodies. I'd sell my RMOD if there was a market for it, and it had some value. But few people want RMODs or nboxes since the PFA came out.

Not that I feel the need to explain myself to you..I know for a fact that you have continued to paint the actives in a bad way..it's quite obvious that you are pissed about us taking it to completion and of the cables that are out there not one person is unhappy with them tho you continually shit all over them..you sir need to grow up..I have also been told that you have talked all sorts of shit about our products via Pms so you call yourself a man?  Do me favor and go shit in your hat..
Good day sir..no more from me!