Another CK12 Thread - what's available in 2023?

[Tim Campbell]

Really curious to hear your through about opr vs tc.

I will just inject that I don't believe I have sold to any capsules to private customers the last 5 years and in that time my capsule has gone through many refinements so although it might point out differences with an outdated model, my capsule today is based on what I feel is an even better benchmark. I hope soon I can return to selling to the DIY community.

 

[Delta Sigma]

Really curious to hear your through about opr vs tc.

Might be a long while before I would have the time to compare the two in the same circuit. I put a CT12 in my 251 build once quickly as a test to compare to my Beesneez (gold) CK12 that I always found too bright. I have a pair of CT12s in C12 builds, which I wouldn't split up. There's a big difference in those circuits, mostly low end. I have a 30M grid resistor in my 251.

The C12s with CT12s are great. They work on nearly everything. They are nearly as versatile as a U67, but without having to boost anything afterward - if that makes sense. I don't see them as a go-to vocal mic, though they are great on vocals.

The problem with getting people's opinion on capsules, is that I might prefer OPR on vocals, TC on overheads, and BN on acoustic guitar. You might prefer something completely different.

I do wonder if people who haven't heard a proper CK12 can comprehend the quality of Tim/Ben/Mark built CK12s. I do love centre terminated capsules for some applications, but these CK12s are on another level. Put them in a suitable circuit in a decent quality body and it's like a cheat code. Yeah, CK12s are a pricey, but there is no comparison to an edge terminated K67 in a fancy-looking, vintage-claiming, mic you can buy when picking up guitar strings.

 

[Delta Sigma]

I will just inject that I don't believe I have sold to any capsules to private customers the last 5 years and in that time my capsule has gone through many refinements so although it might point out differences with an outdated model, my capsule today is based on what I feel is an even better benchmark. I hope soon I can return to selling to the DIY community.

It's funny to think about this, because when I first fired up a C12 build with your CT12 about four years ago it blew my mind. Curious about your new benchmark! I'm also curious what manufacturers are using your CT12. I know Flea sells C12s with it, but not sure who else.

 

[Tim Campbell]

Well I just helped FLEA transition over into making their own CK12. Hopefully there will be some news soon.

 

[OPR]

I bought an OPR CK12 that showed up yesterday. I had a Beesneez aluminum CK12 in an Ela M 251 build that is meant to be primarily a vocal mic. I haven't measured anything, but I did a quick test last night. I also have two TC CT12s, a Beesneez gold CK12 from 2016 that was overly bright (aluminum was the replacement) but I only directly compared the OPR and Alu BN last night. My completely subjective findings:

The BN Alu CK12 has incredible low frequency translation and has the most of the "3D" CK12 effect of all the capsules I have. Higher frequencies tend to sound more surgical, or mechanical than mids/lows. I don't care for its sibilance and its hyped high frequencies reach lower than OPR/TC, making it a much brighter sounding capsule. It is an incredible capsule, but I needed to install a plate filter to use it as a vocal mic. I plan to design a different circuit for this one, likely a cathode follower.

I had hopes of the OPR CK12 being the best suited for a vocal mic out of currently CK12s. When I powered it up, I instantly loved it and wondered if it was confirmation bias. I had to walk away, and come back because I wasn't trusting my ears. I listened again in the morning, and I'm pretty certain I now have the best vocal mic I'll ever get to hear in my life. It has such nice hyped highs without being sibilant. Someone posted earlier in this thread that they found it warmer than other CK12s, which I agree with, but it doesn't sound dark.

This is just my first impressions, but so far, wow. I'm really looking forward to trying it on more sources.

Thanks for the great feedback Neil! I'm glad you're enjoying the capsule!
There really are many valid ways to tune a Ck12, Akg seemingly had different tuning points depending on the product they went into 251, C12, 414EB. not to mention version changes some general production inconsistencies. I'm always happy to make adjustment to meet the customers vision/ objectives.

 

[HerbertR]

Which value did you use? And across which resistor? R3? Thanks H

Hello, I reduced the 499K Ohm resistor of R5 to about 400K Ohm in parallel with a 2M Ohm resistor. This results in about 53V with the voltage divider R3/R5. I prefer this more in my 251 circuit and using the Beesneez.