ADK S-51 Mk5.2 Review - Brandon Drury, RecordingReview.com - (October 2011)

Looking for a butt kicking $200 large condenser microphone for audio recording?
The ADK S51 MK5.2 is my highest recommendation.

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ADK Berlin 47 and Cremona 251 Review - Lorenz Rychner, Recording Magazine - (Sept 2010)

Both mics are built exceptionally well and each one is expertly tuned to excel in different areas of the recording spectrum.

Choosing one over the other is akin to choosing a fine wine for a meal, more about personal taste and mood than “good or bad”. For this meal you might want something light and crisp, but with dessert it’s time for a rich and robust taste. Similarly, these mics have flavors that suit certain sources well, and it’s fun and exciting to find perfect pairings.

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ADK Berlin 47 and Cremona 251 Review - Russ Long, Pro Audio Review - (June 2010)

Each mic in the ADK Custom Shop Fab-Four Microphone Collection is astonishingly versatile and priced well below what their performance reveals. Any of these mics would be an ideal choice for the project studio that incorporates a single high-end mic. However, if you have the money, I'd recommend buying all of the Fab-Four FETs (the Hamburg 67Au, the Vienna 12Au, the Cremona-251Au, and the most applicable of the three Berlin-47Au variations) as all four are fantastic audio colors that will greatly enhance the recording options for any mid- to high-end studio.

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ADK S-7 Microphone USER Review by Certain Sparks - (March 08)

The ADK S-7 has quickly become my 'go-to' kick drum mic, outshining the more common D-112.

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ADK S-7 and A6 Microphones - Justin Peacock, Recording Magazine - (Sept 07)

Okay, I'm impressed . . . the A6 and S-7 are very worthwhile additions to a studio, earning great marks in the "high value for dollar" category.

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Pro Audio Review - Russ Long - (Jan 07)

I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience the ADK Custom Shop line over the past few months. Their microphones have an exceptional sound quality . . .

ADK handcrafts microphones with modern electronics that replicate the sonic timbre of the classic Austrian, Danish and German microphones of yesteryear.

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Tape Op Magazine, - Reviewed by Garrett Haines, March 2004

There are three variations of the ADK tube flagship: the TC (a fixed cardioid), the TT (a variable-pattern), and the CE (a limited edition of the TT with a hand-selected New/Old Stock GE 6072A Jan Vintage Tube and a slightly different body). All three models come with a robust shock mount, aluminum case, a remote power supply / variable pattern selector (TT and CE), and requisite cables. For most of the review I used a TT, but I’ve tested all three models extensively.

For vocals I invited some local musicians and lay people to do some blind tests. We compared the ADK TT against a Korby Convertible ELAM-251, a Neumann U67, and a U47. Using an a capella vocal track, everyone chose the TT and the 251.

I also tried the TC’s and TT’s as drum overheads. The results were amazing. The ADK’s are simply the finest drum overhead microphones I have ever auditioned.

The TT and CE are great in omni mode for acoustic guitars and percussion. I like them in figure-8 for many vocalists. It can also be very effective on guitar amps, especially tweed and black face combos.

If you can get by with just a cardioid mic, there is no other mic in this price range that can touch the TC. Please re-read the last sentence.

With ADK tube mics, I get the sounds I want at a price I can afford. I urge you to get these in your studio for evaluation. I’ll bet they won’t be going back to the dealer!

MIX Magazine - Reviewed by Barry Cleveland, October 2001

ADK made waves a few years ago with the debut of its A-51 (Area 51) Series of affordable--around $400--large-diaphragm FET condenser mics. Following on that success, ADK introduced a series of tube condensers, including the model A-51TC reviewed here, and the flagship Area 51 TT.

Placed directly in front of a blaring guitar amp the A-51TC easily held its own, enriching the sound with a throaty warmth, making the relatively small amp sound huge, particularly on heavily distorted settings.

The A-51TC had considerably more richness and character, handled the sibilants and plosives much more smoothly [than] another large-diaphragm tube mic that cost twice as much as the ADK, and was easier for the (male) talent to "work" closely without bumping up against the proximity effect.

Finally, the A-51TC did an excellent job on a male blues vocalist, capturing the richness and gritty complexity in great detail. The vocalist loved the sound of the mic, and asked if it could be used for live performance.

Overall, the ADK A-51TC has a large and likeable sound, and the coloration it does impart was a good match for a variety of sources, especially those with complex harmonics and overtones.

EQ Magazine – Reviewed by Mike Sokol, June 1999

LOVE AT FIRST LISTEN

Beautiful "woody" flavor is great on acoustic guitars and female vocals.

…the design was done with a slant towards a particular coloration, rather than a rigid reproduction of sound. . . . they’ve succeeded very well. It’s more Neumannesque . . . than many of the other current high-tech mics.

In fact, a studio musician who brought in his gorgeous Martin acoustic instantly fell in love and wouldn’t try any other mics after that . . . like a love struck teenager on his first hot date. . . . The sign of a good piece of equipment is when you start selecting it unconsciously. . . . It’s a mic that actually sounds like somthing."

ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN – Reviewed by Rob Shrock, July 1999

***** Five out of Five Stars for Value

A great-sounding studio condenser mic that won’t zap your savings.

…I got great results recording female lead vocals with the A-51s. The mic’s response really lends itself to female vocals thanks to the combination of tapered low end and upper presence rise.

The A-51s also really shined on acoustic guitar. It’s response seemed custom tailored for this application, too, and again I was reminded of a Neumann U-67. . .

. . . a mic [not just] for the budget recordist only. . .The bottom line is, these mics are just too good and affordable not to have a few on hand.

Vintage Guitar Magazine – Reviewed by Stephen Stone, September 2000

Budget mics that give old guard Neumann and Telefunken a run for their price tags.

Along comes ADK with new mics that have similar sonic characteristics to these classic mics,but are priced so cheaply that even someone with a modest home studio can afford a pair. How is this possible?

THE SILVER BULLETS
The difference between the A-51s and the A-51s LE is the LE come only in pairs calibrated with a B&K Spectrum Analyzer so they're matched within 2 dB throughout the entire frequency range. Although the A-51s LE are slightly more expensive, they are reasonably priced . . . LE Pairs are the way to go for stereo.

THE "T" SERIES
ADK Tube Mics come in two flavors for those who want the ultimate in retro-sonics. If you want the versatility of variable patterns get the Area 51 . . . .

Rarely do you happen upon a product that is cheap and good. Buy Two!