| 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. |
