Marshall: MXL Pro Pac
reviewed by David Huber
Every once in a blue moon a deal on equipment comes along that grabs me by the neck and just says "I'm good, and I'm affordable...ya simply gotta buy me!" Recently, one of these little screamers took...
Gear Reviews
LDCs
Soundelux: E47 condenser microphone
reviewed by Larry Crane
First let's get one thing out of the way: I have never used a real Neumann/Telefunken U47. I wish-but it has never happened. I thought about renting or borrowing a vintage U47 to compare to the...
Audio-Technica: AT3060 tube microphone
reviewed by Scott Craggs
The AT3060 is a large diaphragm tube mic that runs on 48V phantom; there's no external power supply. There's also no frills: it's cardioid only, there's no low cut, no pad, no nothing. Just mic. It...
Telefunken USA: Ela-M 251 microphone
reviewed by Kirt Shearer
I've been waiting for many years for someone to accurately recreate the legendary Telefunken 251 microphone. I've had several conversations wondering why this had never been done, with of course no...
Studio Projects: B1, B3, TB1, VTB1 Variable Tube Mic Preamp
reviewed by Brian Lucey
Studio Projects has outdone itself with the B line of mics. These are very, very nice sounding mics - for dirt cheap. The B1 and B3 incorporate 1'', 3-micron diaphragms and are transformerless, with a...
MBHO: MBC 603, KA 1000, KA 1100
reviewed by Martin Chittum
MBHO is a well established German company specializing in high-quality condenser mics. Unfortunately, MBHO is not very well known in the U.S. Originally part of the hi-fi company MB Quart in the early...
SE. Electronics: SE 1, SE 2000, Z 5600
reviewed by Pete Weiss
SE. Electronics is one of many companies these days who are marketing Chinese-made condenser microphones for prices which border on the absurd. The company offered my studio a discount rate (on top of...
Brauner: Valvet Voice Condenser Mic
reviewed by Larry Crane
The new Brauner Valvet Voice is a fixed pattern (cardioid) large diaphragm tube mic, specially designed for recording voice. It's only available in a limited run of 500 mics, and is at a lower cost...
THE Audio: KA-04, KR-2W, KR-1D, KR-2C, KR-1F, KR-3H, KR-25A, KR-33A, KP-6M, TT-3M, BS-3D
reviewed by Larry Crane
Taylor Johnson, of The Sound Room, has been importing Russian mics like the Oktava brand for years, and now he steps out with his own line of microphones. Partially built in Argentina, these mics are...
Audix: SCX-25 condenser microphone
reviewed by Larry Crane, Ezra Meredeth
With its distinct lollipop look and precision machining, the SCX-25 draws attention to itself immediately. This cardioid-patterned mic is cool looking and streamlined, with no roll off or pad switches...
PPA: ID-One condenser microphone
reviewed by Larry Crane, Ezra Meredeth
Okay, you might have thought large-diaphragm condenser mics were getting cheap - but now PPA blows everything out of the water with the $99.95 ID-One. Of course it's another one of those inexpensive...
Oktava: MK 219
reviewed by Martin Chittum
Russian microphone manufacturer Oktava has been around since the 1950s. The MK 219 (a.k.a. MC 219) has been one of their most known and respected models for quite some time now, and is considered a...