Quote:
Originally posted by Ruphus
... It is very interesting though how different we judge sonics.
Here is the quote that I bookmarked for the Manley Ref mic ( although very likely related to it with original tube inside ) at the time that I was researching for my first ( and yet only ) decent microphone.
Ruphus |
No offense but I think it's silly to compare the manley to the 103 ... the 103 is not a high end mic.
The Manley comparison to the S47 only works because of the hyped top of both their 47 and the Manley's bright curve. Both also had a low end from the tranny that was audible. The Manley to the K251 was only mentioned as it was the closest of the Korby's to the Manley, and after the Korby beat the Soundeluxes I wanted to hear it against my faithful baby. Yet they did not share the low end tranny sound and the Korby was softer on top with less midrange hair.
Also, keep in mind that every Manley sounds a touch more different than every Korby. Korby is all hand made and hand tuned by a career tweaker. Manley is high quality, and with great results, yet i've heard variations for sure in matched pairs. This Manley was a hair more open in the mids than other Ref Cards I've heard, and has the older tranny as well. I cant speak to the sound of their new mics, but I'm sure it's very close. The 12AX7 and new tranny being different, in new Manley Ref Cards.
As for the boxy/dark reviews by the friend on the Korby 47: I don't know any real U47s yet supposedly a 47 is not supposed to sound like it has top like you might expect from new mics. Especially not supposed to have the 10-12k cranked up and 400 down that I needed to match the Korby to the S47. According to Korby, this negative reaction comes up a lot. Talking to them now, it's their view as vintage mic tuners that a 47 with a ton of top is at a certain line in the sand not really a 47 anymore. The trend today is a bright top ... so there we are. Generally a good thing, yet not always. The Korby 47 for female jazz vocal was terrific.
As for noise with any high quality tube mic, it's not an issue. The beckman 5 star GE 6072 tube I added to th Manley did something to smooth the mids and did nothing i could hear or measure for noise from the stock tube, which Manley hand selected for noise.
As for the Soudelux line in general ... look smartasses, I dont think it's crap and did not imply anything that extreme. But I grew out of wanting to own it with each passing use as far as tone goes. And I grew distant with the visual aesthetic as well. If I want a vintage look and sound, best to get a vintage mic, me thinks.
To each their own, however and if you love your Soundelux ... great
