Recording - February 2021 - 56

REVIEW

Oktava
MK-115/MK-117
large diaphragm
cardioid condenser
microphones

A pair of solid Russian-made condenser
mics, each with its own distinct sound
REVIEW BY ALEX HAWLEY

ktava has roots dating back to 1927, when it started in the
city of Tula, Russia. Once a mechanical workshop producing
radio parts, Oktava has grown into one of Russia's leading
microphone manufacturers. Oktava also produces telephone capsules,
aviation headsets, hearing aids, intercom microphones, and more. I did
a deep dive in the October 2020 issue covering the history and use of the
Oktava MK-012, a popular and affordable pencil condenser that's been
in production for over 25 years. This time around, I'll be testing out the
Oktava MK-115 and MK-117 large diaphragm condenser microphones.

Overview

The MK-115 and MK-117 share a
charming rustic aesthetic with a side
of militia. Straight out of the box,
both mics are surprisingly heavy and
incredibly robust, with entirely metal
bodies. They're bottle-style mics (similar to early Neumann and Blue microphones) with a nickel finish and matching grilles. The thicker MK-117 feels
particularly bulletproof in the hands.
Needless to say, either model will
need a reasonably sturdy mic stand to
support its weight.
Despite their 'bayonet' or 'bottle'
style, the MK-115 and MK-117 are not
modular microphones-their capsules
are permanently mounted to their bodies. Both feature a 1 " capsule with a
dual gold-plated diaphragm. The MK117 appears to be in a K67 capsule
56 RECORDING February 2021

style, while the MK-115 features a
more original design. Both models are
cardioid only.

MK-115

The MK-115 has a listed frequency
range of 50 Hz - 16 kHz, with a sensitivity of 8 mV/Pa and 18dBA of self
noise. The sensitivity is slightly low compared to other large diaphragm condensers in this class, so plan on pairing it with a decent preamp. Likewise,
18dBA is a bit on the higher side for
self noise. Its maximum SPL of 120dB
places the dynamic range around
102dB. The frequency response chart
looks flat throughout the midrange, with
a slight bump from 4 kHz to 6 kHz. A
dip around 8 kHz is accompanied by
a rather sharp decline above 12 kHz.
It ends up around -9dB at 20 kHz.

There's a shock mount available as an
upgrade for either mic, though I wrote
this review using only the standard (included) mic clip. Both mics are free of
any switches/tonality options on the
body, such as a pad or highpass filter.

MK-117

The MK-117 is a bit more sensitive,
with a 20 mV/Pa rating, although (after
looking up the Russian alphabet to
decipher the hand-written measurements
inside the box) the mic Oktava sent to
me was measured at 25 mV/Pa, with a
slightly higher self noise than its sibling,
measuring at 20dBa. With its 124dB
maximum SPL value, the dynamic range
is similar, landing at around 104dB.
The MK-117 has a frequency response
of 20 Hz - 20 kHz. Its response chart
shows a considerable amount of energy
in the 2 to 4 kHz range (+4dB), as well
as a more gradual tapering off beyond
15 kHz. [Oktava notes: user guides with
specs are available in English as well
as Cyrillic]
Neither mic jumps off the spec sheet
for this price bracket-there are other
options readily available with lower
noise figures and considerably higher

Recording - February 2021

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