Anybody have a Icon Space 251 Mic ? How does it sound? - New 251 Clone -

[commanderberti]

https://iconproaudio.com/product/space-251/

thanks for every information

 

[Barry Hufker]

It is a handsome mic, but I couldn't find any mention as to who made the capsule, and to me that is a huge red flag.
Further, the price on Amazon is only $669, which would be too little IMO if there was a really good capsule inside.
https://www.amazon.com/iCON-Audio-Space-251-Microphone/dp/B0CRWL3BBR

 

[SubSpec]

I'm about 90% it's the same folks behind the Violet and JZ mics, i.e. the Latvian half of what used to be Blue. That said, with scant information about where it's produced I wouldn't assume it's actually made in Latvia or to the standards of some of those other brands (which have wide quality variations themselves). All of which to say, I wouldn't take a chance on them myself but would love to hear from anyone who has.

 

[thomasdf]

IMHO it looks ugly, is def made in China with Chinese parts (except that cocorico output cap) by the looks / price of it. Capsule is probably your generic random CK12 inspired wannabe.
Not even 3D rendering can't hide that 7 pin XLR we all know and hate.
It seems pretty much based on @poctop 's PCB design ? Wonder what he thinks of it

Does it sound bad in the end ? I don't know but with that kind of money well spent and considering you've signed up on a DIY forum I am sure you can build a 251 inspired mic that eats this one for breakfast.

 

[garp]

And i am also sure that there will be better breakfast

 

[thomasdf]

Gosh I had another look, the 3D rendering and IA generated and poorly edited pictures... It looks so squetchy, almost like a scam attempt haha. I am never putting my credit card number anywhere near this !

edit : that dude with the guitar standing behind a photoshop-added microphone, looking a 3D rendering of the 7 pin XLR connector of death, in ugly cheesy copper finish, this is all too much haha

 

[garp]

At first i thought it was the last generation of electrical razors, but seriously, a microphone ? My advice for ICON , fire the designers (all of them), make pizzas, sneakers, or ... razors ?

 

[SubSpec]

Welp, the Blue fanboy in me gave in on one of Icon's offerings, the Martian. I was particularly swayed by the mention that it is handmade in Latvia, well mostly by the massive price drop to $149. I figure, it's more or less a Blue Mouse with maybe lower quality control and maybe lower quality materials / components. I won't link to it directly as I don't want to come off as a shill, but there is one more of the Icon Martian I bought still up on Reverb (actually directly from Kellards Pro Audio might save tax money, too late for me though) in case anyone else is equally brave.

 

[pmfalcman]

It sparkles and shines with its well-rounded bottom on a pivotal cable with distinct pins and low, electroplated self noise. And has some '50 and '60 hand made ghosts inside.
Does a man need anything more in life?

 

[ElSmurf]

Just had a fun little stroll around their website. Feels like a one stop shop for building a project studio - in a parallel universe. Very strong communist vibe.

The contact page also says the "global home office" is in Hong Kong.

 

[RuudNL]

If it doesn't look like a M251, it is no M251...
(It seems they use the crazy reed relays for the pattern switching.)

 

[commanderberti]

If it doesn't look like a M251, it is no M251...
(It seems they use the crazy reed relays for the pattern switching.)

no, it seems like a normal relay https://media.distrelec.com/Web/Downloads/ta/_e/znDS2Y_data_e.pdf

 

[RuudNL]

The original M251 didn't have any relays. It is possible to do the pattern switching with a simple switch, no relays needed. (And I know it, because I designed a M251 clone for a microphone company.)
Imagine: backplate at +60 V, front membrane at 0 V. Signal taken from the backplate:
-Rear membrane at 0 V = Omni
-Rear membrane not connected = Cardioid
-Rear membrane at +120 V = Figure-8
(All these relays certainly won't improve the reliability...)

 

[commanderberti]

 

[RuudNL]

I just watched the youtube video.
The voiceover uses a lot of words, but doesn't really say anything other than that it's all 'super'...

 

[commanderberti]

I just watched the youtube video.
The voiceover uses a lot of words, but doesn't really say anything other than that it's all 'super'...

yes.. your right.. i oder one, i will test it ASAP and post my results here..

 

[SubSpec]

FWIW The Martian is solid, but weird. Mine doesn't have a gold drop capsule, instead it has an odd grid pattern sputtering, where the grid lines are more lightly sputtered. I also found out the hard way that the little screw sticking out of the bottom doesn't hold the headbasket together but instead it's the capsule grounding point and if you remove it (as I did) you're screwed.

The headbasket front and back are glued together and it is some strong glue at that. I spent hours attempting to separate them to no avail. Finally I removed the mesh instead and reattached the ground. So far I've decided to put only the fine mesh back and leave that Martian eyes out of the acoustic equation.

Aside from my own mistake in removing the screw my only complaint is the swiveling head. After working the headbasket so much it loosened the resistance, just as would happen over long term usage, and is now difficult to keep in the desired position. While my messing around is why that happened so rapidly, it's also a problem with the design and would undoubtedly happen over time regardless.

But with all that said, it sounds good. Fairly neutral and true to the source with an authoritative but natural capture of the low end.

 

[commanderberti]

FWIW The Martian is solid, but weird. Mine doesn't have a gold drop capsule, instead it has an odd grid pattern sputtering, where the grid lines are more lightly sputtered. I also found out the hard way that the little screw sticking out of the bottom doesn't hold the headbasket together but instead it's the capsule grounding point and if you remove it (as I did) you're screwed.

The headbasket front and back are glued together and it is some strong glue at that. I spent hours attempting to separate them to no avail. Finally I removed the mesh instead and reattached the ground. So far I've decided to put only the fine mesh back and leave that Martian eyes out of the acoustic equation.

Aside from my own mistake in removing the screw my only complaint is the swiveling head. After working the headbasket so much it loosened the resistance, just as would happen over long term usage, and is now difficult to keep in the desired position. While my messing around is why that happened so rapidly, it's also a problem with the design and would undoubtedly happen over time regardless.

But with all that said, it sounds good. Fairly neutral and true to the source with an authoritative but natural capture of the low end.

have you pics`?