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Originally Posted by dickiefunk  How does the sound of the MXL V67g mod and Oktava MK319 mod compare? |
Good question. I haven't run a series of A/B tests on those two. I'll get to it though.
My focus has been on evaluating the Peluso P47, PK67, CEK67, CEK12 and CEK89 capsules in various mics, with my four standard sources - voice, jingle bells, Udu and acoustic guitar. The permutations of source, capsule and mic are staggering.
I made 31 audio test files two days ago that I'm still slogging my way through - edit, normalize, copy/paste/assemble, compare A/B subjects on the same source material from the same take (mic capsules one-over-other, 24" distance to source) and notate results. One finding that is emerging is the potential use of the Peluso PK47 as a universal Chinese mic problem solver. Let's step back a second...
While I have not seen every low-cost Chinese mic ever made, I have seen many of the most popular models. With the exception of the edge-terminated capsule mics, every other mic I've seen so far uses a copy of the Neumann K67 capsule. This capsule has a built in high frequency boost that was compensated for in the circuitry of the U 67 microphone. Because the Chinese copies of the K67 capsule are not exact, the high frequency boost not well controlled, and the compensatory circuit missing or not exact, most Chinese mics using copies of the K67 capsule are excessively bright and harsh. Enter the Peluso PK47...
The Peluso PK47 is a careful re-creation of the Neumann K47 capsule which uses a different backplate design than the K67 capsule and does not have the HF rise found in the later. So just by swapping in a Peluso PK47 for a stock mic's K67-style capsule the top end peak and harshness is removed. However, because the implementation of the K67-style capsule in some Chinese mics is better than others, I've yet to determine if the installation of a Peluso PK47 in these mics makes sense. My tests have been proceeding on the theory that some Chinese mics have a stock capsule worth saving (the MXL 2003, Sterling Audio ST51, Behringer B2 Pro, MXL V67g...) and thus offer an attractive price / performance ratio when other mods are made.
With the exception of the output line driving stage (dual transistor or transformer-coupled) the basic circuit in most of the low cost Chinese mics is identical. For example, one of my recent discoveries is the CAD GXL3000 ($100) and CAD Trion 6000 ($200), both 3-pattern FET / transformer-coupled mics, are exactly the same mic on the inside (frame, circuit boards & transformer) - just a different headbasket assembly, capsule and body style. This means the GXL3000 has terrific price / performance potential with mods because of the low initial cost for the 3-pattern / FET / transformer platform.
Given that the basic circuit stays the same in almost all of the low-cost Chinese mics, the variables then are: headbasket, capsule and output stage. My goal is to offer a line of Chinese mic mods at various price points that are an excellent value at each point. A new capsule can be installed in any of the mics I'm working on, but I tried to find some models in which the stock capsule is decent enough to be used and thereby hold down the cost of modification. In terms of cost, keeping the stock capsule and concentrating on headbasket and electronic upgrades is going to be the least expensive. Next level up would be a headbasket, capsule and electronics upgrade. The level up from that would be to do a headbasket, capsule, electronics & transformer upgrade.
Folks have learned from my work with the Oktava MK-219, MK-319 and MK-012 that I am very sensitive to price / performance issues. I'm not going to price my new Chinese mic mods "a la carte" style, but rather will offer fixed price point suites of mods that are best-values at their level.
A thought about Peluso capsules - I don't judge the cost of these capsule relative to the microphones they are going into. I judge them based on the performance they deliver for their price relative to Josephson, Neumann, AKG and MBHO capsule which cost $400-$600 or more (but are not readily available singly to DIYers or aftermarket guys like me). Looking at Peluso capsules from this perspective I believe they are an incredible value.
So, how does the V67g mod compare to my OktavaMod MK-319? Thanks for reminding me, I'll add that to a list of a hundred other tests in the works ; )