NOW SHIPPING!!!! The Ela M 260

[T- Funk Ian]

After a longer than expected wait, the Ela M 260 small diaphragm tube condenser microphone is now shipping. For more information, click HERE

[robmix]

Price ???

[Weepit]

I am extremely confused? Your company ordered these in 1959 and they are just available now? What am I missing?

In 1959, Telefunken ordered a series of microphones from AKG, to replace the Telefunken/Neumann line of microphones...

Telefunken | USA is pleased to announce the availability of the Ela M 260 microphone

[T- Funk Ian]

Originally Posted by robmix

Price ???

$1,495.00

[sonicdefault]

That is beauty.


-SD

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Telefunken USA

$1,495.00

That makes me so sad. :(

[sonicdefault]

Originally Posted by Chris

That makes me so sad. :(

It is pricey although that's probably list and it does come with three capsules. It will all come down to the sound of course. Are they already shipping?




-SD

[T- Funk Ian]

Originally Posted by sonicdefault

It is pricey although that's probably list and it does come with three capsules. It will all come down to the sound of course. Are they already shipping?




-SD

They are indeed already shipping.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by sonicdefault

It is pricey although that's probably list and it does come with three capsules. It will all come down to the sound of course. Are they already shipping?




-SD

I'm just poor.

[Ruphus]

Since the scandal about this company´s first mic I´m a bit suspicious, but maybe things have changed to the better.

This pencil microphone sure looks beautiful.
I´d love to read from ( authentic ) users later on and maybe hear some sound examples.

It should be very special sounding with 3000 bucks for a pair and not even PS included if I understand that correctly.

I´d also like to know whether they could be had with fancy clamps instead of the suspension.

Ruphus

[jslevin]

The skepticism is understandable, but the reality in 2007 is that they're cranking out great-sounding mics, extremely usable and frankly a bit under-priced as far as the R-F-T series goes. And we've gotten great service from them as well. At this point, I'd have to say that people who aren't trying out their mics are only hurting themselves.

JSL

[bee]

Sorry to hijack the thread but is the ela m80 shipping? what's the price on it?

[T- Funk Ian]

Originally Posted by Ruphus

Since the scandal about this company´s first mic I´m a bit suspicious, but maybe things have changed to the better.

This pencil microphone sure looks beautiful.
I´d love to read from ( authentic ) users later on and maybe hear some sound examples.

It should be very special sounding with 3000 bucks for a pair and not even PS included if I understand that correctly.

I´d also like to know whether they could be had with fancy clamps instead of the suspension.

Ruphus

They actually ship with both a suspension mount and a fancy clip. As far as your other comment about the power supply, I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying. $3000 for a pair and not even PS included? A power supply is included with each microphone. If you buy a stereo pair, you get two power supplies. Does that help to clear things up?

[T- Funk Ian]

Originally Posted by bee

Sorry to hijack the thread but is the ela m80 shipping? what's the price on it?

Unfortunately, M80 is not shipping yet. We are very optimistic about the first of the year though. It looks like that is going to happen. As far as the price goes, it is not set in stone yet, but we are thinking that it will be $199. However, that price is subject to change.

[Ruphus]

Originally Posted by Telefunken USA

They actually ship with both a suspension mount and a fancy clip. As far as your other comment about the power supply, I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying. $3000 for a pair and not even PS included? A power supply is included with each microphone. If you buy a stereo pair, you get two power supplies. Does that help to clear things up?

Good to hear that they come with a clip.
What the PS is considered I guess my language skills were not sufficient to understand the description on your website that says:

Power Requir(e)ments | Dedicated Power Supply

Sounded to me as if there was something optional about it.
Sorry for misreading.

Ruphus

[T- Funk Ian]

Originally Posted by Ruphus

Good to hear that they come with a clip.
What the PS is considered I guess my language skills were not sufficient to understand the description on your website that says:


Sounded to me as if there was something optional about it.
Sorry for misreading.

Ruphus

Gotcha

The "Power Requirements" section just states that the microphone uses a dedicated power supply as opposed to phantom power.

[bee]

Anyone tried these out yet?

[Art]

that is a very good looking mic, what are the primary applications?

[audiothings]

any chance you'd introduce a fig-8 capsule? when it comes to stereo micing, i'm primarily into m/s and blumlein.

