AKG’s Perception Series was launched in 2005 essentially to introduce affordable microphones to the market. Notably though, tube microphones have been surprisingly missing from their range, notwithstanding of course the C 12 VR, the only other AKG tube model still in production. But at a price of well over R35,000 it’s not the type of mic you’ll find in the average recording studio. So the 820 is a welcome addition as the new flagship for the Perception Series. There are two significant features that make this microphone particularly interesting; it has a tube design and its polar patterns and other controls are located on a separate remote control unit.
Anatomy
Yes it’s made in China but the Perception 820 looks as good as its European tradition belies. This is a beautiful looking piece of kit, well built, heavy and solid with superb finish and top notch switches and knobs all round. Internal design features dual ‘back to back’ 1-inch diaphragm capsules which combine with ECC 83 dual-triode tube circuitry to deliver the 820′s warm tube sound. The architecture is designed to enhance even-order harmonics which in turn form the backbone of a tube microphone’s distinctive sound. The actual microphone has no on-body controls as, once it is connected to its control unit via the supplied seven-pin power/microphone cord, all setup is controlled from there.
The remote control unit itself is cast in classy silver and looks like a scaled-down high-end hi-fi amplifier, with a pleasingly minimalist front panel.
The prominent central dial here is used to control the microphone’s polar pattern and nine detented positions are available, from omni-directional mode at the 7 o’clock position, through cardioid at noon, through to figure-of-eight at 5 o’clock, with intermediate positions available between these poles. The other controls on the front panel include a -20dB pad switch and a bass roll off option which provides 12dB per octave high-pass filtering below 80Hz.
As far as actually feeding the signal from the remote control unit to your audio interface or mic preamp of choice is concerned, a regular XLR cable is required, although this is not included. You’ll also find a ground lift button on the back panel which will help eradicate hum if necessary. The mic itself is just under 8-1/2″ in height with a 2″ diameter and weighs just shy of 2 lbs. Sharing the signature look of the current Perception line, the 820 has a chrome silver grill and head basket with a “vintage” light-blue brushed-metal body.
Versatility
With a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±5 dB) and its ability to handle SPLs of up to 155 dB (with the pad engaged) this makes it a modern, multifunction tube mic: It can handle chores such as recording drums and guitar amps traditionally, jobs for dynamic mics – as easily as it does vocals and acoustic instruments.
Sound
Whilst the word ‘warmth’ is the obvious description to use on a tube mic the 820 is just that but in a subtler way. With the nine polar positions one has plenty of choice and you’ll find what you need to get a great sound almost regardless of the source you’re looking to record. Sonically it is much clearer and clean sounding than you may expect from a tube mic, and its warmth seems to be more of an absence of harshness in the top registers than the thickness in the mids that is sometimes associated with a tube mic.
Verdict
By now you may have gathered that the 820 gets a massive thumbs up from us. It easily competes with mics almost twice its price and its bulletproof design coupled with its amazing versatility make it a utility microphone every studio could do with. This is indeed a great way to get your hands on a tube mic from a respected brand at an affordable price.
Pros:
- Solidly built.
- Nine polar patterns.
- Remote switching capability.
- Great sound quality.
Cons:
- No stand-by switch.
Distributor: Rockit Distribution
Tel: 021 511-1800
Suggested retail: R 8,995-00
Written By : Muse Reports
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