Round 2! Shelise, Miktek CV4, Soundelux u195, Tele AR-51, Tele CU-29

[aaronsternke]

Here's round 2 of the mic test!! Contenders are (in alphabetical order):

Beesneez Shelise
Miktek CV4
Soundelux u195
Telefunken AR-51
Telefunken CU-29

Notes:
* Signal path was Mic - Chameleon Labs 7602 Pre (no EQ) - Apogee AD8000 - Pro Tools. There was definitely an improvement and an increase in low end when I switched from the 002 stock converters to the Apogee.

* I was about 3-4 inches away from the each mic. I tend to like the intimacy and proximity effect when up that close.

* There are 3 files for each mic: a solo version (mic - pre - converter - PT), a solo compressed version (a re-tracked version adding my 1176 to the chain), and a full mix version, to hear how it sounds in the middle of the mix.

* In the "FullMix" versions, I left the mics completely flat, just to hear how each one stands on its own without any additional EQ / compression in a mix. (Note: FullMix versions are the 1176-tracked versions)

Pick your faves! Enlighten me with your thoughts / comments! Thanks!

Miktek CV4
Solo: wav / mp3
Solo w/ Comp: wav / mp3
In Full Mix: wav / mp3

Telefunken AR-51
Solo: wav / mp3
Solo w/ Comp: wav / mp3
In Full Mix: wav / mp3

Telefunken CU-29
Solo: wav / mp3
Solo w/ Comp: wav / mp3
In Full Mix: wav / mp3

Soundelux u195
Solo: wav / mp3
Solo w/ Comp: wav / mp3
In Full Mix: wav / mp3

Beesneez Shelise
Solo: wav / mp3
Solo w/ Comp: wav / mp3
In Full Mix: wav / mp3

[aaronsternke]

Bump! Replies anyone? Thoughts? Criticisms? Bashings?

[aaronsternke]

Okay, updated original post to include the names of the mics. I think you all would rather know what you're listening to!

[aaronsternke]

(also posted this on my other shootout thread, but wanted anyone here to know as well...)

Wanted to let you all know I went with the Miktek!!!!!!

In the end it was the combination of beautiful low end and shiny top (without being too strident/harsh), as well as that indefinable, three dimensional, "tube-y", vintage-y quality... ADD to that some of the best customer service I've ever received from a company = very happy with this purchase.

SHOUT OUT to AudioMidi.com for sending me out a demo of the Miktek CV4, and being flexible on timing...

And a HUGE SHOUT OUT to Greg from Pro Audio Toys .com for going waaaaaaaay out of his way to let me try SIX different mics (AR-51, CU-29, AK47, Beesneez Shelise, Beesneez Phelicity, ADKTT251) and being super cool and nice even though I didn't end up buying anything from him!!!!! What a cool guy. Thanks!

And thanks to all who weighed in on the tests –*your input was greatly appreciated (even you, Mike P. : )

Hooray for new gear!

Aaron

[Mark D.]

Thanks for doing these tests. I'm not in my studio to listen, but well done and well organized with lots of options (ie. MP3 for those in a hurry, etc.). I got to hear the C4 for the first time at AES. It was the best sounding tube I'd heard in its price range. That, and the ADK Custom Shop's Cremona 251 were the most impressive condenser microphones there. Glad you found your mic. Comparing means you know that is the right choice going forward.

[didier.brest]

I just post here again my reply to your invitation for listening to this test in your first test thread.

I preferred much the AR51 (smooth and detailed). Second choice: the Shelise.

[binarymilton]

Listening to the a capellas....

First off, I'll say that this song doesn't challenge any of the mics much. I'd prefer to hear a song where you sing a bit higher up, see which mics start to sound thin or harsh.

There's nowhere near as much variance as on your first test. All the mics sound good, basically. So I'm not picking one.

1. really liked this on first listen. Liked it less having heard the others (it suddenly sounded a little bit pinched and "processed" sounding). However, I'm sure it'd sound good in a mix.

2. not hugely different. Slightly brighter. It's a bit clearer, a bit crisper. A better mic than the first for a busy mix. However, I think it might start to sound a tiny bit thin in going up high.

3. Again, not much variance. I like this better, I think, in the more empassioned singing towards the end.

4. This is probably the most mellow, the most shady sounding (I wouldn't use the word Dark, not by a long way, but it's on the road to Dark).

5. OK, suddenly this one is now the most mellow, the most shady sounding.Might be a bit too undynamic though: compared to the others you could be cruel and call it "dull" sounding. However, considering this particular vocal isn't an aggressive one at all, this is a great advert for the Shelise: just imagine how well that mic would cope with a Billy Corgan/Brian Molko type singer! A great anti-nasal mic, methinks.

Listening to the mixes...

all of them sound surprisingly muted and not very in-your-face. Probably the AR51 works best. But really, the differences are marginal. The only thing that really leaps out as a big difference is the amount of sibilant S that each mic gives.

