AKG Perception 150 Microphone

AKG PERCEPTION 150 SMALL DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER PROFESSIONAL MICROPHONE



If you are in the market for a good entry level, small diaphragm, condenser microphone, and you are on a limited budget, there are few choices equal to, or better to consider than the AKG Perception 150 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone. This microphone retails for $279.95, but it can be had from most musical instrument chain stores and from a reputable Internet dealer for as little as $129.99. Read on and see if you feel that you would like to audition this microphone the next time you are visiting your local music store.

The AKG Perception 150 is a small diaphragm condenser microphone. A small diaphragm microphone is a good addition to the arsenal of any studio. In general, a microphone with a small diaphragm is a good choice for situations where you want to capture the subtle nuances of musical passages that are being played very quickly. This makes a microphone with a small diaphragm a good choice for recording stringed instruments, ranging anywhere from violins, guitars, and even stringed bass. A microphone with a small diaphragm will in general capture sounds more evenly across their frequency range, and they usually have a better transient response than a comparable large diaphragm microphone. Which is better, a microphone with a large diaphragm or one with a small diaphragm? Both are important tools to have in a studio, and each microphone is different, and it would be inappropriate to make a broad generalization as to which one is better. Both serve a valuable need and purpose.

The AKG Perception 150 is also a condenser microphone. In general, condenser microphones are more sensitive and fragile than dynamic microphones, and they are usually reserved for use in a studio. However, some condenser microphones are rugged and sturdy, and they are made to withstand the rigors and stresses of live stage performances and road work. The AKG Perception 150 is a condenser microphone that is built to be rugged, and it is sturdy enough to be used on stage. Of course that does not mean that one can drive nails with it. It is after all a condenser microphone, and must be treated with proper care and respect. Condenser microphones in general do not like excessive heat or moisture, and this is also an important consideration to keep in mind if you want optimal performance from any condenser microphone.

The AKG Perception 150 is a microphone with a full frequency response. Its frequency range is from 20 Hz. to 20,000 Hz., which is about the full range of human hearing for a healthy young person, and it is a frequency range that covers just about every musical instrument known to man. After all, why make a musical instrument that only dolphins and dogs can hear. Because the AKG Perception 150 is a small diaphragm condenser microphone with a full frequency response, it is ideally suited to recording various stringed instruments, including acoustic guitar. It also does an excellent job as an overhead microphone for recording drums and cymbals, as well as for recording acoustic piano. Because it has such a wide frequency response as well as an even and quick transient response, the AKG Perception 150 is also a good choice for recording orchestral, chorus, and jazz band ensembles.

The AKG Perception 150 is also capable of recording at relatively high sound pressure levels (SPL). Most condenser microphones do not do well when asked to record sound sources with high SPL's. The AKG Perception 150 has a maximum SPL of 135 dB, and it can be extended to 145 dB by virtue of a -10 dB switchable pre-attenuation pad. This means that when proper microphone placement is employed, the AKG Perception 150 it is capable of recording even loud guitar amp cabinets, and other sound sources where some condenser microphones dare not tread. The AKG Perception 150 is also a microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, and that means that it is most sensitive to capturing sounds that emanate from directly in front of the microphone, and it tends to reject or to be less sensitive to sounds that originate from the sides or back of the microphone. This also helps in recording situations where the room is not ideally suited for recording purposes, as well as in live situations where one wants to have as much isolation of instrumentation as is reasonably possible, while at the same time minimizing extraneous noises from the audience and any other unwanted sound sources.

Well how does the AKG Perception 150 sound? It sounds unusually good for a microphone in this price range. It does a very good job as an overhead for recording drums and cymbals, and also does a very good job at recording acoustic guitar. There is a mild accentuation or the upper registers which serves to make certain instruments, such as an acoustic guitar, sound more present, clear, and distinct, even before EQ and other effects are added to the mix. Because of its wide frequency range, quick transient response, and capability of dealing with high SPL's, the AKG is a very good general purpose microphone. Because of its relatively low cost, as compared to what it is capable of delivering, the AKG Perception 150 is an excellent choice as an entry level condenser microphone for the home studio.

Well I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my review. But now if you will excuse me, I must get back to my practicing.