Question about ELA-M251 vs C-12

toomanyorgans · 31st October 2005

I hope to not incur any insults or flaming! I've just been curious about what exactly makes the vintage ELA-M251s so much more desirable than the C-12s (how they can cost 2-3x as much) Don't they use the same capsules and tubes? So it is transformers? A simpler signal path in the elam? Can anyone explain the "x" factor to me?

Gideon · 31st October 2005

Klaus Heyne's Answer:

84K · 31st October 2005

The Elam 251 is like a hot-rodded C12. Some differences;

1. The pattern selector for the C12 is a separate box that connects on the power supply, the elam has the selector on the microphone. More gain, less noise.

2. The tube is mounted right side up in the C12 and upside down in the elam. The elam allows for less heat congestion and less heat on the capsule.

3. The elam has a superior grill.

Just to name a few.

toomanyorgans · 1st November 2005

great thanks!

31st October 2005	#1
toomanyorgans Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 213 Thread Starter	Question about ELA-M251 vs C-12 I hope to not incur any insults or flaming! I've just been curious about what exactly makes the vintage ELA-M251s so much more desirable than the C-12s (how they can cost 2-3x as much) Don't they use the same capsules and tubes? So it is transformers? A simpler signal path in the elam? Can anyone explain the "x" factor to me?

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31st October 2005	#2
Gideon Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 141	Klaus Heyne's Answer:

31st October 2005	#3
84K Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: right coast Posts: 3,857	The Elam 251 is like a hot-rodded C12. Some differences; 1. The pattern selector for the C12 is a separate box that connects on the power supply, the elam has the selector on the microphone. More gain, less noise. 2. The tube is mounted right side up in the C12 and upside down in the elam. The elam allows for less heat congestion and less heat on the capsule. 3. The elam has a superior grill. Just to name a few.

1st November 2005	#4
toomanyorgans Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 213 Thread Starter	great thanks!