M-Audio Sputnik and Solaris

Boner · 29th January 2007

I'm really interested in the Sputnik, but I don't see a huge difference between it and the Solaris. It seems they have the same capsule and diaphragm, polar patterns and even the same roll off and pad switches. The only significant thing I can find is that the Solaris is a fet and the Sputnik uses a sub-mini tube (not sure about the transformer). The Sputnik also costs $300.00 more. Anyone know the real deal on these two?

mljung · 20th March 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boner

I'm really interested in the Sputnik, but I don't see a huge difference between it and the Solaris. It seems they have the same capsule and diaphragm, polar patterns and even the same roll off and pad switches. The only significant thing I can find is that the Solaris is a fet and the Sputnik uses a sub-mini tube (not sure about the transformer). The Sputnik also costs $300.00 more. Anyone know the real deal on these two?

I'm curious too - has anyone campared these mics. Some seem to be very happy about Solaris, but it seemed that many didn't like the idea that M-Audio could come out with hi-quality mics. This seem to have changed now, that a lot of people have had good experiences with Sputnik. So a comparison [or a blind shootout] would be very interesting.
[I'm especially interested in how good these mics perform in the Fig8 pattern, since it isn't easy to get good Fig8 condensers, in this price-group - I remember reviews that were very positive in this regard]

woomanmoomin · 20th March 2007

A Sputnik did very well in a recent shootout on here against an R-F-T AK47 & M16 Mk II, an AKG C414 B-ULS and a Peluso 22 251. If that shootout is anything to go by, the Sputnik has a lot of presence and would probably work very well as a rock or pop microphone, but I think it could be a little heavy on valve distortion, and a little light on low-end response, for my taste. I think it must sound a lot different from the Solaris, as the Sputnik seems to have an obvious valve colour: one you might not get just by running the Solaris through some random valve pre-amp.

mljung · 22nd March 2007

If the capsule in Sputnik and Solaris is the same, I reckon the Solaris would be just as weak in the lo-freq department as you say Sputnik is. Maybe simply what Chineese mics usually are known for. Has anyone compared the two?
[How about their Fig8 performance in general..Solaris and/or Sputnik..?]

drvenom · 31st July 2007

Does any one have access to both of these microphones? If so, can you please do an A/B comparison. I have a solaris, which I think sounds wonderful. I am a bit hesitant to buy the sputnik as it might sound quite similar to the solaris, once the solaris has been hooked up to a tube preamp.

Mikey77 · 4th February 2012

Rather than start a new thread ....I thought I'd revive this one as it is exactly the thing I need to know....

Anyone had the chance to compare Solaris and Sputnik????????

Is either of them prone to Sibilance ???

Mikey77 · 6th February 2012

Anyone compared these two side by side ????????????????

29th January 2007	#1
Boner Gear Head Joined: Feb 2004 Location: New Joisey Posts: 33 Thread Starter	M-Audio Sputnik and Solaris I'm really interested in the Sputnik, but I don't see a huge difference between it and the Solaris. It seems they have the same capsule and diaphragm, polar patterns and even the same roll off and pad switches. The only significant thing I can find is that the Solaris is a fet and the Sputnik uses a sub-mini tube (not sure about the transformer). The Sputnik also costs $300.00 more. Anyone know the real deal on these two?

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20th March 2007	#3
woomanmoomin Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 1,021	A Sputnik did very well in a recent shootout on here against an R-F-T AK47 & M16 Mk II, an AKG C414 B-ULS and a Peluso 22 251. If that shootout is anything to go by, the Sputnik has a lot of presence and would probably work very well as a rock or pop microphone, but I think it could be a little heavy on valve distortion, and a little light on low-end response, for my taste. I think it must sound a lot different from the Solaris, as the Sputnik seems to have an obvious valve colour: one you might not get just by running the Solaris through some random valve pre-amp.

22nd March 2007	#4
mljung Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Copenhagen, DK Posts: 1,136 1 Review written	If the capsule in Sputnik and Solaris is the same, I reckon the Solaris would be just as weak in the lo-freq department as you say Sputnik is. Maybe simply what Chineese mics usually are known for. Has anyone compared the two? [How about their Fig8 performance in general..Solaris and/or Sputnik..?]

31st July 2007	#5
drvenom Gear Head Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 65	Does any one have access to both of these microphones? If so, can you please do an A/B comparison. I have a solaris, which I think sounds wonderful. I am a bit hesitant to buy the sputnik as it might sound quite similar to the solaris, once the solaris has been hooked up to a tube preamp.

4th February 2012	#6
Mikey77 Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Mountains-OZ Posts: 153	Rather than start a new thread ....I thought I'd revive this one as it is exactly the thing I need to know.... Anyone had the chance to compare Solaris and Sputnik???????? Is either of them prone to Sibilance ???

6th February 2012	#7
Mikey77 Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Mountains-OZ Posts: 153	Anyone compared these two side by side ????????????????