Pearlman TM1 - german tubes /american tubes

[panimal]

just wondering what the difference on these was other than price?

[Jack Pettit]

What tubes ?

[panimal]

as i understand there's a German Tube version & american tube version - i just wondered if anyone had compared

[Old Cane]

you could probably call or email the rotund rascal and he could tell you. That's what I'm going to do when I'm ready to get one.

[MickeySmid]

The old german telefunken tubes should have a bit more of a vintage vibe. What that means I don't know. Haha. But I got that one! :)

Mr. Pearlman is really really cool and offers great service. He the man.

mick

[Brian Scherzer]

After biting my fingernails as I tried to think through what mic to buy, enough people on this site seemed to like the Pearlman TM-1 and I saved the last of my fingernails for a phone call to Dave Pearlman today. He was quite pleasant to talk to and did not make me feel like any of my questions were "dumb". After asking me some questions and listening to what I was trying to say I wanted, he suggested the TM-1 with the German tube. If I had asked him why, I would be able to answer your question. However, after talking for maybe 5 minutes to him, I decided that I would go with whatever he said. He could have sold me on an even more expensive upgrade, but said that he thought that the German tube should serve me well for my needs. It was an extra $150, but if the man who builds the mic says that it's worth it, I'm going to go with the suggestion! Truly, if you have a question, give him a call. There was no "selling" done by him. Just a very straightforward conversation that I appreciated. There is about a one week wait time, which was VERY acceptable to me.

[JMc]

Basically, the difference is in price and "cache". The vintage WWII era Telefunken EF14 steel tube is a close cousin to the VF14 that was used in the U47 originally and therefore, theoretically, at least, closer in sound quality to the VF14, which has a different voltage, but otherwise the same "flavor". From what I understand, Dave is now fitting his new mics with the EF12's, which are a little easier to come by and provide a more overall rounded sound to the mic. The EF14 tubed mics are a little more present in the mids but aren't as versatile, because they require a different socket than the EF12's (which will also accomidate EF13's and EF15's unless I'm mistaken - and I could be).

I never tried the American tube, but I'm sure it sounds terrific as well.

At least, that's my .02 and it's probably worth less than that now with the deflation of the dollar.

...and Brian, you are going to be thrilled with that mic. I know that I certainly am.

[MickeySmid]

I think the extra money is cause the german tubes are more expensive (as they get more rare), not cause mr. Pearlman makes more bucks that way.

[chasman]

my impressions of:

TM2: really really great mic

Dave: really really great guy........cares way way way more about making you (the customer) happy than money........