Mxl 4000 Blizzard Limited Edition Multipattern Fet Studio Condenser Microphone Review
Gear Addict
Any interesting mods bachelor for the MXL 4000?
I recently picked up a MXL 4000 on clearance. I had intended to use it for parts. I was surprised at how decent this mic actually sounds, so I've changed my mind almost gutting it, just it'southward a footling "precision grainy" sounding in the meridian cease. Information technology virtually sounds digital. I guess that would exist the best way to describe information technology, anyway. The lows are a little lackluster every bit well, only come to the front nicely with the use of proximity outcome.
I was only wondering if anyone has ever tried modding one of these things with some dissimilar caps or whatever that might smooth those sharp edges out just a fiddling bit. I've been able to achieve a off-white corporeality of improvement past tweaking the rest of the audio chain, simply not to the point where I would use this mic on a regular ground for anything.
This is basically an practise in academics. I have far better mics at my disposal, but if I can improve the audio of this one, I call back information technology would be worthwhile and fun to try. The 4000 has already exceeded the rather low expectations that I initially had. Thanks.
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The MXL 4000 in on my R&D schedule for this coming week. I'll report back hither in a few days.
Gear Addict
Excellent! I look forward to it. Thank you! I've already made a slight corrective mod. I wasn't a big fan of the dull factory blue pigment. heh
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oh please find a cool mod Mr Joly, cuz if you practise I may be forced to social club a pair of MXL4000 (since Musicians Friend is throwing in a free MXL603s with each one)....which means a nice pair of KM184 clones and a decent set of multi-pattern LDC mics.
I bet if it was upgraded information technology'd be a lot like a Sterling Audio ST79, I noticed that the innards of the 4000 didn't live upward to the quality of the ST79.
Gear Addict
Enjoying the MXL 4000
I just got the two-mic combination from Musician's Friend with the MXL4000 and 603 (and x free downloads, uh, yay), and I know what you guys are talking most regarding the well-nigh "digital" high cease. The fashion I alleviated that was that I have a inexpensive piddling ARTtube usb interface into which I plugged the mic, which I then continued to my Mbox, and it gave it a warm, rich tone and rounded out the harsh highs. I'thou even more happy with this mic now since trying that setup. That little tube made a big deviation for my home utilise.
Merely my $.02
Gear Addict
Glad that worked for yous. I'm already running it through a tube pre, etc. so I'm looking for something a piddling across what the rest of the audio chain tin do for the mic. Merely you're correct! It definitely helps.
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMc ➡️
Michael? Anything yet?
I've been working like crazy on full line of Chinese FET mic mods - MXL 4000 included. All I can say at this point is that progress has been very good (made 31 A/B tests today) and John Peluso's capsules are a righteous upgrade to whatsoever depression-cost MXL, Nady, CAD etc mic that puts them solidly in bazaar mic country.
The claiming for me right now is to work out the absolutely all-time return for the invested modification dollar / euro. Then this means in some case a mic should become just ane.) headbasket and electronic mods, in other cases the customer would exist best served with two.) a headbasket, capsule upgrade and electronics mods, in yet other cases the best value is a full 3.) headbasket, capsule, wiring, electronics and transformer upgrade. Its not clear to me yet if clients would be best served with a category ane or 2 modern for the MXL 4000.
Gear Addict
Hmmm. Thanks for the info. I would be more than inclined to cull door number ane, Monty. Not really interested in pursuing a capsule swap, I don't think. Basically, I would be interested in any mods costing less than virtually two bills at the loftier end. Annihilation beyond that and I would probably lose involvement in, unless I could actually hear a huge difference. Information technology's always a instance of diminishing returns... That'due south just me, though. heh
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael_Joly ➡️
I've been working like crazy on full line of Chinese FET mic mods - MXL 4000 included. All I can say at this signal is that progress has been very good (made 31 A/B tests today) and John Peluso's capsules and transformers are a righteous upgrade to whatever low-cost MXL, Nady, CAD etc mic that puts them solidly in boutique mic land.
The challenge for me right now is to piece of work out the absolutely best return for the invested modification dollar / euro. So this means in some example a mic should go simply 1.) headbasket and electronic mods, in other cases the customer would be best served with 2.) a headbasket, capsule upgrade and electronics mods, in withal other cases the best value is a full iii.) headbasket, capsule, wiring, electronics and transformer upgrade. Its non clear to me yet if clients would be best served with a category i or 2 modernistic for the MXL 4000.
michael, what kind of mods to you do for me, over again?
