ADK A6 vs ADK A51 Mk5.1

ChuckS · #1 09-17-2012, 10:01 AM

I'm considering adding a LDC to the home recording equipment I have; primarily for acoustic guitar but occasionally for vocal. For acoustic guitar I usually record with a spaced pair and occasionally mid-side. Currently I have an Oktava MC-012 and a Cascade Fat-Head ribbon mic, a M-Audio DMP3 preamp, an Event EMP-1 preamp, and a Zoom H4.

I'm considering an ADK A6 based on all the comments I've heard, but was also wondering about the ADK A51 Mk5.1. This latest A51 seems to have improvements in self noise, compared to prior A51 designs, and seems close to A6 specs. The A6 is available for $209 and the A51 for $149 (including shock mount).

Does anybody have experience with this latest A51, especially in comparison with the A6? Does the A51 have a relatively “neutral” sound coloration?

Thanks in advance.

moon · #2 09-19-2012, 10:10 PM

Sorry never heard it. I do like ADK in general though. They really seem to care about audio quality.

Personally I'd go for the A6 purely because that's the one I know, especially for only $200.

anton · #3 09-20-2012, 10:50 AM

I have a pair of A6's and like them alot. Got a great deal on them on Ebay. I find, at least for me, that they don't do to well close micing acoustic guitar. I had to back off quite a bit to avoid proximity effect.

I think many of the acoustic samples played by Al Petteway at Dreamguitars.com were recorded with a pair of A6's

Anton