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Telefunken Elektroakustik AR-51 Microphone  From TELEFUNKEN

The AR-51 provides a smooth mid-range, open top end, and solid, well-balanced low frequency translation to make it a great choice on anything from vocals to drums to acoustic guitar to saxophone.

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik

What We Think

The Telefunken AR 51 is an affordably priced large diaphragm tube condenser microphone, and a part of Telefunken's R-F-T line.  The microphone uses the amplifier circuit design of the world reknowned and extremely valuable Telefunken Elam 251 E and the C12 , but uses an offshore capsule and power supply in order to meet this affordable price point. The basis of the amplifier is a New Old Stock ECC81 vacuum tube and a German built output transformer that you will also find in their much more expensive C-12 and ELA M 251E.

This is a wonderful mic that works great on a variety of instruments and circumstances.  It is a fantastic vocal mic, but also sounds great on drums, sax, and as your are now hearing it, it is a great mic for acoustic guitars.  It has a very smooth mid-range with an open, brilliant, sparkly, and detailed top end and a well-balanced low end.   Despite this top end, it is not harsh at all, unlike many other microphones that try!

The microphone is delivered in a beautiful wooden box with a Telefunken shock mount, cable, and power supply.  The microphone has 9 different polar patterns that are selectable from the external power supply.  The multitude of polar patterns makes this mic extremely flexible for a variety of recording situations.

Thank you for checking out the Telefunken AR51’s with us.  Please call any of the engineers here at Sound Pure if you have any questions on this mic or any of the other fine Telefunken microphones and boutique professional recording equipment that we carry.

2K LDC Tube Mic Shootout on Female Vocals: Pearlman TM1, Miktek CV4, Peluso P67, Telefunken AR51

In this video we put 4 LDC tube microphones from the 2K price point up against eachother on female vocals: the Pearlman TM1, the Miktek CV4, the Peluso P-67, and the Telefunken AR-51. Can you tell which is which? Joining us for this shootout are Ayisa Adderley (vocals) and Caige Crampshee (guitar) from the band Eyes Eat Suns. Check them out at http://eyeseatsuns.band/

Manufacturer's Description from TELEFUNKEN

While TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik is well known for our historic recreation microphones, but as we all know those recreations are intended for the 'upper crust' of the recording industry who can afford the best of the best.

With this in mind we created the R-F-T Series of microphones as an affordable solution that delivers amazing tone, ultimate application flexibility at a price anyone who is serious about recording can afford.

The AR-51 is the culmination of this ideal. For the AR-51 we took the amplifier electronics of a C-12 and ELA M 251E and married them to an offshore capsule and power supply so we can bring the best of both worlds together for what are destined to become the classics of tomorrow.

While the capsule is built off shore, it is tested to very high tolerances for consistency in our Connecticut based US laboratory. The capsule is then coupled to a slightly tweezed classic amplifier. The core of this amplifier is NOS [New Old Stock] ECC81 vacuum tube which is coupled the same German built output transformer you will find in our far more expensive C-12 and ELA M 251E.

In use, the R-F-T AR-51 is a fantastic utility mic!! Its smooth mid-range, open top end, and solid well-balanced low frequency translation make it a great choice on anything from vocals to drums and percussion to acoustic guitar to saxophone. There are 1000 more uses, but we think you get the idea that this is indeed a remarkably versatile microphone.

The remote pattern selector (located on the power supply) provides 9 different polar patterns, giving the user a myriad of choices for how to record the source sound in a manner that will best compliment their production.

You can start your path to sonic euphoria by contacting your favorite TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik reseller and requesting a demo of the R-F-T AR-51. It is sure to put a smile on your face without putting too much of a dent in your wallet.

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik

About Manufacturer

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik of South Windsor, CT has been following the tradition of excellence and innovation set forth by the original TELEFUNKEN GmbH of Germany that began over 100 years ago.

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik's origins began in 2000 when owner Toni Fishman acquired the rights to the name and diamond logo for use in North America. The company began with the reverse engineering of a single microphone part: the ELA M 251 polar pattern selector. Mr. Fishman purchased an original Telefunken ELA M 251 for use in his recording studio, but when he received it he discovered that the polar pattern switch was no longer functional. Realizing that this was a common issue with the original units, the idea to recreate it was born.

The switch was reverse engineered and brought into production for other 251 owners with the same issue. With one part down, the goals were set high to successfully reverse engineer the entire microphone exactly as it was originally manufactured. The next two years were spent developing each and every part of the microphone right down to every detail. Numerous original documents and drafts from TELEFUNKEN and AKG were acquired, and coupled with thorough reverse engineering the ELA M 251 was brought back to life with meticulous accuracy.

As TELEFUNKEN moves forward, one foot is rooted in the rich history of the brand, and the other in new microphone innovations. TELEFUNKEN has evolved exponentially from a single pattern switch to one of the industry leaders in top quality microphones.

Specifications

 

Type

Condenser Pressure Gradient

Capsule

dual sided gold sputtered membrane

Frequency Range

20Hz / 20kHz

Polar Pattern

Omni, Cardioid, Figure 8 with 6 intermediate stages

Sensitivity

14MV/Pa = -37dB (0dB = 1v/Pa) -10bD

Impedance

200 ohms stock

SPL

138 dB

Non Linear Distortion

Less than or equal to 0.5% at 100 dyne / cm sq

Equivalent Noise

16 dB (a-weighted)

Tube Type

NOS ECC81 twin triode

Power

Dedicated Power Supply

Weight

27oz (765g)

Size

9 1/2" (241mm) length x 1 3/4" (44.45mm) diameter

Extras

Modern Power Supply, Shock Mount, Wooden Box