Lives for gear
Hi Blaugruen7 - You'll exist getting a suite of mods to a new MXL V67g. This is a very flat response FET mic with transformer-coupled output. The stock capsule is worth keeping because it offers a chance to economize a bit by doing and so. But there are a number of other areas that will be addressed to improve this mic and bring information technology up to the "OktavaMod Sound" level.
Headbasket Upgrade - OktavaMod clients have mentioned their strong preference for the clarity and detail offered by a unmarried mesh layer headbasket. Converting a mulit-layer headbasket to a single layer (leaving the rugged, heavy guage mesh in place) increases the open area per centum of the grille and reduces internal reflections that crusade standing moving ridge coloration. So both frequency (more tiptop end sparkle) and time domain (more precise transient response) improvements volition be heard. This was the headbasket design pioneered in the AKG C 12 and has later on been used in the $5000 Manley Gold Reference mic.
Sheathing-to-FET Wiring Upgrade - Evidence Audio LYRIC HG solid copper wire is used exclusively in all OktavaMod LDC mic upgrades. I was a skeptic at outset, simply almost ii years ago a "gilt-eared" client of mine insisted LYRIC HG exist installed his microphones. The difference was astonishing - there is a subjective impression of tighter time alignment of harmonics to fundamentals making for a more musical and precise sound. Not brighter, but tighter.
Input Coupling Capacitor Upgrade - The entire low level signal from the microphone's capsule passes through this one part - it has a critical impact on the sound of the mic! Information technology is incredible that thousands of Chinese mics have been, and are yet beingness shipped with grainy, rough and edgy-sounding ceramic input coupling capacitors that cost less than 1 cent. The stock ceramic cap in your mic will be replaced with a high quality, very stable, low baloney capacitor from one detail manufacturer that costs over 300 times what the Chinese vendor spent to install a inexpensive ceramic cap in this critical location. Not merely will signal purity exist improved but frequency response extension as well.
FET Upgrade - Did yous know that almost every Chinese-made microphone uses the same FET? It is true that the 2SK170 FET used in all these mics is a very low noise device, however information technology delivers less impactful transient response than the FET your mic will be upgraded to. I'm non alone in my preference for an alternative to the 2SK170 - Jim Williams of Sound Upgrades is a strong proponent of the J305 FET every bit an alternative. I agree with Jim's thinking, but I have a slight sonic perference for a dissimilar device. The FET in your mic volition be upgraded (including re-biasing) with a device from one particular industry that has the all-time specs of whatsoever FET of its type to deliver meliorate transient response.
Signal Path Capacitor Upgrade - Bass response extension of the circuit volition be improved past over an octave through value changes to signal path capacitors while high frequency linearity will be improved through the subsitution of non-polar types for polarized electrolytic caps.
All in all, this is a complete front-to-back upgrade of the V67g designed to deliver lower distortion, tighter bass and a smoother sibilance-free top terminate with greater midrange resolution and particular.
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thumbsupthumbsupthumbsup
Hi Michael,
A V67g modern, eh? the V67g was 1 of the kickoff mics I ever bought. I have it lying in a closet somewhere. I liked the total-bodied sound, only it was a bit smeared and congested-sounding, and in the end, kind of irritating, and then I haven't used information technology much.
I have 1 of your Oktava 319 mods, and it has been a really good investment. Then I was wondering how a modded V67g would end upwards sounding in comparison to the 319, in terms of it being a different flavour?
Lives for gear
hey hog - who ever you are in the RW! The MXL V67g, like the Oktava MK-219 or 319 is a nifty investment that doesn't take to lie fallow.
Rather than give an off the cuff answer I'd similar to come up dorsum with a detailed description and audio files. I haven't had a gamble to exercise studio A/B tests with an OktavaMod MK-319 and OktavaMod MXL V67g however. But based on listening I've done at my bench during my workday I can say my modified V67g demarcates a new era for me - the nascency of the non-Chinese-sounding Chinese mic. Not smeared - precise. Not congested - open up. Powerful lower midrange punch like an OktavaMod 219/319 and a elevation end similar I want to hear - clean and detailed but not sibilant, harsh or excessively bright.
