It already has a very high maximum SPL handling by default, which is 162 dB. I still love the K2 as is (with its Sovtek), but wanna try some others. 48V phantom power. The K2 is another … The omni setting is great for male screamers. Mind you, I am by no means a tube afficionado or electrical engineer. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2020. Power Requirements: 24V phantom power. I have a Sterling Audio ST66 tube condenser mic and it has a mains AC power supply. Is the 7 pin cable between the PSU and the K2/NTK mic a standard cable or is it unique to RØDE? I own or have access to the following: The K2 is a great sounding mic, a great addition to your mic collection. The 6922, 6N11, 6DJ8, ECC88 and the 6N1P are all plug in replacements to each other. In the real world, those specs translate very well on a wide variety of sources, and the bottom line is that the K2 is under priced too. This seems logical to me, but I've found I'm better off assuming nothing! There's still great high end, but not very brittle sounding like before. Generally, I'd advise keeping phantom turned off for valve mics, but only because it minimises the possibility of 'splats' when connecting or disconnecting the mic cables. Powered by phantom power, this microphone features an internal shock mount so you don't have to cringe every single time you accidentally let it slip from your hands - by now you're probably familiar with RØDE's superb build quality. Thanks for the help. The K2 power supply can supply up to 650mA heater currents which means the 6N1P will work in the K2 although I would want to have a listen. Is the 7 pin cable between the PSU and the K2/NTK mic a standard cable or is it unique to RØDE? Is the 7 pin cable between the PSU and the K2/NTK mic a standard cable or is it unique to RØDE? Well, when I was in the market for NOS tubes for my K2, I was under the impression that the 6922 an E88CC were equivalent/interchangeable. It is however advised that when possible, to turn off phantom power when not in use. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. This is because the tube (valve) typically requires a very high plate (anode) voltage to power it and, at something like 200 Volts or more, that's difficult to generate from phantom power. I haven't used the K2 but do own the NTK and just wanted to vouch for what a difference the tube replacement makes. The mic's high end was a little brittle before I swapped tubes. So everything the microphone needs to work correctly is generated from its dedicated mains AC power supply, and it doesn't need or use the standard +48V phantom power that is available from your mic preamp, mixing console, or computer interface. After looking into it a bit more I think I may go with 2i4 instead of the 2i2. Rode offer a 10-year warranty which is reassuring. So, in fact, the valve microphone won't even notice whether you have phantom power turned on (or not) on your preamp, and it won't cause any damage or harm. Hey there! Sounds good. Q. The pre there was a Sytec. The K2 has a separate power supply so you will not need phantom power in your mixer or sound-card which is also a handy advantage of the K2. However, the audio output from a tube (valve) microphone is normally coupled via an audio transformer, and that will inherently isolate the valve impedance converter circuitry completely from any phantom power provided via the mic cable. The K2 looks like you could literally drive a truck over this mic without seeing a mark. Re: Why does Liam Gallagher's vocals sound shit? FWIW I have tracked down some nice NOS tubes for my K2 in the UK. On the other hand, Neumann U87 requires +48V phantom power. i was speaking to Rode support about swapping out the stock Sovtek tube in my rode K2. Summary Finally there is an option in the market place for small studio owners to upgrade their recording quality, without mortgaging the house to do so. So I'm also curious about what some of the more technically oriented folk have to say about this. The sound quality combines modern high-end specifications with the character and subtleties of the legendary 50's mics. Mastering Essentials Part 3 - How loud should I master? That's not a quote from me ajfarber, please get your sources right. The dedicated mains power supply will also generate various other voltages required by the impedance‑conversion circuitry, as well as the capsule biasing voltages. Is the 7 pin cable between the PSU and the K2/NTK mic a standard cable or is it unique to RØDE? We could tell no real difference between them - at least a difference that would justify NOT using the K2 and saving a bit. The RODE K2 is the result of designing and building 1000's of valve microphones. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Infinitely variable control of the polar pattern from omnidirectional through cardioid and bidirectional/figure-8 provides the freedom and flexibility to excel in any recording situation. I was never informed about the electrical similarities of the additional tube models that the Rode guy mentioned. I love the K2, growls on the low end and tad sibilant when paired with an LA 610. I liked my K2 when I got it, but I really liked it after I replaced the tube in it. First Look: Pro Tools | Carbon. I tested it in a friends pro studio against a Blue Blueberry and a Neuman U67, two mic's that I like on my voice and had previously used on projects. I am having problems using 1.2V NiMH rechargeable batteries with a NTG-2 microphone? I use a K2 for my vocals - male, baritone, pushing lot's of air via Metric Halo ULN. A studio I often work at has an all original u47 longbody, so I can put it up against the K2 hopefully sometime soon. The power supply box is also a control unit for the fully variable polar pattern dial. No, whilst these mics do not require phantom power, microphones are built to cope with being fed phantom power and this will not damage the equipment. What does "P48" mean? It features a large gold-plated diaphragm along with gold-plated CLR connectors to say the least. I have both and use the K2 on drum overheads, acoustic guitars and vocals. All rights reserved. Technical Editor Hugh Robjohns replies: Tube condenser (or as we say in the UK, valve capacitor) microphones usually, but not always, have their own dedicated mains AC power supply. What is a "hybrid" audio interface anyway? Featuring a tailored-for-stage super-cardioid polar pattern and an internally shock mounted 1/2" condenser capsule, the M2 provides a high quality alternative to dynamic microphones for live performance. Rode K2 comes with a dedicated power supply, so there is no need to worry about adjusting the phantom power. Hardware: The review unit came in a hardshell ABS plastic case; inside was the K2 mic, a power supply, an elasticated cradle (SM2 shockmount), a 30' cable (mic to power supply), and a brief but detailed manual. Balanced output between pin 2 (+), pin 3 (-) and pin 1 (ground) The K2's HF-1 capsule is the pinnacle of transducer technology. + The cable between the K2 microphone and the K2 power supply uses a standard 7 pin XLR connection. I'm not sure how "pristine" the u47 is, because it's the only one I've ever used, but it's always sounded pretty good. My best vendor of my gear recommended me Rode K2 as good vocal MIC . 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