MD 421 the differences

shauli · 31st January 2007

What is the difference between the different versions of the MD 421?

Is anyone of them is more desire than the other?
Can you explain the difference in sonic qualities between them.

Help for your experience is appreciated.

evangelista · 31st January 2007

I'm not an expert on the subject, but to me the old cream colored ones and the first edition of the black ones sound similar. The newer 421II's to me sound brighter in the upper midrange, and on most sources that translates as harsher - IMO.

Ivan

warhead · 31st January 2007

I have compared the MD421II and the old 421 side by side on various sources.

The old 421 has a smoother sound top to bottom.

The new 421II has a bump around 3k and definitely a brighter overall top.

War

frans · 31st January 2007

The old (grey) 421 have the best reputation.
Besides that I still have to see a broken old one...all the broken 421s I saw were black ones. The new 421 have 5-stage switches for tone - pardon my french, switches in a circuit with smallsmall signals? Trouble. Reminds me of old Beyerdynamic 260 ribbons with switches - not two sounded the same ...allthough this is a bit unfair, as the 421 sound (if from the same period) rather coherent.
So if you are a slut, get the anniversary golden 421 and make it your avatar.
There is also a version of the 421 that was named 521 and was marketed under the "black fire" tag. There are some versions with a 2-stage switch.

31st January 2007	#1
shauli Gear nut Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 95 Thread Starter 2 Reviews written	MD 421 the differences What is the difference between the different versions of the MD 421? Is anyone of them is more desire than the other? Can you explain the difference in sonic qualities between them. Help for your experience is appreciated. __________________ shauli "Analog meets Digital and lovin' it"

31st January 2007	#3
warhead Jai guru deva om Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12,259	I have compared the MD421II and the old 421 side by side on various sources. The old 421 has a smoother sound top to bottom. The new 421II has a bump around 3k and definitely a brighter overall top. War __________________ Warren Dent, Owner - ZenPro Audio: Gear Now & Zen

31st January 2007	#4
frans Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Bavaria, Germany Posts: 1,648 1 Review written	The old (grey) 421 have the best reputation. Besides that I still have to see a broken old one...all the broken 421s I saw were black ones. The new 421 have 5-stage switches for tone - pardon my french, switches in a circuit with smallsmall signals? Trouble. Reminds me of old Beyerdynamic 260 ribbons with switches - not two sounded the same ...allthough this is a bit unfair, as the 421 sound (if from the same period) rather coherent. So if you are a slut, get the anniversary golden 421 and make it your avatar. There is also a version of the 421 that was named 521 and was marketed under the "black fire" tag. There are some versions with a 2-stage switch. __________________ Property is not ability. Buying a drumset won't make you a drummer and buying gear won't make you an engineer.

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31st January 2007	#2
evangelista Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,342	I'm not an expert on the subject, but to me the old cream colored ones and the first edition of the black ones sound similar. The newer 421II's to me sound brighter in the upper midrange, and on most sources that translates as harsher - IMO. Ivan