I bought an ELUX 251 a couple months back, and it sounds better than I imagined. Very smooth.

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How would you compare that baby to say the U87 or the VM1?

i wasn't as impressed by the elux, but i only heard it at AES. the U95s, which i own, is amazing. the U99 is also great. the K47 copy thing is pretty damn good...
--o

Originally posted by owen muir:
i wasn't as impressed by the elux, but i only heard it at AES. the U95s, which i own, is amazing. the U99 is also great. the K47 copy thing is pretty damn good...
--o

--o Thanks for your reply. I have 1 U99 and am thinking of another for a stereo pair and at the same time, pick up the E47 as well. I know it is a new release for SD, but there is literally no one commenting about this thing. Julian stated somewhere that he had heard it or that people he knew had heard it at the convention and were impressed. Apparently, not many have used one in the studio yet. Thanks again.
Steve

Mercuri, I haven't used an 87 or the Brauner, so I can't compare. I can't say enough good things about the ELUX though.

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Hmmmm... I'm curious because people seem to be liking their Neumanns better than the best that Soundelux has to offer. Anyone else out there heard the ELUX 251 as compared to other top-notch mics?

yeah, I picked one up recently--used, for about 3 grand... we did a little shoot out against an original 251, and all I can say is the guy who owns the original 251 was pissed! If you like 251's, then SD did a hell of a job copying them, there is no way around that. The big question now is if they are consistent. Also, 251's like most old mics, sound different among themselves, so never expect 2 mics to sound exactly the same. After a while we noticed that the original 251was just very slightly smoother in the top, but not quite as happening lower down. All 5 of us there decided that the SD could easily have been another original 251 ( a couple of these guys were heavy hitters...) And for 15 grand less, I can now buy that tiger skin rug and dozen lava lamps I've been eyeing------ow!

uh, one more thing-- we had a killer U67 and C12 up, and the soundelux 251 more than held its own-- it is, as they say, a different color. We were checking them out on male vox and piano.

Originally posted by Mercuri:
Hmmmm... I'm curious because people seem to be liking their Neumanns better than the best that Soundelux has to offer. Anyone else out there heard the ELUX 251 as compared to other top-notch mics?

Sounds like your sample of people is unrepresentative of reality because it's exactly the opposite from what I have found. 7 votes so far for SD on this thread. I think you'll find that they beat out the newer Neumann's 9/10 times. The old Neumann's are a different issue, but who wants outragous pricing and inconsistency from one mic to the next?

I talked to Brad Lunde a few weeks ago it's not shipping yet. He was figuring middle to end of March. Given the quality of the other Soundelux mics I have no reason to believe that the E47 would suck.

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs:
I talked to Brad Lunde a few weeks ago it's not shipping yet. He was figuring middle to end of March. Given the quality of the other Soundelux mics I have no reason to believe that the E47 would suck.

Thanks for the info...I coulda shoulda called myself. FWIW, I was using an U87 and thought it sounded pretty good on most stuff but damn, this U99 is awesome. BTW, my U87 is a 1973 model, has been cleaned but never modified. This may not be a fair comparision but, the the 2 mics are in the same price range.
Steve

A U87 and U99 aren't in similar price ranges unless you buy a new U87. Who would buy a new one with so many used ones floating around?

Originally posted by Mercuri:
Hmmmm... I'm curious because people seem to be liking their Neumanns better than the best that Soundelux has to offer. Anyone else out there heard the ELUX 251 as compared to other top-notch mics?

I don't knowto which Neumanns you refer... but I sold my 47's and 67's and replaced them with U-95S's and U-99's... my 'original' 251 now lives out at Longview Farm where it's come in handy on some occassions... but regularly gets it's ass kicked by the Brauner VM-1 "KHE" (which may very well be the only microphone I've ever used that actually sounds 'god like' on every voice I've put in front of it!!!).

