€239 / £209 / $229, akg.com

AKG is a long-established manufacturer of reference-quality microphones, with its classic C414 mics being among the best ever created. Indeed, I’ve always maintained that if I had to record absolutely everything with one model of microphone, it would be a C414.

• READ MORE: AKG’s C104 review: “For the price, I can think of no other microphone that performs this well”

Now, the company is offering three new mics in its C-Series, which promise a large slice of classic AKG sound for a fraction of the price of its flagship products.

The C114 is the most versatile of the new series as it’s the only one to feature multi-pattern operation, offering omnidirectional and figure-8 polar patterns alongside the standard cardioid response. A switch on the front allows selection of each of the polar patterns, that’s all the user-adjustable parameters on offer; there are no pad or high-pass filter controls as you find on AKG’s more expensive mics.

As a large-diaphragm, multi-pattern condenser microphone, the C114 features a 26 mm dual diaphragm, true condenser pressure gradient capsule. It’s an edge-terminated design, which is an AKG invention from the historic C12 mic that predates the C414. Like many classic capsules, it’s gold-sputtered, yet unlike vintage mics built with noisy (characterful, some might say) transformers, the C114’s circuit is a modern low-noise, transformerless FET design.

Along with its low self-noise, the mic also offers high headroom with minimum distortion. This means it can handle sound pressure levels (SPLs) up to 145 dB without introducing distortion, so reasonably loud guitar and bass amps can be recorded as well as close-mic’d drums and brass instruments.

A handy inclusion with the C114 is the shock mount, which helps minimise unwanted vibrations while recording.

As an unapologetic AKG C414 aficionado, it’s with some trepidation that I test this mic that has so much in common with its legendary stablemate. I needn’t have worried; the performance of the C114 is nothing short of superb. I’ve reviewed mics that cost three times the price of this that have left me unimpressed.

In terms of clarity, detail and transparency, I don’t believe you can buy a better mic for the money. I recently reviewed the Warm Audio WA-87jr SE, which is a fabulous competitor, but it’s a cardioid-only mic; you have to spend $70 more than the C114 to get the WA-87jr multi-patterned version.

Much of the wonderful AKG sound I have always adored is present and correct in the C114. The broad midrange is wonderfully faithful, neutral and correct with no spikes or dips in the response, and the low end is firm and richly textured.

However, it’s the treble quality that impresses me the most. It’s beautifully smooth with crystal-clear accuracy and no harshness at all. Voices are captured with a palpable honesty that is usually the preserve of far more expensive microphones. And like the gold-standard C414, it’s a brilliant all-rounder, bringing out the best in anything you put in front of it.

I am deeply impressed with the C114. The C-Series as a whole is very impressive, but the C114 is so impressive that I can see it being used in professional recording studios as well as home set-ups.

There will always be a place in the market for premium, expensive microphones that represent a manufacturer’s ‘statement’ product. Here, though, AKG is making a statement of its own; you can now buy a professional, studio-quality microphone that won’t break the bank.

Key features

• Large diaphragm condenser microphone
• Cardioid, figure-8 and omnidirectional polar patterns
• 26 mm edge-terminated capsule
• Weight: 415 g
• Comes with a shock mount

The post I’m deeply impressed by the AKG C114 — you can’t buy a better mic at this price appeared first on MusicTech.