What is the deal with the Full Compass 414 capsules? why are they so cheap?

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camarada78

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Since a top quality c12 clone capsule is very expensive (200-375 dollars ) and there are - apparently - genuine AKG 414 capsules for sale for much less (130-180 dollars), Why not build a C12 clone using a modern 414 capsule? Will it sound too much like the C12vr?

I mean, the capsule holder is way different but it appears to be not much of a hassle to adapt and worth the 150-200 dollar difference.

Links for 'EB' or 'BULS':

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/521125-akg-2072z00090-silver-condenser-capsule-for-c414eb

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/246932-akg-2072z00050-mic-element-for-c414buls

PS: i'm very suspicious of these capsules.
 
Nothing to be suspicious about, they are just modern iterations of ck12.


http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's_ck12_capsule.htm

http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's%202072%20z%200005%20capsule.htm


http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's%202072%20z%200009%20capsule.htm

 
kingkorg said:
Nothing to be suspicious about, they are just modern iterations of ck12.


http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's_ck12_capsule.htm

http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's%202072%20z%200005%20capsule.htm


http://www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/akg's%202072%20z%200009%20capsule.htm

Thanks for the links.

So it would be better to build a C12 clone with them instead of a Microphone Parts one? the price is similar.
 
Absolutely, MP one has nothing in common with ck12. But also, as suggested before, consider Tim's CT12.
 
kingkorg said:
Absolutely, MP one has nothing in common with ck12. But also, as suggested before, consider Tim's CT12.

I'm sure his capsules are great. But 2500 kroneris like 275usd + shipping + 66% brazillian import tax... that would be the price for a used 414 around here.
 
One of the problems you'll run into with the Microphone-Parts, Advanced Audio, 3U Audio, and any other cheap "CK12" capsule made in China is that they're actually just edge terminated K67 capsules. So your omni pattern will have a noticeable rise in the highs, versus the original C12 capsule which advertised a relatively even frequency response regardless of pattern. So even if you can get a similar sound in cardioid, it'll be off in omni and figure 8 and the intermediate patterns.

Now the current C414 capsules are fine if you want a modern C414. But I'd say on the cheap get the teflon EB capsule. You won't get a proper C12/C414 sound from a Mic-Parts capsule, it's just not possible because it's not built the same way as a CK12.

If you want the classic C12/C414 sound you need Tim's CT12 or a similar capsule (the Beesneez one sounds nice too). If you want the flat sounding C414 EB sound by the teflon EB replacement capsule. If you want the modern C414 sound buy the XLS or XLII replacement capsules.

I'm sure you could get a close enough cardioid only mic with the RK-12 if you spent enough time tweaking the circuit, and you would want some sort of EQ cap in there. But once you switch to omni it's a very different story. The RK-12 will have something like a +7-8 dB boost peaking at 10k.
 
Icantthinkofaname said:
One of the problems you'll run into with the Microphone-Parts, Advanced Audio, 3U Audio, and any other cheap "CK12" capsule made in China is that they're actually just edge terminated K67 capsules. So your omni pattern will have a noticeable rise in the highs, versus the original C12 capsule which advertised a relatively even frequency response regardless of pattern. So even if you can get a similar sound in cardioid, it'll be off in omni and figure 8 and the intermediate patterns.

Now the current C414 capsules are fine if you want a modern C414. But I'd say on the cheap get the teflon EB capsule. You won't get a proper C12/C414 sound from a Mic-Parts capsule, it's just not possible because it's not built the same way as a CK12.

If you want the classic C12/C414 sound you need Tim's CT12 or a similar capsule (the Beesneez one sounds nice too). If you want the flat sounding C414 EB sound by the teflon EB replacement capsule. If you want the modern C414 sound buy the XLS or XLII replacement capsules.

I'm sure you could get a close enough cardioid only mic with the RK-12 if you spent enough time tweaking the circuit, and you would want some sort of EQ cap in there. But once you switch to omni it's a very different story. The RK-12 will have something like a +7-8 dB boost peaking at 10k.

Interesting. thanks for the info.
 
Icantthinkofaname said:
One of the problems you'll run into with the Microphone-Parts, Advanced Audio, 3U Audio, and any other cheap "CK12" capsule made in China is that they're actually just edge terminated K67 capsules. So your omni pattern will have a noticeable rise in the highs, versus the original C12 capsule which advertised a relatively even frequency response regardless of pattern. So even if you can get a similar sound in cardioid, it'll be off in omni and figure 8 and the intermediate patterns.
Have you actually tried this?
My limited experience with edge terminated K67s is that it is the Fig-8 that goes wonky.

Anyone have measurements of inexpensive 'CK12' capsules in all three patterns? ie omni, cardioid & Fig-8 ?

I can't see any reason why a edge terminated K67 can't be tuned to have the 'same' response regardless of pattern. 

But I've never designed & built a variable pattern LDC ... so might be pontificating out of the wrong orifice  ;)
 
camarada78 said:
Since a top quality c12 clone capsule is very expensive (200-375 dollars ) and there are - apparently - genuine AKG 414 capsules for sale for much less (130-180 dollars), Why not build a C12 clone using a modern 414 capsule? Will it sound too much like the C12vr?

I mean, the capsule holder is way different but it appears to be not much of a hassle to adapt and worth the 150-200 dollar difference.

Links for 'EB' or 'BULS':

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/521125-akg-2072z00090-silver-condenser-capsule-for-c414eb

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/246932-akg-2072z00050-mic-element-for-c414buls

PS: i'm very suspicious of these capsules.
There is nothing wrong with this capsules. They are genuine replacement parts for modern C414. BTW, they sound just right ;)
 
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