MXL V69 Tube Condenser Mic
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:50 pm
Been reading countless reviews on tube condenser mics. Today, I got my courage up and made a selection. I went to 'Guitar Center' ('shameless plug') and asked them if they would match 'Musician's Friend' (yet another shameless plug) for the price of this mic. They agreed, and sold it to me for $219 instead of $299. Which cinched the deal for me. So I pulled out my plastic and handed it to the nice man behind the counter that had tatoos all over his face and head. With tax, it came to ~$240.
What I bought is the MXL V69 Mogami Edition Tube Condenser Mic. It comes with an acoustic mic suspension, foam wind screen, the power supply, a special 7-pin Mogami cable (mic to power supply), a Mogami 3-pin XLR cable, and a nifty aluminum flight case. Plus - a three year warranty from MXL.
I hooked it all up and ran it into the Behringer 2200. But then, I realized there was a GE 5-star 5751 tube in my tube collection that didn't have anything to do. So taking the mic apart became the next high point of the day.
Never can keep my hands off a screwdriver - it seems.
It came apart easily enough. Rolled the stock 12AT7 tube out carefully, and in went the 5751. The original 12AT7 sounded quite nice in the mic, and for recording - which I don't do any more - that would be leaving well enough alone. The stock tube has a nice bass roll-off, but a Mullard 4024 would be the real upgrade replacement giving it an overall better recording quality. No Mullards in my collection right now <sigh>. However. the GE 5 star 5751 that I do have gives it a real punch without losing the mics subtle qualities on the highs. The bass has been much improved without making the mic lose any quality whatsoever.
Got some audio reports, and everyone noticed the difference in my sound without me fishing for compliments. Not to mention, I put another tube back into the audio chain. I may update this as the week goes on, as I need to see how well it works out with DX. Clarity and punch were easily recognized over my favorite mic until this time, the MXL V88. The V69 may yet work out to be part of my audio Voodoo. So far - it's amazing for the bang fer buck quality.
We will see . . .
What I bought is the MXL V69 Mogami Edition Tube Condenser Mic. It comes with an acoustic mic suspension, foam wind screen, the power supply, a special 7-pin Mogami cable (mic to power supply), a Mogami 3-pin XLR cable, and a nifty aluminum flight case. Plus - a three year warranty from MXL.
I hooked it all up and ran it into the Behringer 2200. But then, I realized there was a GE 5-star 5751 tube in my tube collection that didn't have anything to do. So taking the mic apart became the next high point of the day.
Never can keep my hands off a screwdriver - it seems.
It came apart easily enough. Rolled the stock 12AT7 tube out carefully, and in went the 5751. The original 12AT7 sounded quite nice in the mic, and for recording - which I don't do any more - that would be leaving well enough alone. The stock tube has a nice bass roll-off, but a Mullard 4024 would be the real upgrade replacement giving it an overall better recording quality. No Mullards in my collection right now <sigh>. However. the GE 5 star 5751 that I do have gives it a real punch without losing the mics subtle qualities on the highs. The bass has been much improved without making the mic lose any quality whatsoever.
Got some audio reports, and everyone noticed the difference in my sound without me fishing for compliments. Not to mention, I put another tube back into the audio chain. I may update this as the week goes on, as I need to see how well it works out with DX. Clarity and punch were easily recognized over my favorite mic until this time, the MXL V88. The V69 may yet work out to be part of my audio Voodoo. So far - it's amazing for the bang fer buck quality.
We will see . . .