Help me decide!!

chi_red

chi_red

Well-known member
I own a cheap Markertek boompole which works fine, but it is pain in the neck with the cable(readjusting every scene).
I am thinking about buying either

Lightwave GT-10C Coil-Wired Aluminum Boom

[glow=red,2,300]OR[/glow]

K-Tek KE110CC - Avalon Aluminum Boompole with Internal Coiled Cord

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=326895&is=REG
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=258369&is=REG

I checked them out at B&H, and it seems like the Lightwave boompole is actually better made(big locking devices, thicker XLR cable), but much heavier and more expensive.

Any advices or suggestions?
Help me decide please ???

Thanks
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Both Lightwave and K-Tek make excellent products, but I'd go with the lighter K-Tek pole unless you're really hard on gear. I don't think you can go wrong with either one, but every extra ounce will make booming for long periods more difficult. Also if you're using non-professionals as boom operators, a heavier pole will result in more mic dips into the frame and more repositioning of hands during the shot--big headaches.
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Thanks again Barry,
anyway,
is that the famous Britney Spears grilled cheese sandwich?
(or virgin Mary?)
 
Re: Help me decide!!

It's the VMGC, but that reminds me I need a new avatar now that my photoshop computer is up and running again. :)
 
Re: Help me decide!!

[quote author=Barry_S link=board=audio;num=1105918506;start=0#3 date=01/16/05 at 18:57:19]It's the VMGC, but that reminds me I need a new avatar now that my photoshop computer is up and running again.  :)[/quote]

lol! ;D

I didn't know what that avatar was. I thought it was a dirty diaper. :D
 
Re: Help me decide!!

dont touch lightwave, 2 reasons
k-teck is better product
the lightwave is not going to make it for long time :-)
 
Re: Help me decide!!

I did a thread on this very subject, but I tried to find it in the search function and I'm giving up...

The summary of that thread is... get the K-Tek.

It's the best value by far. Why? Lightest weight, cheapest, probably the best construction, Neutrik top connector and Switchcraft bottom jack... Fit and finish is very good.

Go through the gear of ANY top-paid sound guy and you'll find poles from one of only three top makers... usually only two... and Lightwave isn't one of them. The Lightwave pole was engineered to fill a nitch based on price. They set a precedent by offering a coil-cabled pole at that price... Well to their dismay K-Tek decided to make some MINOR modifications to their super-high-end poles... just to have an offering at that price point as well.

What DON'T you get with the Aluminum Avalon that you get with the Graphite Avalon? GRAPHITE... What DON'T you get with the Graphite Avalon that you get with K-Tek's top of the line poles? The fancy locking collars... THAT'S IT.

K-Tek is offering a tremendous value in these new poles. I snatched one up as quick as I could when I did the math... The K-Tek pole is SEVEN AND A HALF OUNCES lighter then the Lightwave! There isn't even that much difference in the graphite K-Tek vs. the aluminum one!

K-Tek 23.5 oz.
Lightwave 30 oz.

This is a no-brainer... you can get a pole that's just a little scaled down from it's bigger brothers... at less then half the price. The big "secret" about these K-Teks is that the economy avalons are almost as good as the high-end jobs. The actual differences are mostly cosmetic!
 
Re: Help me decide!!

I've used the Gitzo G557C carbon fiber pole and liked it a lot. It's not internally cabled, but to me that's not a big deal. It's not super long--maybe 9 ft or so, but for indie stuff it's perfect. I wouldn't get too hung up on the choice of a boom pole.
 
Re: Help me decide!!

In my original thread the Gitzo g557c was in the running as well. I think that's a real good value in a comparable pole. Just for the record the Gitzo is 18.5 ounces... according to the Gitzo site. Realistically you could easily account for the difference in weight over the Avalon by the Switchcraft jack on the bottom and the slotted mic mount on top... plus the K-Tek is aluminum vs. carbon fiber... Still, it's amazing that they'd be THAT close in weight isn't it? Aluminum is obviously the most durable material for a boompole and even then it's comparable weight to carbon fiber poles!

I agree with Barry that there's little point in getting TOO wrapped up in your pole choice... but with the facts as they stand I really think K-Tek has the budget pole market 100% locked up.
 
Re: Help me decide!!

the 3 of tyhem are very limitted boom pools and mostly good for eng style shooting .normally you dont use 1 boom in the moovie and change it depends on situation - if you are looking for drama style , ill more sudgest look for old vdb-805 in godd shape , thats 5 stage 12.5 feet boom pol with out internal cabling ( you cant put a cable inside),
very light colaps to 2.8 feet and can serv you in doco stuff ass vell
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Thanks all of you,
I am convinced with K TEK Avalon.
I have listened to you guys with my mic, recorder and headset, and I am very happy with all of them. So I am sure I am going to be very happy with the K-Tek Avaon.

hey Matt,
are you saying this 230 dollar K-Tek Avalon uses the same parts(cables, locking collars, connector etc.) as the more expensive higher end K-Tek boompoles, execpt for the material differences? Wow, nice! :D I thought the Ligthwave boompole looked nice because it seemed like it has thicker cable than K-Tek boompoles, but I could be wrong. Anyway, your test on Mkh416 vs AT4073A convinced me to buy the Audio Technica and I am very very happy so far. I just want to say thank you to you :)
 
Re: Help me decide!!

With the internally cabled poles, has anyone had a problem with the cable going bad? If so, how much of a pain is it to swap the cable out for a new one?
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Go with the K-Tek. I haven't seen any come in for repair, but we fix broken Gitzo's all the time. Gitzo poles don't hold up at all.

Internally coiled cabled ktek poles are easy to replace the cable on. Its really easy.

-Dave
 
Re: Help me decide!!

[quote author=HorseFilms link=board=audio;num=1105918506;start=0#13 date=01/17/05 at 12:41:15]With the internally cabled poles, has anyone had a problem with the cable going bad? If so, how much of a pain is it to swap the cable out for a new one?[/quote]

I have had 1 1/2 "go bad" on me but learned that it can be mostly avoided by regularly unscrewing the bottom and releasing the tension that builds up as the coil gets twisted and torqued.

Internal coiled cables make good ENG poles but they are of lower quality and gauge then I would recommend for mic level signal. You want a star-quad cable with good shielding, and noise rejection, and a relative thick gauge.

You need a good soldering gun but other than that mounting a cable is relatively easy.
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Wabbit-I have the K-Tek, and actually like it, but it doesn't always close all the way. Is this because of the cable tension? What do you mean about unscrewing the bottom? Thanks!
 
Re: Help me decide!!

Not closing all the way could be the coiled cable getting twisted. The bottom (opposite end where the shockmount goes :) ) has a cap you can undo. After you undo it, let the coiled cable dropped to the floor a couple feet. It will start to spin in the opposite direction it was torqued. Jiggle it until it comes to a rest and then put cap back on.

The cable gets twisted over time from being turned around and around with no release. It's kinda random so just check ever month or so.

You also need to keep your pole very clean (insert dirty joke here :o). If dirt get in the brushings it will get sticky and not extend/collapse well.
 
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