Topic: New Inexpensive Chinese made Small Diaphragm AKG

[momule]

Chinese AKG

[boojum]

ZZSounds is selling this same item for US$129 a copy.  It is the going low price with three vendors.  Why are you so sure it is a "China copy?"  Ooops!  Not on the AKG site.  That could be a reason.   

Ooops!  I followed a link from ProAudio and it took me to the AKG website with the info on the P 150.  What's up?  Reputable vendors are selling this for US$130 a copy?  I am now really puzzled while you think it is a "china copy."

Cheers

[modmike]

I don't think he's calling it a "china copy".
It's a low end AKG branded mic that's made in China.

[boojum]

Gotcha.  Is AKG becoming the MallWart of the European mic companies?

[kuuan]

pretty much all the electronics I have bought these last years, moslty japanese brands, if Panasonic, Ricoh, Nikon, you name it, were made in China. So why should not finally also mics of reputable brands be manufactured in China?

[china_rider]

I have never seen the SD Chinese mics from AKG, but have played with some of the large diaphragm perception series.  Mostly in guitar center.    I went to one shop when they first came out and asked the sales person about them.  He would not recommend them (and GC recommends almost anything) and mentioned many had tried to be returned but Arizona's law put microphones in the same area as medical supplies since you are possibly breathing into them.  He said many tried to return because they did not think they were up to AKG quality but by law the store could not take them back once used.

In looking at the new model it seems they are fixed cap.  If you are looking to get multiple patterns in the future I would say it is better to spend a bit extra cash up front  for 460s or 480s and then add the caps later.  In the long run it's a better deal and you will be recording with a proven product.

[momule]

The entire perception line is china made mic's. Thats why they cost 1/3 of anything else AKG makes.
Kcmule and I ran the perception 100's once.  not bad not good.  he has them sitting on a closet shelf now.