Recording - October 2015 - 32

ADK Z-251 and Cremona 251-T

When Neumann ceased US distribution
with Telefunken in 1958, Telefunken went to
Austrian mic builder AKG to create a
Telefunken branded U 47-style replacement.
Using a C12 AKG capsule (itself a classic),
the resulting microphone was the ELA-M 250
2-patterned mic, soon to become the ELA-M
251 3-patterned version.
The ELA-M 251 is therefore something of a
sonic love child of the AKG C12 and the
Neumann U 47. Production of the mic
ceased in 1965; today, vintage working
models fetch obscene amounts of money,
often much more than vintage U 47 and C12
mics. Luckily for us, the modern mic world
offers a variety of close imitators and
"inspired by" versions of these classic mics, of
which the ADK Z-MOD and T-FET mics are
among the very finest.
The Cremona 251-T (revisited)
We will start with the solid state Cremona
251-T. We're actually returning to this model
a second time; back when this design was
part of ADK's former Audiophile series, it was
called the Cremona 251 Au, and I reviewed

it in September 2010. The Cremona 251-T is
internally identical to the mic I reviewed,
sporting the T-FET accessories and a beautiful
yellow finish; it was included in this review to
provide a familiar point of reference for the
new Z-251.
It offers a choice of omni, cardioid, and
figure-8 polar patterns, a 2-position pad
switch with up to 16 dB of attenuation, and
a two-position highpass filter. Its internal components include Oxford transformers from
the UK and a Philips Norelco FET.
In my 2010 review, I found this mic to offer
an open, airy sound with sweet even mids. It
has a healthy forward boost in the 10 to 15
kHz range, but is very neutral across the middle, with no low-end hype.
In that review I liked it best on acoustic guitar, violin and strings, as well as folk style
vocals, especially female. I concluded back
then that it was probably the best choice as a
studio workhorse out of all of the Audiophile
mics, and I still love it.
The Z-251 (hello!)
As a tube mic, the Z-251 is an even closer

approximation of the original ELA-M 251
than the Cremona 251-T. As part of the ZMOD series, it shares the same body and
build as the rest of line. It's distinguished only
by its yellow color, which ADK calls "Top
Banana". It is housed in a 2.1" x 8.9" body
with a weight of 1.5 lbs. It is very solid and
well damped with a great fit and finish; I love
the large mic-stand threading it uses.
It has an ADK-designed GK-67D center terminated dual diaphragm capsule. The mic I
was sent made use of a USA-made Jensen
transformer, which is the recommended transformer for the Z-251. ADK's web site offers
great descriptions of each available transformer's merits; ADK will customize transformers and voicings to your needs.
Its specs are the same as the rest of the ZMOD line, with 9 polar patterns (selectable
on the power supply) with figure-8 and omni
on the ends, cardioid in the middle, and three
intermediate steps on each side. It has a 20
Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, a
14mV/Pa = -37 dBV (0 dBV = 1v/Pa) sensitivity, <250 ohm impedance, a 125 dB
max SPL level, a 17 dBA noise level, and a
signal to noise ratio of 1 Pa: 76 dB.
In use
If you have read any of my reviews in the
past few months, you will know I am in the
middle of tracking a classic "Jeans and TShirt" rock album with Les Pauls, Strats and

http://www.greatriverelectronics.com http://www.greweb.com/mixmaster-20.html

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - October 2015