As far as "vintage mics" go, IMNSHO there is damn little need for them as companies like Soundelux, Brauner, and a few others are building solid, reliable, and excellent sounding products. This wasn't the case just a few short years ago... but finally there are some manufacturers that are building quality products at reasonable prices.

As for the original question about the E-47, no it's not yet released (the mechanics are correct, it's a metal work issue at the moment)... but they should be out within the next couple of weeks. I'm certainly psyched to check them out... but I know I won't be selling my U-95S's anytime soon... they more than suit my purposes. YMMV.

the Brauner VM-1 "KHE" (which may very well be the only microphone I've ever used that actually sounds 'god like' on every voice I've put in front of it!!!).

Fletcher, would the Brauner VM-1 "KHE" be a top mic you'd use?

Originally posted by Fletcher:

Originally posted by Mercuri:
Hmmmm... I'm curious because people seem to be liking their Neumanns better than the best that Soundelux has to offer. Anyone else out there heard the ELUX 251 as compared to other top-notch mics?

I don't knowto which Neumanns you refer... but I sold my 47's and 67's and replaced them with U-95S's and U-99's... my 'original' 251 now lives out at Longview Farm where it's come in handy on some occassions... but regularly gets it's ass kicked by the Brauner VM-1 "KHE" (which may very well be the only microphone I've ever used that actually sounds 'god like' on every voice I've put in front of it!!!).

As far as "vintage mics" go, IMNSHO there is damn little need for them as companies like Soundelux, Brauner, and a few others are building solid, reliable, and excellent sounding products. This wasn't the case just a few short years ago... but finally there are some manufacturers that are building quality products at reasonable prices.

As for the original question about the E-47, no it's not yet released (the mechanics are correct, it's a metal work issue at the moment)... but they should be out within the next couple of weeks. I'm certainly psyched to check them out... but I know I won't be selling my U-95S's anytime soon... they more than suit my purposes. YMMV.Fletcher, thanks for the update on the E47. What are your comments re: the differences between the U95S and U99.
Thanks, Steve

The U99 is based on a U67 and the U95S is supposed to be based on a 47. Take it from there.

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs:
The U99 is based on a U67 and the U95S is supposed to be based on a 47. Take it from there.

Thanks Jay, I was under the impression that the U95S was based on a U67. So, is the E47 an improved U95S or a different animal?
Steve

Would anyone care to throw the Lawson L47MP into the mix as we are discussing quality Neumann copies?

As a home recording enthusiast, I need to spread my money around various needs (preamps, etc.) and can't have every flavor mic under the sun.

The L47MP goes for $2,000 as does the Soundelux U99. The comparison may be a little apples and oranges as the Lawson covers the U47 teritory and the U99 covers a U67.

At any rate, I am looking for a top flight vocal mic (approximately $2,000 range) that can handle a broad range of vocalist or at least has a strong chance to do well with both male and female singers. The Lawson has a varible pattern that changes the response and timbre of the mic, which looks like it is more flexible. The Neumann U67 has been successsful with singers of both sexes so I would expect the U99 to be similar.

Any idea of what the cost of the Soundelux E47 will be?

:eek: Do you think any of these mics are better suited for digital recording? I suspect that the recording medium is a factor in buying a mic. For example, I've noticed from these pages that the brightness of the 414's have made that mic less popular in digital recording.

May I also toss in the innertube Mag Mic?
Great sound, tons of output, voodoo tube circuit, durable body. <--wink)
or the U87 retrofit?
Give stayne a call, and I am sure he will arrange a demo, he is in Santa Barbera 805-963-3941. [/plug]

Originally posted by Sir Bob:
Would anyone care to throw the Lawson L47MP into the mix as we are discussing quality Neumann copies?

As a home recording enthusiast, I need to spread my money around various needs (preamps, etc.) and can't have every flavor mic under the sun.

The L47MP goes for $2,000 as does the Soundelux U99. The comparison may be a little apples and oranges as the Lawson covers the U47 teritory and the U99 covers a U67.