Thank you for the respond, Michael. Sounds practiced! I look forward to hearing the sound files when you put them upwardly on your site.
Neil
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OktavaMod MXL V67g samples are in this GearSlutz post. Turning my attending to the MXL 4000 soon!
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I'grand super interested in the MXL 4000 mod. I've actually read quite a few positive reviews of the mic equally is. I like that this is such an economical multi-pattern mic. Two of these might be nice for some MS recording equally well as vocal duties etc.
Lives for gear
Here'southward the latest on my MXL 4000 research...
The OP's description of this mic as "precision grainy" and sounding "digital" is spot on. That'southward what I hear too. If you take a look at the frequency response chart that came with this mic you'll run across an 8dB rise at the top stop. This tin be attributed to the capsule - a copy of the Neumann K67 which has a high frequency boost built in. The K67 sheathing's rising response was compensated by a gratuitous HF attenuating circuit in the U67 microphone so the overall response had a more mid-range focus. Only the de-emphasis excursion is not used in this, and most other low price mics.
Considering the 32 mm Chinese capsule used in the 4000 is non as precisely executed every bit a real K67 the high frequency audio is not as sweet. I believe intermodulation and harmonic distortion is higher than in an accurate Neumann K67 and this lends a roughness to the loftier end. Also, considering the 4000 does non accept a compensating HF attenuation circuit the rather crude HF sound of the sheathing only sails right through the solid-state output stage.
On the plus side, MXL has upgrade the quality of the capacitors used throughout the circuit. The input coupling caps are not what I would employ but they are a step up from the cheap ceramic caps used in their earlier mics. The standard 2SK170 FET is too used - a very quiet device but here again I've chosen to become with a quiet device but one that presents less capacitive loading on the capsule for better transient response and detail.
I intend to convert the headbasket to a unmarried layer (leaving the heavy guage mesh in identify), upgrade wiring to Evidence Audio LYRIC HG solid usher, modify the input caps to my preferred blazon, change the FET to my preferred type and re-bias - and then look effectually for any minor upgrades that might present themselves.
But the really large consequence is the capsule. Hither's a question for you 4000 owners and those thinking of getting one. If you have a feeling that the 4000 is sorta OK, but not great, I can tell y'all a prissy flat Peluso PK-47 capsule is available as a replacement for the stock capsule. I'll be upfront and tell you the PK-47 alone costs a bit more than the MXL 4000. Just we're talking about a capsule on the quality level of a unit of measurement from Josephson, Neumann, AKG, Gefell or MBHO - these retail for around $600.
And then you tell me - would you spend ii times what the 4000 costs in guild to bring it upwards to boutique mic level with Peluso sheathing and a full suite of OktavaMod upgrdes? Or does 4000 present a skilful plenty value in its stock course?
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael_Joly ➡️
So you tell me - would you spend ii times what the 4000 costs in social club to bring it upwards to boutique mic level with Peluso capsule and a total suite of OktavaMod upgrdes? Or does 4000 present a expert enough value in its stock form?
Mayhap, it depends how good it sounds. Mainly I would exist listening for uncompromising silky smooth highs and long distance articulation in an orchestral setting for figure viii in MS recording situations.
The mxl 4000 goes for $200, and twice the price to upgrade it, namely $400, totals $600. I would be hesitant to do information technology because the mods lone voids the warranty of the mic. I might just opt to go a mic around that price range that sounds really practiced, like the sputnik or the cv-12. The only reason that I would practice that upgrade would be if the modded MXL sounds like a 2k plus mic.
Then again, I think 100 bucks would be the virtually that I would spend to upgrade the mic.
Gear Addict
I'd reserve my opinion until afterwards I heard the modded mic. Glad you lot thought my assessment was spot on, btw. 
The mods are something that I would want to be able to perform myself in guild to relieve costs on labor, so detailed instructions would also exist helpful if an upgrade kit is fabricated bachelor.
If the upgrades you suggest create a better sounding mic than say, my Neumann TLM 103, which I have no major issues with, then I would spend the bread on information technology because now that I've gotten rid of the ugly blueish paint, I beloved how this mic looks and wouldn't mind spending more than fourth dimension in front of it. If non, and then no sale. I'll just keep information technology as information technology is.