OT: i've been waiting forever for somebody to (re)introduce a sdc (tube or ss) with the capabilities of the neumann sm2...

[Overdrive]

Yes indeed I have tried them.
Actually I now own a pair of M260 mics. They are fantastic - my favorite of the whole Tele USA range!

I've recorded everything from tabla to grand piano and these mics are great. The Ela M260 sounds way better than most of the large diaphragm condensers out there pretending to be microphones.
Highly recommended for the acknowledgeable recordist out there. This is a classy engineering job (at a classy price...).

[sonicdefault]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Yes indeed I have tried them.
Actually I now own a pair of M260 mics. They are fantastic - my favorite of the whole Tele USA range!

I've recorded everything from tabla to grand piano and these mics are great. The Ela M260 sounds way better than most of the large diaphragm condensers out there pretending to be microphones.
Highly recommended for the acknowledgeable recordist out there. This is a classy engineering job (at a classy price...).

Thanks for the report! Have you used them on acoustic gtr? Would love to hear some clips if you get a chance.



-SD

[flute player]

How about using them for flute recordings.
mmmmm.........

Paul

[Overdrive]

Off course I have used the M260 on acoustic guitars. They have replaced my other favorite with no problem. I got 3D depth and clarity I was not getting before.
Although I am sure they will do great on a flute I stick to my KM56 at that application.

I'll try to UL audio clips. Can't promise so don't count on it. Tele might have PT sessions on their site to check out the different mics.

[sonicdefault]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Off course I have used the M260 on acoustic guitars. They have replaced my other favorite with no problem. I got 3D depth and clarity I was not getting before.
Although I am sure they will do great on a flute I stick to my KM56 at that application.

I'll try to UL audio clips. Can't promise so don't count on it. Tele might have PT sessions on their site to check out the different mics.

Thanks for that. No promise expected. Glad you're having such success with them. I'll probably demo some, sometime in the future... but we know what that will mean...


-SD

[jslevin]

Has anyone else tried these? Interested in the general sonic character and the differences of each of the capsules.

JSL

[rstreber]

I just finished demoing one from Mercenary, and I loved it. Bought one, but wish I had the budget for a pair. It's a beautiful sounding, looking, and solidly built mic. I I put it up against an early 80's KM84, a Gefell M295, and some LD mics as well (CM7GT, UMT70s, Valvet), and in all applications I tried, I found it extremely nice. (incidentally, I was demoing both the 260 and the M295 from Merc, and I picked the Tele over the Gefell easily.)

It was very similar to the KM84, maybe a bit more articulate and airy. I was most impressed with how it handled solo steel-string/voice alone. For a single-mic mono recording, it was amazingly 3-d and realistic. I also used it as a spot mic on viola in some contemporary classical chamber-music sessions. It sounded lovely here and the hypercard capsule was great for extra rejection of surrounding instruments. I didn't try the omni capsule, but I've got a number of dedicated omnis and probably won't use this one so much for such things.

Anyway, my $.02 on these. Tele-USA has gotten such a bad reputation, and I was expecting to b disappointed in this. But, on the contrary, I found it to be a very exciting and impressive mic.

[sonicdefault]

Originally Posted by jslevin

Has anyone else tried these? Interested in the general sonic character and the differences of each of the capsules.

JSL

I own one now (thanks Sean at Merc.). I agree with most everything rstreber said. The 260 is very balanced, and does a good job of sounding unhyped, but not boring. All the capsules are equally impressive, and perform exactly how you'd expect in regard to their patterns. It's just a great mic. As far as sonic character goes, try to imagine an 84 with a tiny bit less transformerish sound, and a tiny bit more tubeish.


-SD

[Chitown Ray]

Hey guys I am going to bump an old thread because I am researching some sdc's and the ELA M260 and the Schoeps CMC64 have my interest. I was wondering if some of you guys who own a ELA M260 could chime in on how you like it, particularly on acoustic guitar. I own a Taylor 414 and a Martin D-15. The Martin is a little on the dark side but it's a nice sounding guitar nonetheless. The Taylor sounds better with old strings do to it being a little to bright.
The Schoeps is what it is, a great mic true to the sound. The Tele however comes with the three capsules and is $200.00 less.
I've had a chance to work with a CMC64 and loved it.
Just wondering how the 260 stacks up to the CMC64 seeing as how they're in the same price range.