At any rate, I am looking for a top flight vocal mic (approximately $2,000 range) that can handle a broad range of vocalist or at least has a strong chance to do well with both male and female singers. The Lawson has a varible pattern that changes the response and timbre of the mic, which looks like it is more flexible. The Neumann U67 has been successsful with singers of both sexes so I would expect the U99 to be similar.

Any idea of what the cost of the Soundelux E47 will be?

:eek: Do you think any of these mics are better suited for digital recording? I suspect that the recording medium is a factor in buying a mic. For example, I've noticed from these pages that the brightness of the 414's have made that mic less popular in digital recording.

:w: BUMP!!! I thought I'd give this a bump rather than start a new topic: Buying Your 1st $2,000 Mic--Soundelux U99 vs. Lawson L47MP?????

Any more thoughts?

There has been a lot of discussion about the L47 on various threads here. Suggest doing a search.

I'm an avid user myself, but would like to try the U99 at some point too. While the L47 is excellent on many instruments and vocals (especially male) there are some female vocals (and occasional male) where there might be better options.

I still think a lot of people's first impressions of various mics are strongly influenced by the preamps with which they are auditioning them. To be fair, you should really have a variety of preamps when you are testing the mic. (For many vocals, I have found the Tube Tech MP-1A to work very well with the Lawson. But if I am looking for something edgier, I might go with my Daking. As a counter-example, I never have had much luck getting a sound I liked on vox with an L47 going through an API 3124).

Also take a look at the Brauner Valvet.

I chose it (by a hair) over all the Soundelux mics. I didn't get the Elux. I liked the U99 the best of the Soundelux.

I also agree that these new breed of mics has finally made it uneccassary to go hunting for good condition vintage Neumanns.

I'm no longer worried about something breaking. Just buy a new one.

Sueform wrote:
Fletcher, would the Brauner VM-1 "KHE" be a top mic you'd use?

Yep, I use them often, but not exclusively. I have to say that the more I use it the more I like it... but there are certainly a plethora of other microphones that have the capability to do genius work... the U-99, U-95S among them.

I haven't spent enough time with the Lawson's to have found all the places I like them... I will say that I have found them to be excellent drum mics the few times I have used them...

As always, YMMV.

Originally posted by Sir Bob:

:eek: Do you think any of these mics are better suited for digital recording? I suspect that the recording medium is a factor in buying a mic. For example, I've noticed from these pages that the brightness of the 414's have made that mic less popular in digital recording.

I don't consider that when I'm buying or sticking a mic in front of something. It either sounds good on the source or it doesn't. I've used 414's going to digital formats lots of times.

I go with HuH? 's suggestion. I have still to find a better mic than a new MagMic - period

I've had the U99 for almost a week now and so far it kicks butt on my male vocals. Very smooth and warm, yet clear. I was not impressed with it on my girlfriend's vocals though. She has an incredible top end and this mic doesn't seem to capture her voice the way I would want it to. Just a lack of top end with her.
I'm going to be using it into a Great River MP-2NV this weekend. Dan Kennedy recommended the U95 with this preamp too with male vocals.
Allen :)

Allen, just curious if you swept the patterns on the U99 when tracking your girl friends voice? We all know that no mic is right for everyone...just curious.

I would still like to know what the differences will be between the E47 and U95S...anybody?

Steve

"I would still like to know what the differences will be between the E47
and U95S...anybody?"

Probably $2000.

Originally posted by THETHRILLFACTOR:
"I would still like to know what the differences will be between the E47
and U95S...anybody?"

Probably $2000.

So far, the street price difference I've found is less than $2K. I was hoping somebody here familiar with the U95 may have heard an E47 pre-production model before it's release in April. Guess I'll bring in both and hear for myself.
Steve

Hey Steve,
I thought I swept the patterns on the power supply while she was singing, but maybe not. We just played with it for about 20 minutes. The Rode NTK grabbed her top end so much better, but wasn't as smooth on the mids and lows as the Soundelux was.
Allen