If the upgrades you advise put information technology in the category of my Pearlman TM-ane in terms of sonic smoothness and solid depth, and so hell yes I would bound for the mods. 
Lives for gear
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMc ➡️
If the upgrades yous suggest create a amend sounding mic than say, my Neumann TLM 103, which I have no major issues with, then I would spend the breadstuff on it because now that I've gotten rid of the ugly blue paint, I love how this mic looks and wouldn't mind spending more time in front of it. If not, and then no sale. I'll simply go along it as it is.
If the upgrades you advise put it in the category of my Pearlman TM-ane in terms of sonic smoothness and solid depth, then hell yes I would leap for the mods.
Interesting benchmarks. Going up against the TLM-103 is a good thought. The Pearlman TM-ane is a Telefunken-equiped tube mic with Cinemag transformer and then that's not the aforementioned blazon of mic and not an appropriate comparison.
But yeah, if y'all want to practise a shoot out of an OktavaMod'd MXL 4000 with Peluso PK-47 capsule against your TLM-103 I'grand in. Send me a private e-mail and we'll work out the details of getting the mic out to you for some tests. I'll selection up the shipping both means.
BTW - I don't offering modernistic kits because there is more to this piece of work than swapping parts. The only way I'll put my proper noun on something is if I personally practise the piece of work or straight the pattern and exam protocol as was done in the Gomez. Wiring lead dress for minimum capacitive loss, FET biasing for optimum headroom and everyman distortion are just two items in a suite of mods that get beyond parts swaps and benefit from feel and test equipment.
best, Thou
Gear Addict
Will due. Another, perhaps more than fair benchmark to hit might exist that of a Gefell UMT70S, possibly?
I'll get that PM off to you lot.
Lives for gear
Oh yeah, at present y'all're talk'north! The Gefell UMT 70S - a three pattern, FET / Transformerless output mic only similar the 4000. Practice you take access to ane?
Gear Addict
No, because I sent information technology back after the Pearlman TM-i won the contest I was having between the ii.
HOWEVER, I recorded several examination tracks with the Gefell UMT71 and recall quite conspicuously how it sounded. I will know if your modded MXL 4000 comes shut. And if it tin can, and then... !!!!!!! heh
I likewise endemic two Gefell MT71's before selling both of those off this past summer. Those have transformers, unlike the newer transformerless UMT71's.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael_Joly ➡️
But the really big result is the capsule. Here's a question for you 4000 owners and those thinking of getting one. If you accept a feeling that the 4000 is sorta OK, but not dandy, I can tell you a nice flat Peluso PK-47 sheathing is bachelor as a replacement for the stock sheathing. I'll be upfront and tell yous the PK-47 alone costs a flake more than the MXL 4000. Only nosotros're talking virtually a capsule on the quality level of a unit of measurement from Josephson, Neumann, AKG, Gefell or MBHO - these retail for around $600.
Then yous tell me - would you spend two times what the 4000 costs in order to bring it up to bazaar mic level with Peluso capsule and a full suite of OktavaMod upgrdes? Or does 4000 present a skilful enough value in its stock grade?
Doesn't brand sense to me...
a mic mod that is about half the cost of the stock mic is going to make sense to consumers in my opinion.
I'm Not saying that there isn't a chance that I wouldn't purchase information technology at some point... although, I don't own whatever chinese mics that I know about??
I'm just saying from a business organization perspective it doesn't make a lot of sense to take a modernistic cost twice every bit much every bit the stock purchase..
Doesn't brand sense with cars, do equipment, computers.... or microphones.
It has to make sense to the mind of a consumer in club to be a great concern idea in my opinion.
that being said, there's something to be said for diversifying the portfolio of what your already successful business tin do...
It might be a bang-up 'option' but... it's more of a side dish than the principal plate.
It could exist mashed potatoes.. or french fries at best... only it ain't no steak dinner.
Gear Addict
Yeah, but the mods Michael is talking nearly is going to catechumen information technology from a "Chinese" mic to a hybrid "Chinese-American" mic. Heh. The sheathing looks like the biggest mod he'southward talking about.
And I have to say, that I've been plenty impressed withm my Swedish marketed, Chinese manufactured GAP Pre 73, and then...
