Behringer B-5 vs/equals Studio Projects C4?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

These mics look alike, have the same features, have identical polar
charts, and the specs seem to be near dupes. Even the reviews are
similar! Are they one and the same? Is it the same capsule? The
obvious differences: B-5 is way cheaper and sold singly. C4 comes in a
matched pair. I'm considering buying the C4. But if I can get the same
stuff for less.....

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>These mics look alike, have the same features, have identical polar
>charts, and the specs seem to be near dupes. Even the reviews are
>similar! Are they one and the same? Is it the same capsule? The
>obvious differences: B-5 is way cheaper and sold singly. C4 comes in a
>matched pair. I'm considering buying the C4. But if I can get the same
>stuff for less.....
>

The Studio Projects C4's also come with cardiod and omni capsules. I've got a
set and actually don't use them that much. Usually, I wind up using AT4041's,
MXL603s or AKG-535EB.

I have no idea how the quality control is on the B5's.


--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Wayne wrote:

> The Studio Projects C4's also come with cardiod and omni capsules.

As do the Behringer B5's.

> Usually, I wind up using AT4041's,
> MXL603s or AKG-535EB.

Did you do the Dorsey Mods on the MXL603?

> I have no idea how the quality control is on the B5's.

I wonder about that too. I'm also having a hard time coming to grips with how
companies are now putting out economy versions of economy mics.

--
Nathan

"Imagine if there were no Hypothetical Situations"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>Did you do the Dorsey Mods on the MXL603?
>

No. I didn't know Scott had done the SD's. I did send the 603s to Brent Casey
when he was with Marshall and he cleaned them up (noise) and sent me back a
matched pair.

I did mod my MXL-V67G and that was an improvement. I subsequently picked up a
couple of MXL-63M's (Mars) cheap and the electronics in them were similiar to
Scott's so I left them alone. I don't use them and probably should sell them.

The main reason I'll put up a MXL-603s sometimes is because of the wide cardiod
pattern as opposed to an AT4041. The wide pattern works better for me on drum
ovhds.


--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Wayne <ybstudios@aol.com> wrote:
>>Did you do the Dorsey Mods on the MXL603?
>
>No. I didn't know Scott had done the SD's. I did send the 603s to Brent Casey
>when he was with Marshall and he cleaned them up (noise) and sent me back a
>matched pair.

I have not done the SDs at all, mostly because they have enough capsule
problems that I decided it wasn't worth spending a lot of time on the
electronics.

>I did mod my MXL-V67G and that was an improvement. I subsequently picked up a
>couple of MXL-63M's (Mars) cheap and the electronics in them were similiar to
>Scott's so I left them alone. I don't use them and probably should sell them.
>
>The main reason I'll put up a MXL-603s sometimes is because of the wide cardiod
>pattern as opposed to an AT4041. The wide pattern works better for me on drum
>ovhds.

You considered a pair of omnis? The AT4051 also is a pretty good cardioid
with a fairly wide pattern. I take it that raising the ceiling is out of
the question, huh?
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Scott Dorsey wrote:

> I have not done the SDs at all, mostly because they have enough capsule
> problems that I decided it wasn't worth spending a lot of time on the
> electronics.

I thought you did some resister and cap mods. I stand corrected.

--
Nathan

"Imagine if there were no Hypothetical Situations"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <419228EA.1A29293B@nc.rr.com>,
Nathan West <natewest@nc.rr.com> wrote:
>Scott Dorsey wrote:
>
>> I have not done the SDs at all, mostly because they have enough capsule
>> problems that I decided it wasn't worth spending a lot of time on the
>> electronics.
>
>I thought you did some resister and cap mods. I stand corrected.

No, although I have on the Oktava small diaphragm microphones (which
themselves do have some capsule consistency issues sometimes).
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Scott Dorsey wrote:

> No, although I have on the Oktava small diaphragm microphones (which
> themselves do have some capsule consistency issues sometimes).

Ahh...that's right. Man my memory is slipping, since I just asked what back
issue of Recording the mods were in. Maybe I need to take more B vitamins.
--
Nathan

"Imagine if there were no Hypothetical Situations"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

>I have not done the SDs at all, mostly because they have enough capsule
>problems that I decided it wasn't worth spending a lot of time on the
>electronics.
>
>You considered a pair of omnis? The AT4051 also is a pretty good cardioid
>with a fairly wide pattern. I take it that raising the ceiling is out of
>the question, huh?
>--scott
>--
The AT4051a is on my list, but I'm having to use the little brother AT4041
right now. I keep looking for a used set but nothing so far.
Ceiling is at 9' and permanently holding. Wife does most of the rasing the
roof around here. :>)

--Wayne

-"sounded good to me"-

 

[WmAx]

OLD thread - yes I know. But I have the answer to the thread if anyone wants to know the truth.

I have inspected/analyzed/measured both microphones under heavily controlled conditions.

They are not the same microphone.

The B-5 has better machine work(C4 has sloppier threads, edges, etc.).

