Modded Apex mic a good choice?

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 9:33 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/APEX-435-MICROPHONE-WITH-PELUSO-CEK-89-CAPSULE_W0QQitemZ7412260535QQcategoryZ29950QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I'm looking for something fairly flexible....Ideally i was trying to find one with multipile patterns but I saw this and thought it seemed like a great deal. The chart listed on there shows a pretty flat response, which I find appealing. I don't really have any other mics ( an Sm57 and old Shure Beta Green 5.0 electret condensor vocal mic are the only others of consequence).

Does anybody see this mic as a good opputunity to get a great sounding mic on a good budget. I have read that the capsule makes the biggest difference, and this mic is modded to replace the chinese capsule with a peluso one...what do you guys think?

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 10:13 pm

Here is the beautiful thing about your selection. You have a limited budget but want that U87 sound for $200? I researched this person's web site at eBay and I believe that you are getting a nice product that may yield better results than the Chinese capsules...... which he is also selling and says that they are superb sounding Chinese capsules that were better than the previous Chinese capsules so, what is it that you hope to actually accomplish by this purchase that could not be accomplished otherwise? I have seen Samson large diaphragm FET microphones with sizable transformers for $80. So I bought a pair. I thought they sounded lousy so I gave them away to a friend who says that they are the best sounding vocal Mike for their lead singer in their band compared to anything else they had that costs substantially more. Go figure? But it's tough being a small-business person, I know, I am but he looks like he is doing something that is legitimately for the love of audio. I don't believe he's going to become a millionaire selling these things since he also sells little metal rocking horse toys on eBay as well.

Microphone prices being what they are these days it looks like it would give you another color for your palate. One day you might get some really fine microphones and this one will go more towards the back of your microphone drawer. But I think you will still continue to pull it out from time to time because it will sound good on " this or that"? Besides no matter what somebody tells you about the response that certain microphones exhibit, there is quite an art in the creation of these things. Frankly I think most of it is a crapshoot when it comes to the lesser expensive microphones? And you don't know if you're going to like it until you hear it? Find out what their return policy is? Compare it to a Shure SM 58? Will a benefit you or will it denigrate you? Because it's an artsy thing, I think it is still all win-win for you? Go for it!

Listen to your mother
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:04 pm

Quote:

what is it that you hope to actually accomplish by this purchase that could not be accomplished otherwise?

I have read elsewhere that one of the biggest impacts on the sound of a mic is the capsule. It seemed logical therefore that this modded mic would out-perform other mics I could try to find in this price range (all of which are bound to be Chinese made with Chinese capsules).

I belive those capsules he's selling are the ones that orginally come with the Apex mics. Obviously he's a small operation, so he's trying to get rid of them...of course he would play them up and say they sound superior to other chinese capsules...he's trying to sell them. But obviously he replaced the capsules for a reason.

Does anyone else have any thoughts as to wether this is a good move or not? It just seems to me that I could spend as much as 400 on a chinese mic ( and I don't really have 400 to spare) and still have it be all chinese.

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 10:13 am

Well, I don't know what you're waiting for if this is the Mike you want. It looks like a reasonably good deal so go for it! I'm not all that down on Chinese stuff. As long as it's made by the best Chinese children slave laborers available? But let's be practical here, most all of the affordable equipment on the market today is being manufactured in China! So why would you shun the Chinese capsules? They are a crapshoot sure, some are good some are not but that's true with everything. Personally as a real audio person I buy a piece of equipment for its sound and/or its reputation to begin with. You don't know what the sound our reputation of these microphones are other than they are condenser/capacitor microphones. Just realize that small-business guys frequently go out of business often so that whatever customer support you believe is there may in fact vanish quickly? But that's not a reason not to buy it. Microphones are like underwear, you had your favorites you have your standbys.

I like pink microphones with lace
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 10:14 am

Well, I don't know what you're waiting for if this is the Mike you want. It looks like a reasonably good deal so go for it! I'm not all that down on Chinese stuff. As long as it's made by the best Chinese children slave laborers available? But let's be practical here, most all of the affordable equipment on the market today is being manufactured in China! So why would you shun the Chinese capsules? They are a crapshoot sure, some are good some are not but that's true with everything. Personally as a real audio person I buy a piece of equipment for its sound and/or its reputation to begin with. You don't know what the sound our reputation of these microphones are other than they are condenser/capacitor microphones. Just realize that small-business guys frequently go out of business often so that whatever customer support you believe is there may in fact vanish quickly? But that's not a reason not to buy it. Microphones are like underwear, you had your favorites you have your standbys.

I like pink microphones with lace
Ms. Remy Ann David

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