[Succulence]

Thanks for posting these!

What I mainly noticed was the difference in the low-mid content and how the highs come across (more or less smooth).

My top choices listening to the soloed tracks are the AR51, CU29, and the CV4. The CV4 and CU29 had pleasant highs, a greater low mid presence, and nice harmonic tubeness. The AR51 was really nice and would have probably been my choice for vocals. It did have a noticeable boost in the 'air' frequencies, but that would would probably not be noticeable in a mix and could be tamed if needed. I liked it's presence and up front quality slightly more then the CV4 which, although creamy and delicious, had a slightly veiled and congested quality to it (if that makes sense).

The U195 sounded noticeably more solid state next to the others, particularly in the lack of pleasing harmonic distortion and just sounding more thin in comparison.

The beesneez also sounded good but also had that chesty veiled quality to it that the CV4 had, and was also noticeably darker. Of course some eq could spice it up if needed.

[Chris Lago]

My favorite is the Shelise, but you'd need to Pulteq that shit at 16k a bit to get more air out, then it would be perfect. Great voice, unsigned?

[aaronsternke]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

My favorite is the Shelise, but you'd need to Pulteq that shit at 16k a bit to get more air out, then it would be perfect. Great voice, unsigned?

Thanks for the kind words Chris! I actually did like the Shelise too... there was something very musical about it... in the end I picked the Miktek but all solid contenders.

And yes, unsigned.

[Bloodstar57]

Thanks for the test I will be getting the shelise soon

[yotonic]

I like the AK47II best on your voice then the Mitek.

[Bloodstar57]

Originally Posted by yotonic

I like the AK47II best on your voice then the Mitek.

I liked the AR-51 too but in what i do with artists i work with i could see it being a issue. The shelise/195 seems like it would better on more people and the pocket....

[always_ending]

Telefunken AR-51 was my choice

thank you for these tests, I've been searching for my next serious mic purchase for a vocal mic, and again you've confirmed that I should go with the same mic as previously thought, the Telefunken AR-51.

Sounds good enough to take you up to the point of $5k and up mics all day. And I'm not purchasing one of those till I get paid good money to do it daily.

[Hardtoe]

It was a great test - thanks for all your hard work aaron.

I thought that the mics sounded quite varied in different ways.

I really like the effortless presence of the AR-51 - sound like a finished vocal from the start.

I also dug that the CU-29 had the telefunken "family sound" but was a bit more open and natural.

The Miktek CV4 was very good, but a little too "honest" for me here - a very naked sounding mic.

The Shelise had a very warm tone, but seems like it would need eq to present best most of the time if it really has such a soft top.

BTW - I think I am going to dive into a Copperhead CU-29 after hearing this test - I am going to replace my Rode K2 and was originally interested in the Shelise, but I have some Beezneez already - the Telefunken sound is hard to resist and the Copperhead seems like it would be good for many different vocalists.

[Oldone]

In this test, I think you made the right choice. As you said, warm vintage with a softer high end, especially on those "t"s and "s"s. Those were too prevalent on the other mics. The Mitek was more balanced. I just listened to the full mixes because that's where it counts the most.

That said I would have gone with the AR51 if not for the way it emphasizes the mouth noises and the "t", "s" thing, once again. It had a more modern sound and more emotion to the voice but that high end would drive me nuts.

[MJB]

I still liked the AK47II for your voice, then the AR51, but that was to0 sibilant. The Soundelux was beautifully smooth, but somehow more distant.

[egor]

AR51 for me, CV4 is nice too.
Thanks for the test!!

[SLKATZ71]

AR-51 sounded impressive on first listening...but felt too sibilant once it was driven thru the 1176

I found myself a/b'ing the soundelux and the beesneez - which may not have been the best matches for your voice on this song - but they both had a richness in tone and 'girth' that the others lacked IMO.

195 proves to be a good middle ground of overall depth without the excessive highs, but hard to say in this case as I felt the AR-51 performance was a better 'take' than the 195 rendition...

thanks for taking the time to do this test, while it may not be an exact science it is still very interesting

Peace

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by SLKATZ71

AR-51 sounded impressive on first listening...but felt too sibilant once it was driven thru the 1176

I found myself a/b'ing the soundelux and the beesneez - which may not have been the best matches for your voice on this song - but they both had a richness in tone and 'girth' that the others lacked IMO.

195 proves to be a good middle ground of overall depth without the excessive highs, but hard to say in this case as I felt the AR-51 performance was a better 'take' than the 195 rendition...

thanks for taking the time to do this test, while it may not be an exact science it is still very interesting

Peace

As someone who owns an AR-51, I can tell you it's not a sibilant mic. It is however light on the low end. I had my capsule upgraded to a CK12 style capsule and now the mic is no longer light in the low end.

[SLKATZ71]

thanks for clarification musiclab, I have long had designs on the AR-51

did you do the mod yourself? which capsule are you using btw?

[Musiclab]

I sent it back to Telefunken