The B-5 has a flatter response, with both the omni and cardoid capsules. Especially the cardoid. The C4 has substantial, wide 5 dB peak in the treble with the cardoid, while the B-5's cardoid is relatively flat, within a couple of dBs, through the entire bandwidth. The omni capsule is also flatter response, about +/- 1.5dB, from 50Hz-15kHz, on the B-5, with two narrow peaks, one about 1.5dB and the other about 2dB in magnitude, in the mid-treble. The C4 has up to 3dB semi-broad peak in the mid treble band. Due to the broad nature, it will rather audible, as compared to the narrow peaks on the B-5. Noise performance is good on the C4, and even better on the B5. The B5 can easily be used as a reference grade mic, if accuracy/neutrality is your objective. The B5 can withstand substial SPL before it clips. This is a serious quality mic for a penny pincher price, based on actual measured performance. I don't know of any mic comparable to the B5 for less than many hundreds of dollars - though that does not mean it does not exist a comparable unit for the same or less - I just have not come across it yet. Note: Do not assume factory response plots are represenative of actual response. In most cases, I have found that actual measured response is often far worse than the factory response chart illustrates(usually very heavily smoothed, and sometimes, peaks are not shown that actually exist).

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

Added actual measured response charts:

B5

C4

-Chris

 

[MikeinVt]

Added actual measured response charts:

B5
http://www.linaeum.com/productinfo/other/behringer_b5/b5_response_true.gif

C4
http://www.linaeum.com/productinfo/other/studioprojects_c4/fr.gif

-Chris

Chris,
I just recently purchased the Behringer B2 Pro (@$129.00 !!!) large condenser mic after reading tons of reviews good/bad. But 1 reviewer sold me who was a long time professional recording engineer who also has several high end mics (Neumann etc.) and stated that The B2 Pro was incredible for the price and he felt it would match up with mics $400 -> $1000 range. When I tried the mic out in my home studio I was blown away. I am now looking to pick up a small condenser and have looked at the Behringer B5's as well as Rode NT5 ($219.00) and Shure SM81 ($349.00) but for a fraction of the price for these I can get a B5 for $79. Thanks for your review as you have sold me on the B5. Also I understand the biggest problem with Behringer ( I also have a Eurorack MX1604A mixer circa 2001 which is incredible!!!) is consistent quality (ie. DOA) but I have had good luck and will continue to keep them in my top ten list.
Cheers ... Mike in Vt.

 

[MikeinVt]

Here's an update: Behringer mic's are built in China (www.797audio.com) using Behringer design. If you look at their web site
you will notice the behringer mics are virtually the same as their own brand (797audio). Also they are an oem mfg. company
for several mic companys such as Rode, MXL etc. Here is a thread with more info circa 2000 from Homerecording.com:


OK guys, there's some highly controvercial stuff going on in the rec.audio.pro newsgroup right now regarding a company in Beijing, China called 797 Audio. The site is: www.797audio.com

Here are some of the quotes from the group:


"Some further info on the company- looks legit. check out this site: http/www.globalsources.com/MAGAZIN...1/MPHONE01.HTM
according to this, Beijing 797 Audio sells in the UK!"


They have no US Distributor at this time, so they must be ordered direct from the company.

Here's n e-mail response from the comany to one of the group members:


"Dear sir.
thanks for you interesting in our products. Here is the price of some of our microphones.(FOB Beijing, USD).

CR998 $300.00 include all standard accessories .
CR3000 $80.00 include all standard accessories .
CR414 $130.00 include all standard accessories .
CR100 $220.00 include all standard accessories .
CR616 $100.00 Include shock mount .
CR1-78 $120.00 include windscreen .
CR722 $100.00 include windscreen and LJ-12A .
CR628 $80.00 include LJ-12A .
CR1-4 $80.00 include LJ-12.
CR523 $ 80.00 include LJ-12B .
Aluminum carrying case: 30.00USD
If the quantity you need is large, the price will be lower.

CD-58 $ 15.00 Min.Quantity. 100 pcs
CD-14L $ 10.00 Min.Q. 100 pcs
CD-22L $ 6.00 Min.Q. 100 pcs.
CD-24L $ 6.00 Min.Q. 100 pcs
CDK404 $ 7.00 Min.Q. 100 pcs.


you can tell me which and how many you need.
I will tell our export dep. to contact to you for the payment.
If you have any question, please ask me without hesitation.

maybe you can take a look at our OEM products:
ADK(www.adk.cc):A51TT,A51TC.
Marshall(www.mars-cam.com):MXL2003, MXL600, V77.
PMI(www.pmiaudio.com): BPM microphones:CR-10, CR95, TB-95etc.
RODE(www.event1.com):NT2.

some of these microphones are our OEM microphones.

Best Regards
Ma Jiulong/chief engineer of 797 audio. <A HREF="http/www.797audio.com"" TARGET=_blank>http/www.797audio.com"</A>

 

[WmAx]

Ineteresting. Of course, the only way to ensure you get the desired response curve, is to get the actual Behringer branded unit that was build to Behringer's specification.

I too was blown away by the B-5. I have tested many mics in my quest to find one ideal for my purposes - and the B-5 ended up being my ideal mic. Low noise, high dynamic range, superb linear /accurate response on both omni and cardoid caps. Plus, the cardoid has extraordinary good off axis isolation - it is an excellent cardoid in both ways (rejection and linear response). These mics have 'no' sound signature, essentially. If that is what you want, it is an ideal mic for just about any purpose (classical music mid field recording, studio use, etc.) where neutrality is desired.

The SP C-4 was much worse in every regard, even in build quality, and it's response does not come close to the manufacturer claimed response curves (that I provided with the C-4 measurements above so that you can see the huge deviations). The only good thing I can say is that the C-4 pair is indeed a matched pair. I provided measurements for the pair of capsules so that you can see deviation(s).

-Chris

 

[paulrussell70]

I know this is an old Thread! But can anyone lay there hands on an Omni tip for a B5, I got one cheap on Ebay, but it came with 2 Cardioid tips !!

If so please let me know