Topic: AKG 414 ULS vs. EB

[johnw]

There are several different 414s going around. Looking at reponse curves these two seem to be well suited for our purposes and are priced similarly used (this is for a none CK-12 capsule EB). Is one better suited than the other? I know at least one regular member here has a pair of the ULS.

[utahtaper]

The EB's response is mostly suited for vocals. The TL's are supposed to have the best sound, but supposedly the nickel diaphrams make them hard to match for stereo use. The ULS series is a pretty good choice for taping.

[Nick's Picks]

as I understand it, and I dont mean to contradict anyone, but the TLIIs are the only microphones that AKG sells as a matched pair.  They are designed with femail vocals in mind.
I dont know anything about the EB.
The B-ULS are just the straight up cap, nothing fancy.  FLAT AKG responce.  Same capsules you'd find in the c422 or c426.

[utahtaper]

as I understand it, and I dont mean to contradict anyone, but the TLIIs are the only microphones that AKG sells as a matched pair.  They are designed with femail vocals in mind.
I dont know anything about the EB.
The B-ULS are just the straight up cap, nothing fancy.  FLAT AKG responce.  Same capsules you'd find in the c422 or c426.

Woops, you are right. I had the two crossed. The TL's,  although can come factory matched, are best suited for vocals and not taping. I remember reading somewhere that the EB's  sound the best but because of the diaphram being nickel or something they won't stay "matched" over time. The ULS has a different diaphram altogether and is best suited for taping due to the flat response curve. Thx for the heads up Nick.

[F.O.Bean]

whats the EB??

thanks,

bean

[johnw]

According to the AKG site: the TL has a "frequency response above 4 kHz is the same as that of the classic C 12 with a slight high-frequency boost." And "the C 414 B-TL II/ST is a matched pair of C 414 B-TL IIs for stereo recording."

The EBs were discontinued (in the 80s?) and I believe were replaced with the ULS. I've looked at the freq curves on the AKG site, but the gifs are pretty hard to read. It looks like there may be a fairly flat response on axis and a real bumpy one off axis. I say this because it appears as though there are two lines drawn for each pattern except omni.

The XL looks like a newer version of the TL with a "presence boost" and the XLS looks like a newer version of the ULS. Apparently both were made using captured alien technology and have fancy blinking lights that indicate pattern, clipping, off-axis, etc. I think they also have another pattern (maybe sub card). I wouldn't be surprised if they come with cupholders, air conditioning and a force field. Both are available in stereo pairs.

[johnw]

Also the EB was available in 2 models. The first was the EB which had 12-48V phantom and the older brass diaphragm like the C12. THe second was the EB/p48 which was 48V phantom only and had a newer diaphragm.

[utahtaper]

It just takes a little homework

[rockumal]

I had a thread like this going on the Oade board back when (as I'm a current B-ULS user)... lemme go see if I can find it

Ok, here it is... well this is sorta releated...

http://tinyurl.com/2zjfn

[Brian Skalinder]

New post in the Archival Info forum detailing the differences between the different 414 model designations.  Thanks to JAH for the post!

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=18720