Best of the Chinese Ribbons?

[BigJunk]

What are some of the better Chinese Ribbon mics that are out now? I want to get a pair of really smooth overhead mics. But if they sound good on other things then thats great too! I guess there are a lot of new Chinese ones out, can someone help me seperate the crap from the good ones?

[zak7]

1-lo Mein
2-wonton
3-general tso
4-Chop Suey
5-Chow Mein thumbsup
6-Szechuan

[MadGuitrst]

I like the Karma K6.

[lematrix]

The Karma is good !!!

i love it thumbsup

[emkay]

Originally Posted by lematrix

The Karma is good !!!

i love it thumbsup

Good Karma is even better!

[AMIEL]

Originally Posted by zak7

1-lo Mein
2-wonton
3-general tso
4-Chop Suey
5-Chow Mein thumbsup
6-Szechuan

??????????

[chickencoop]

+1 on the Karmas. It's phantom powered so it puts out more signal and is you can't accidentally ruin it by leaving the +48v on.

[warhead]

I took a half dozen ribbons with me into the studio this weekend, and I'm hoping by tomorrow I can start a thread comparing them all. I've noticed a million threads lately asking to compare under $500 (sometimes under $100) and these cover a wide range of sounds. It's actually every single under $500 ribbon we stock and sell except for the Oktava ML-52 which we just didn't have in stock.

Apex 205 ($99)
Apex 210 ($189)
Avant CR-14 ($249)
Beyer M260 ($349)
CAD Trion7000 ($259)
Oktava ML-53 ($375)

I've used all of these mics, but never compared all of them all at once. They cover a wide range of sounds, which you'll be able to hear for yourself shortly.

So...more info soon...and clips...VERY soon I promise!

My plan is guitar cab, acoustic guitar, drums and possibly vocals. Wish I had a horn player handy.

War

[Harley-OIART]

Originally Posted by warhead

I took a half dozen ribbons with me into the studio this weekend, and I'm hoping by tomorrow I can start a thread comparing them all. I've noticed a million threads lately asking to compare under $500 (sometimes under $100) and these cover a wide range of sounds. It's actually every single under $500 ribbon we stock and sell except for the Oktava ML-52 which we just didn't have in stock.

Apex 205 ($99)
Apex 210 ($189)
Avant CR-14 ($249)
Beyer M260 ($349)
CAD Trion7000 ($259)
Oktava ML-53 ($375)

I've used all of these mics, but never compared all of them all at once. They cover a wide range of sounds, which you'll be able to hear for yourself shortly.

So...more info soon...and clips...VERY soon I promise!

My plan is guitar cab, acoustic guitar, drums and possibly vocals. Wish I had a horn player handy.

War

If you ever have the spare time, I am really hoping you can formulate an opinion for me as to which of the low priced ribbons on the market are actually hidden gems. So far a colleauge of mine told me the "large" Apex ribbon is a great find (I think Apex 210), but I am curious to find out which of the cheapies really is the hidden gem. Basically I am looking for the best cheap cheap cheap stop-over on my way to Royer 122V's

[warhead]

It won't be long before I get my shootout done, possibly as early as tomorrow.

They are all promising in their own way, the clips will be done in a way that you will be able to reasonably know side by side what the differences are.

War

[StrykeBack]

looking forward to this as well.

Saw your thread the other day on the new CADs, can't find any info on the avants...

Been contemplating the move to the shinybox 46s but by the time i by the fully upgraded ones I've almost got money for some really top level ones.

The peluso r14 is my current lust fest.

[Harley-OIART]

Forgot to add it to the bottom of my post, but now I owe it to you for all the help anyways "Thanks as always War!"

[warhead]

Originally Posted by StrykeBack

Saw your thread the other day on the new CADs, can't find any info on the avants...

We have had the Avants in now for I think 2 days? They just started shipping, I'm just about the first guy to hear one and thus far...I want to hear more. That is part of the reason I am doing this, to know how side by side it fares next to these others I am more familiar with.

Looks like it will be happening today!

Harley, as always you are welcome.

War

[by-tor]

Throw a royer or naked eye into the shootout for a reference!
Please???

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by warhead

So...more info soon...and clips...VERY soon I promise!

My plan is guitar cab, acoustic guitar, drums and possibly vocals. Wish I had a horn player handy.

Originally Posted by by-tor

Throw a royer or naked eye into the shootout for a reference!
Please???

[chandlersonic]

I personally really like the Tbone ( Nady ) ribbon mic that goes for about a 100 €, I got a pair around and use them as room mics or mono overhead, as FOK mic it can sound pretty good too, I don't think it sounds good on guitar cabs, too muddy IMO.
I almost always reach for my Royers or Beyer m160 before but it's good to have them around and they're dirt cheap so you can't really go wrong.

Looking forward to hearing War's shootout!

[Fieldstone]

Just got a shipment of Cascade FATHEADs in from Bayview Pro Audio. We ordered a stereo pair which came in nifty wooden boxes inside padded briefcases. One sounded really great, reserved top end, thick bottom end - great drum overhead mic. The other (same mic, different serial #) seems to be giving us a problem...overloading quickly with small amounts of gain applied.

Contacting Bayview to do an exchange for the bad one. We'll see how their customer service is...so far great, so I'm optimistic.

[warhead]

Got the acoustic guitar stuff done, but still have to edit and post. Hoping tomorrow is electric guitar, then vocals and drums.

Please be patient, coming soon!

War

[warhead]

Originally Posted by by-tor

Throw a royer or naked eye into the shootout for a reference!
Please???

Sorry, they simply aren't around right now to do this.

Already started also.

War

[flail19]

Thanks for doing this. I am very interested.

[Acoustic Cloud]

War

Bust an 012 in there also.

[goobersezhey]

In a ribbon mic shootout?

[bunnerabb]

I think that these are thymply FABoulous!

[Acoustic Cloud]

Originally Posted by goobersezhey

In a ribbon mic shootout?

I meant just for reference on the acoustic clip....

[briefcasemanx]

it would be cool if we got a reference, like maybe a really flat uncolored mic room mic or something.

[Jbassist]

What about the T-bone Rb500? is that any good?

[lpkyer]

Can't wait to hear those Warren ! I'm looking forward a good ribbon for room drums and guitar cabs !

[Janesaid2me]

I must say im excited because ive been looking to pick up a "cheap" ribbon! Cant wait to get the results!

[Sara_tonin]

It won't be long before I get my shootout done, possibly as early as tomorrow.

They are all promising in their own way, the clips will be done in a way that you will be able to reasonably know side by side what the differences are.

War

Thanks so much for doing this!
Between this and clips I heard of the shinybox and cascade fatheads, this should help a lot!

[chandlersonic]

Originally Posted by Jbassist

What about the T-bone Rb500? is that any good?

Yeah, the RB500 is really cool for the price, that's the Tbone I was talking about earlier. Nice as room mic, mono overhead, on acoustic guitar it sounds ok too.
I think there's a thread where some people posted mp3s of the Tbone, but I might be wrong.
Great bang for the buck, it's nice to have a couple around the studio.