AKG CK 69-ULS

B

brigadoon

Active member
Hi,
Matt, you advice me the AKG 300b+CK93 for indorr interviews and the good CK69. If I go for the AKG C480B and I buy the CK69 I've read:
CK 69-ULS
 
* Two shotgun capsules in one, using two-part interference tube
* Ultra-low noise
* Long shotgun for recording from medium distances
* Short shotgun for video close-up recording

Could I don't have to buy the CK63 for indoor interviews?. It's the capsule (the short one) from the CK 69 as good as the CK 63.
I think it could be a good solution for me and sell the sennheiser K6+ME66.
Thanks. ;)
 
Re: AKG CK 69-ULS

brigadoon... the ck69 and ck63 are totally different. If you want a mic for interiors you better get a hyper (ck63 or 300b/ck93)... but asside from that I have some other stuff to tell you about mics...

be careful... mics are both addictive AND subjective. That means that to SOME people no two mics sound alike and to others the differences are minimal... some days I'm a lot more opinionated then others about mics. Usually what happens is I find myself in a situation where I constantly hear minor things that I want to change in a shoot and I end up exhausting ALL my possibilities on the shoot. When that happens and I'm STILL not happy... I consider adding another mic to the mic bag.

I decided to check out the AKG ULS line (480b) because of ALL the incredible specs that they list... plus it's just a very VERSATILE line of modular mics. You see I really like the IDEA of modular mics... I just wasn't happy with the Sennheiser me/k6 series of modulars. In my honest (and somewhat experienced) opinion... the AKG ULS line is what Sennheiser SHOULD offer in a modular line. It's a pretty good compromise of absolute, top-of-the-line mics of each respective type... omni, cardioid, hyper-cardioid, super-cardioid (short shot), and lobar (long shot)... so with 4 caps (and one "extension tube") you cover 5 modular mic solutions.

Again, in my honest opinion... the AKG mics compare well to very high-end mics! To my ears the ck63 sounds almost as good as the Schoeps mk41... but not quite as good... and the ck69 short sounds almost as good as the Sennheiser 416... but not quite as good. I actually hear more difference in the ck69 and 416 then I hear in the ck63 and Schoeps. So I would say that the omni, cardioid, and hyper represent the best value of the ULS line. Since the ck69 is pretty damn pricey I'm not as impressed with it. Sure it sounds really nice and I don't think it has much of a tell-tale shotgun character at all... but it's just worth what it costs... that's about it.

Maybe I'm getting repetitive here, but the value of this system lies in the versatility and modularity. The mics all sound good, but on an unlimited budget I may or may not go with these... and if you have no future plans of adding at least ONE other cap... then I'd be sure this is what you want... 'cause the $aving$ doesn't get significant until you start to build a modular system that you can pull from. Consider the 480b the cover-charge... then all the caps are cheap! But if all you do is get the 480b and add the ck69 cap to it... you still bought a pricey mic! (I think the ck63 is a better value.)

What I like about the AKG is what I like about any really good mic. They sound clean and crisp... very good detail... and a usable pattern. Overall I'm pretty happy with 'em... The thing I REALLY like about 'em is the choice of flat, 70hz, 150hz cuts... and that combines with 0db, +6db, and -10db... with the 300b you have to choose between flat, flat and down 10db, and 0db with 75hz cut... 3 choices as opposed to any combination of the 6 on the 480b.

So should you buy into the AKG ULS line? I say if ALL you want is a hyper for indoor use then get the 300b/ck93... it's cheaper and it's pretty good... BUT if you plan to ADD caps as you go then I'd pay up for the 480b because the 480 line of modulars isn't that much more then the 300 line of modulars... and I don't really like the 300 line's shotguns at all.

I wouldn't buy the 480b/ck69 with the idea that it's going to be an indoor mic though... it SHOULD work for many controlled interiors, but I don't consider it an indoor mic and it wouldn't be the first mic I'd try indoors. The ck63 is a better choice for interiors.

Ironically the 416 works great in a lot of the interiors I've tried it in... when acoustics are controlled of course. So that's why I say if you aren't going to eventually buy several caps then I'd consider something like the 416... If you add the cost of the 480b with the ck69 then you're definitely in the 416's neighborhood. BUT to support the AKG... with the 416 you lose ALL of the versatility of the AKG system... no boost, cut, or frequency cuts... with the 416 you get what you hear and there's no changing it... and there have been times that those switches on the AKG made me use it over the 416. Situations change... and depending on the LAST experience I have with a mic... my opinions do too.

I'm sorry if this doesn't clear anything up for you... I guess all I'm trying to say is that there are ups and downs for many mics that fall into the same price range. I'd keep your ears and eyes open as you consider any expensive mic.

If you're going to build on the system... then the AKG is great... if not... then it's a flip of the coin... I'd still be happy with the AKG even if ALL I had was the ck69, but half the time I'd use the 416 and half the time I'd use the AKG...

I hope this makes some sense to you... feel free to expand on your question if needed.
 
Re: AKG CK 69-ULS

Matt thanks four your time and your knowledge. ;) You're a bible.
My last desire is having a good mic for indoor's interviews and a good shotgun for exteriors. I don't like the K6+ME66 (I have those), above all for indoors. If the CK 69 is good shotgun for exteriors I could decide for the C 480B + CK63 in first time and then sell the sennheiser K6+ME66 and buy the CK69.
The sennheiser M416 I know is one of the best's choices for exteriors but it's 826 euros here in Spain, and the AKG's C480B+CK63+CK69 are 1000 euros. So, I could have all the solution buying the AKG's... if they are a good choice and quality. Don't you think so?
Thanks again Matt. :)
 
Re: AKG CK 69-ULS

When you put it like that I agree that the AKG is a solid choice. After doing a little research I felt confident enough to buy the 480b/ck63 and then later the ck69. I could have returned 'em and I already had a 416... so the fact that I kept these mics tells you something. Obviously I like them!

I don't know if you've noticed or not... but I've tried to tame my enthusiasm for mic recommendations down just a bit. I tend to be obsessive/compulsive about details... and I don't want to be responsible for making other people as nuts about sound as I am. Believe it or not I really do try to present this stuff in an unbiased manner... according to my own experience.

The reasons I would say you'll be happy with the AKG route is the same reasons I've been happy with them... You really will use the variable output settings (-10db, 0db, +6db) and you really will use the variable bass cut (0db, 70hz, 150hz)... and when a situation comes up that you need those features, you'll be glad you have 'em. Aside from those points the AKGs sound really good (IMHO)... with extended detail, super-low noise, and phenomenal bass (unless you dial it out). Also the ck69 is in the class of high-end guns because it has a much richer and more detailed sound then cheaper shotguns... also, when distances get larger, the extra length tube is a plus. Realize though that the "dual shotgun" is really just a SHORT gun (like the 416) but at the end you can screw on an extra length of interference tube... so the end result is a long gun, but I could see where people think they're getting two distinct items for the "dual shotgun"... Not so. Performance-wise you still get a long and short gun... I just think it's important to realize it's not two seperate shotgun caps...

As far as performance goes... it is like getting 3 mics... so you should be pretty happy with 'em.

Please try to check 'em out before you lay down your Euros though...
 
Re: AKG CK 69-ULS

Thanks again Matt, I value all your advises and solid arguments. ;)
When I'll decide I'll tell tou. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top