Hither'due south my thinking on the matter. I spent $189 for this mic. Chump change. I bought information technology for the body and handbasket, which are quite similar to my Pearlman TM-1, with the intial idea of grabbing the chrome basket off the MXL, throwing it on the TM-1 and calling it a day. So, after I heard the mic, I thought "heeyyyyyy, there's some potential here!" I thought about sending it to Dave Pearlman to futz around with, simply I didn't want to send a blank check along with it, so I chickened out.
Now, if a $400 modern can get this puppy to sing like a $1,400 Gefell UMT70S, then who could maybe balk at that? And if I current of air upward being the only kid in town with a $589 mic that sounds similar a $1,400 mic that looks better than a $1,400 mic and more like the $2,000 mic (I know, I know, beauty is in the eye and all that), then I'm good with that, too. As it stand up, the MXL-4000 is the second least useful mic I ain. The to the lowest degree useful is the other gratuitous MXL that got thrown in on the deal that I have no interest in modding. The 4000 comes close, but no cigar for regular use. If I can bring it up towards the front of the pack for a few bills, then it volition be well worth it - at to the lowest degree to me.
Michael says he's going to endeavor and have a modded MXL 4000 in my hands by the heart or latter office of side by side calendar week.
Let the games begin!! heh
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MXL 4000 and Multi-blueprint wiring
Multi-pattern mics are convenient but there is the potential of signal deposition due to stray capacitance loss between the capsule and FET input.
The MXL 4000 point flow looks like this: Capsule -> 1st PC board with design, proceeds and LF cut switches -> second PC board with FET impedance converter and following excursion. The " ->" symbol to a higher place represents non just one wire, it represents several wires. And these wires are adequately long to let PC board movement for ease-of-assembly. The problem is the point wires run parallel to, or are bunched next to each other when the 2 PC boards are stuffed into the supporting framework. This close proximity of indicate wires to each other and ground can cause signal degradation equally the stray capacitance between wires loads the capsule and bleeds off transient detail. For this reason I've been a scrap of a curmudgeon in my preference for cardioid-only mics considering of the shorter point path that can be accomplished.
And so I spent an hr just re-wiring the MXL 4000 with Prove Audio LYRIC HG solid copper conductors making certain the lead lengths were as short as curt as possible and routed so they were well-separated from each other. This was a rather tedious process that does not lend itself to high-book production techniques. Information technology really resembles the sort of construction technique that would have been used in an old school radio transmitter where high impedance and high frequency circuits were the norm and required conscientious attention to wire blazon, insulation type, wire length and routing.
I was very encouraged by the improvement in transient detail as a result of the re-wiring. I'1000 going to reconsider my curmudgeonly bias against multi-design mics and say: yeah, they can be both user-friendly and skilful-sounding - if the wiring is executed with a corking deal of care.
Gear Aficionado
Fascinating!!
Cheers for the running commentary. This is very interesting stuff to hear and larn about.
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MXL 4000 - Capsule Loading Issue
Now that I'm deep into the 4000 I've made an upgrade to reduce electrical loading of the capsule diaphragms and farther meliorate transient response.
In a cardioid-only mic (and some variants of the three-pattern excursion) the capsule is polarized through a ane Chiliad Ohm resistor(s) to present minimal electrical loading to the diaphragm(s) and not rob sensitivity - peculiarly in the high terminate.
The three-pattern MXL 4000 uses multiple 1 Chiliad Ohm resistors as part of its pattern selection network. These resistors present a total load on the diaphragms of less than one G Ohm - in other words, there is a lower impedance (greater load) hung on the diaphragms than what a cardioid-merely mic with a unmarried 1 Grand Ohm resistor would see.
All things beingness equal, the 4000's switching circuit as it is implemented in the stock mic has less transient item than what the same capsule would produce had it been wired as a cardioid-only mic. So in order to proceed the blueprint selection circuit but reduce diaphragm loading I've raised each polarization resistor to iii One thousand Ohm. The polarization and pattern switching ramp up time is at present about 25 seconds - but the load presented by the resistors has been significantly reduced and transient response farther improved in the modified vs. stock mic.
doyleconcephas1975.blogspot.com
Source: https://gearspace.com/board/low-end-theory/358412-any-interesting-mods-available-mxl-4000-a.html
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