As part of their new line of very affordable C Series microphones – aimed at both first-time buyers and seasoned engineers who want solid utility mics in the studio – AKG has released the C151. It is a small diaphragm condenser (SDC) microphone that is perfect for all sorts of applications. The C151 has a 16 mm transformerless FET electret condenser capsule, a fixed cardioid polar pattern, a claimed frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and a max SPL of 147 dB. It requires +48V phantom power. The “pencil” body style is similar to that of many of the SDC mics on the market.
Like its siblings, the C104 and C114, the C151 was built with sustainability in mind. AKG uses 100 percent recycled metal for the body, and all packaging products and accessories were made to have minimal environmental impact. The machine work is very nice, the mic has a robust weight and feel in the hand, and the connections are solid. It seems like this mic was built to last a lifetime. It comes in a sturdy box, with a simple clip mic stand attachment.
I thought the C151, especially considering its price point, performed very well. I used it where one might typically use an SDC microphone: on acoustic guitar, percussion, and hi-hat. There was plenty of detail in each captured source, and the recordings held up to compression and EQ where needed. My favorite SDC is a Schoeps CMC 6. I felt like I was perhaps missing some of the richness and general depth that the CMC 6 brings to the party, but it’s a completely unfair comparison with the Schoeps costing almost ten times more than the C151. Even with other more expensive options at my disposal, I would gladly use the C151 for hi-hat and percussion recording and not worry about a drumstick giving it a whack! For those users who may only have a couple of mics at their disposal, the C151 is going to perform admirably for multiple sources. I even recorded some background vocals with it, and they were absolutely usable in my mix. For its quality of build and performance, I would probably guess that this mic costs in the $400 to $500 range, so I was shocked to learn what it sells for. Like the other mics in the C Series, the C151 outperforms its price tag, and as a utility mic for seasoned engineers, or a first microphone for those just starting out, it is a great option.