[[email protected]]

I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

Thanks!

Steve

[Scott Dorsey]

In article ,
wrote:
I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

There has been no change to the M160 and M130.

There HAS been a change to the M260... the original M260 is discontinued
and has been replaced with the M260.80, which has a dramatic low-end cut.

And of course the M500 has been discontinued completely.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[[email protected]]

Many thanks, Scott!




On Nov 26, 9:37*am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
In article ,

wrote:
I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. *I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. *Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

There has been no change to the M160 and M130.

There HAS been a change to the M260... the original M260 is discontinued
and has been replaced with the M260.80, which has a dramatic low-end cut.

And of course the M500 has been discontinued completely.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. *C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Ty Ford]

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:04:38 -0500, wrote
(in article
):

I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve,

I own an M160. My suggestion would be to buy an AEA R84.

Regards,

Ty Ford


--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA

[[email protected]]

Thanks, Ty.

I am interested in these mics primarily because people seem to suggest
that they're great for strings, winds, and electric guitars. My
ensemble consists of two violins, electric guitar, and bass clarinet,
so I thought they would present a nice alternative flavor to try in
addition to the Schoeps, Gefells, and Neumanns we'll be using on an
upcoming session. What are your criticisms? Unfortunately, these will
probably be mics that I'll have to buy before I have a chance to try
them in any truly illustrative way.

Thanks,
Steve



On Nov 26, 3:11*pm, Ty Ford wrote:
On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:04:38 -0500, wrote
(in article
):

I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. *I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. *Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve,

I own an M160. My suggestion would be to buy an AEA R84.

Regards,

Ty Ford

--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demoshttp://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA

[[email protected]]

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:12:10 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

Thanks, Ty.

I am interested in these mics primarily because people seem to suggest
that they're great for strings, winds, and electric guitars. My
ensemble consists of two violins, electric guitar, and bass clarinet,
so I thought they would present a nice alternative flavor to try in
addition to the Schoeps, Gefells, and Neumanns we'll be using on an
upcoming session. What are your criticisms? Unfortunately, these will
probably be mics that I'll have to buy before I have a chance to try
them in any truly illustrative way.

Thanks,
Steve

I had one for years and couldn't get it to sound good on anything. I
then had it reribbonedwith a RCA DX 77 ribbon, which made no
improvment to the sound.
I play fiddle myself, and found a Blue baby bottle has a great sound
for fiddle and was also splendid on horns. Skipper told me he voiced
it for a "ribbon" type of response.
I liked it so much I bought a 2nd. one.
I also got to compare my vintage M160 to a new one when trying it on a
horn sectionin stereo. I didn't like either of them and used a
Babybottle in mono instead. That prompted me to purchase a second BB.

[hank alrich]

wrote:

Thanks, Ty.

I am interested in these mics primarily because people seem to suggest
that they're great for strings, winds, and electric guitars. My
ensemble consists of two violins, electric guitar, and bass clarinet,
so I thought they would present a nice alternative flavor to try in
addition to the Schoeps, Gefells, and Neumanns we'll be using on an
upcoming session. What are your criticisms? Unfortunately, these will
probably be mics that I'll have to buy before I have a chance to try
them in any truly illustrative way.

Ty doesn't like 'em. Thinks they sound dull. I like 'em, have had a pair
for decades. I think they sound smooth and warm and all that good stuff.
For the ensemble you have I'd use 'em. I've never thought they sounded
bad on anything for which I've tried them, and it's a long list of many
kinds of instruments. Strokes for folks.

The archives hold much discussion of them.

--
ha
shut up and play your guitar

[Ty Ford]

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:12:10 -0500, wrote
(in article
):

I'm thinking about adding a couple Beyer M160s to my mic collection.
Someone in this group mentioned that the vintage ones are better than
the ones currently being produced. *I'm a little bit wary of buying a
vintage ribbon mic without having an opportunity to test it, but if
the older ones are meaningfully better, perhaps it's worth the risk/
trouble. *Can anyone comment on the sonic differences between older
and newer M160s?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve,

Last time I had a sax player in I put up my m160 and my Schoeps cmc641. It
took about 2 seconds for me to put the m160 away.

Here's the cut: http://tinyurl.com/2lfk5g

Regards,

Ty Ford




--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA

[Ty Ford]

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:05:32 -0500, hank alrich wrote
(in article ):

wrote:

Thanks, Ty.

I am interested in these mics primarily because people seem to suggest
that they're great for strings, winds, and electric guitars. My
ensemble consists of two violins, electric guitar, and bass clarinet,
so I thought they would present a nice alternative flavor to try in
addition to the Schoeps, Gefells, and Neumanns we'll be using on an
upcoming session. What are your criticisms? Unfortunately, these will
probably be mics that I'll have to buy before I have a chance to try
them in any truly illustrative way.

Ty doesn't like 'em. Thinks they sound dull. I like 'em, have had a pair
for decades. I think they sound smooth and warm and all that good stuff.
For the ensemble you have I'd use 'em. I've never thought they sounded
bad on anything for which I've tried them, and it's a long list of many
kinds of instruments. Strokes for folks.

Steve,

I've owned my m160 for decades. Even had beyer re-motor it a few years back.
In my experience, the schoeps, hands down, sounded better. Not only on the
sax I referred to but the clarinet I recorded recently.

My m160 was low enough in level that I could hear more preamp noise than I
wanted and the instruments didn't sound natural to me. In listening to the
the link to the Karyn's tune, did the sax jump out as overly harsh or bright?
Maybe Hank has some special sauce with his m160. Maybe he wants to buy mine.
Maybe I should sell it to him.

Regards

Ty Ford

--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA