Recording - July 2012 - 60

B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

Telefunken

M80 and M81 Dynamic Microphones
A world-class condenser mic maker produces two fascinating dynamics
What comes to mind when we hear the word “Telefunken” is big, beautiful, largediaphragm condenser mics. This applies to the vintage warhorses or the new USA reproductions, or even the more affordable R-F-T series like the CU-29, AR-51 or AK47MKII, all three of which we have reviewed in these pages over the last few years. This month we break the mold and take a look at the two hand-held dynamic entries in the T-Funk line: The M80 Dynamic and the brand-new M81 Universal Dynamic.

Shared features
Both microphones share the same body, head basket, internal components and capsule. Of solid build, they weigh just over 13 oz. and measure 7.24"’ long by 1.89" in diameter. Their differences are in appearance and voicing. Both mics have a dynamic moving-coil low-mass capsule with an ultra-thin Mylar membrane and an American-made custom-wound transformer. Frequency response for both is 30 Hz to 18 kHz, and they share a cardioid pickup pattern and a 200-ohm impedance. Both models are designed with minimal proximity effect, and a high level of off-axis rejection translates to lots of gain before feedback on stage—having used both live, I can attest to that. Made in the USA, each mic comes with a standard clip and a pouch in an oversized firecracker tube.

Out of the box
With its black rubberized handle and chrome windscreen and logo badge, from a distance the M80 looks like the baby brother of the AK-47 MKII. This mic was first introduced a few years ago and according to Telefunken was designed to exhibit a condenser-like top end and to offer an alternative to many of the mid-heavy industry-standard dynamic mics. Oddly, on paper the M80’s frequency response graph looks quite similar to that of the industry-standard Shure SM58, with a pair of peaks around 5 and 10 kHz and a low end that starts to drop steadily and evenly from around 200 Hz on down. Yet looks are obviously deceiving, as the M80 sounds absolutely nothing like an SM58, the 58 being sonically duller by comparison. Overall I can see where T-Funk imply an almost condenser-type top end response. While the M80 is still nowhere near as toppy as many modern condenser mics, it is indeed the brightest, most open and airy handheld dynamic mic I think I have ever heard, with a very silky smooth upper midrange and a solid and full low mid section. This makes it first and foremost a fantastic vocal mic for cutting through a mix, and although I have seen references online to it being overly sensitive to plosives, I found it no more or less so than an SM58 or SM7, meaning—yes, they do occur, but it’s no showstopper. Before I get into more real-world comparisons, let’s leave the M80 and move on to the M81. Visually, where the M80 reminds one of the AK-47MKII, the M81 hints of the AR-51’s look, with a rough slate finish and ebony chrome badge and grille. Sonically its lows and mids are almost exactly those of the M80, but to make it into a more even-toned utility mic Telefunken dialed back the high end and brought it back into more “normal” dynamic mic territory that, to my ears, is much more like an SM58 than an SM57. Having said that, this mic is less a vocal mic and finds itself more at home anywhere you would put a typical dynamic instrument mic—drums, percussion, and in keeping with this issue’s topical focus, guitar amps.
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On stage
I actually have been using the M80 now for two years and have found that it lives very comfortably alongside my usual live vocal mic choices, the Shure Beta 87a and the much more expensive Shure KSM9; considering that both of those are condensers, that is saying something. (I should state for the record that while I love the two previously mentioned Shure mics, I am not a fan of the SM58 as I like my vocals to cut more.) The M80 is also a nice mic for live acoustic guitar work and does a great job of both rejecting feedback and letting the strings cut through. I tried the M81 for a few months in a live setting, first as an inner kick mic in combo with a Yamaha
Recording - July 2012

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