JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum Rode K2 valve mic

Anyone ever used a Rode K2 valve mic? Thinking of buying one and need pros and cons.

My opinion is it is a bit expensive. No doubt it will do all it is supposed to do. I assume you are getting it for studio use.

Appearently uses a tube preamp.

Hi Ray thanks for the advice. I certainly will not be using it for live work. It is a multi pattern large diaphram tube mic with its own transformer for power and pattern settings. A tube preamp is not really necessary. It won best mic 2004. I was just wondering if anybody here owns one and can give me a heads up. It is at the lower end of pro studio mics retailing around £500. I will probably not buy it as the auction is ending soon and at over £200 bid price is getting less and less a bargain.

Jim, I cannot say anything other than there are some good reviews on the RODE K2.
However, have a look at Advanced Audio's CM-47 valve microphone.
Tape Op has an outstanding review in the latest issue.

Thanks Dak. I will check it out.

I have a rode k2 valve mic and i'm very satisfied with it. It was unexpectedly good for vocals for the price. I had used a much more expensive sound electronics model with an avalon preamp, and then i was happier with the rode k2 and a digital pro pream, surprisingly.

Rode K2 Valve Microphone. Continuously-variable, multi-pattern tube mic. Most high-end studios have wonderful tube mics that are the envy of every project studio owner. ...














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LED gadgets

While Rode now make their own mics in Australia, up until a few years ago they were just another Chinese mic reseller. There are only 2 or 3 real manufacturers of these mics which are then rebadged by a multitude of small companies and marketed to make them look like they are something special. If you don't want to pay for the marketing then take a look at Thomann's T.Bone range of valve mics which are basically the same Alctron mics that most of the other resellers sell. You can also find more on Alctron mics at

http://www.alctron-audio.com/enindex.asp

Cheers

James.

James,

Can you order small quantities direct from Alctron? Their website is not very user friendly.

I don't know the K2, but Im generally happy with the lower end Rode mic's. They may be a little cold for vocals for some tastes, but perhaps the valve in the K2 compensates for that. But I would probably look for a used Neumann myself, if I were to spend dole up in those regions.

Im planning on getting a valve mic too, but Im on a tighter budget, and will be going for the MXL V69 Moghami edition. It's half the price of the Rode K2, but gets really great reviews and endorsements. It should hold it's own against more expensive ones, so maybe you should consider a/b'ing it with the Rode.

I would not waste money on a MXL. A pal of mine sold his after a week as he could not get any decent recordings from it. It may be half the price of a K2 but it sucks big time. It's single pattern lacks controllability and is very very muddy. It is probably one of the worst unreliable Chinese mics available as it produces lots of hiss and crackles even after 30min warm up. SSSS SOUNDS LIKE SYLVESTER THE CAT. Do not take my word for it read ALL of the reviews at Harmony Central...here is a link...
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Microphone/product/MXL/V69+Mogami/10/1
I prefer an SE2200a at about the same price. The SE mic is a bit thin and lacks the richness of top end tubes but what do you expect comparing hundreds to thousands. For value for money even a SM57 is preferable to a MXL.
Lots of the rave reviews you mention are from people with vested interest so you can hardly expect them to slag it off.

I think the minimum quantity is 10 or 100 if you want your own logo on the mic. However, you will have to pay postage and import duty on the mics and they probably won't work out any cheaper than Thomann's prices. My info comes from a friend of mine who has been looking into the whole valve mic market as he is looking at setting up a mic modding and building company. I just pick up snippets like this from talking to him (and from buying various mics, Chinese, German and otherwise, over the years).

Cheers

James.

I actually got the mxl reccomended on SongU by a coach there, but now I did do some soundchecks, and you're right, it's quite harsh. I checked the K2 too, as I love the Rode mic's for value for money, but to be honest, that sounded harsh too. The best tube mic I came across, that was not a Neumann, was a very cheap T-Bone (the Thomann brand). Based on my research today, the Shure SM7b, can't be beat for my personal uses, below 1k. I'll try to get 'warmth' from another source than a cheap tube mic.

But of course lot's can be solved by a good signal chain and mixing, and the determination factor is how you think it sounds for YOUR voice. If you like it, you're probably more willing to put in the extra work. You don't strike me as a person who's willing to compromise a lot, though, so I wonder how you've taken the K2 to a liking?

Magne Every voice is different. I have a "dull" voice not suited to echo and FX. Actually I have an expensive Neumann but it does not suit my voice it makes it a bit muddy and sounds to much middle and unnatural. I dislikethe rich full sounding mics. The K2 and SE2200a give a top end without sounding tinny and esssy (is that a word? LOL)
That said these mics might not suit everyone for that very reason.
T Bones are very good for the money though they are a bit more expensive than some Chinese mics. A good tip is to buy a cheap Chinese tube mic say an Alctron and modify and replace the cheap tube with one of a better quality. Saves money on components and gives you a great German mic at a fraction of the price.
Here is a link explaining.
http://pillarsofnein.com/diy_projects/Mic_mods/Alctron/ACLTRON_Microphone_Modification.pdf

PS If you are not much good with DIY electronics there are companies who provide this service. jUST GOOGLE.