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AKG Acoustics C 3000 B

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The C 3000 B is a second-generation “C 3000” condenser microphone.

The original C 3000 was released in 1993. It was black in color and had two separate capsules — cardioid and hypercardioid, both externally biased or “true” condenser designs. The ‘B’ revision was introduced in 1999, and was essentially a new design, with a single electret cardioid capsule, in a silver-bronze color.

In 2009, AKG re-released the electret version of the mic in black, confusingly named the “C 3000,” but this is identical to the B revision. In 2012, AKG relaunched the mic as the “C3000,” again identical to the original C 3000 B electret design; see sidebar links for details.

AKG

There is no acoustical or technical difference between the new black C 3000B and the predecessor in silver-bronze color.

The first C 3000, many years ago, was also black, but incorporated two capsules in order to achieve cardioid and hypercardioid characteristics.

The 1999 edition (aka the ‘B’ revision) has a 1'' large-diaphragm capsule that “closely approximates the vibration performance of top-class studio microphones.”

Another change between the original and B revision: the -10dB pad follows the transducer directly in the B circuit, making the pad more effective than in the original design.

The mic’s pickup pattern is cardioid.

The capsule in the ‘B’ revision incorporates some patented technology.

Austrian patent #395.225

The electrostatic transformer comprises a membrane (1), opposing electrodes (2) with isolating parts therebetween. [T]he isolating parts (3, 11, 19, 23) as a whole, or at least partly, have a heat capacitance of at least one third of that of the electrodes (2, 11, 15, 21) and the housing (6, 22) including the transformer, and a conductivity of at least one hundredth of that of the electrodes (2, 11, 15, 21) and the housing (6, 22).

USE/ADVANTAGE - Reduces noise and recovery time if unit gets damp…

SoundOnSound, 2000

I feel this mic is less brittle-sounding than the C3000, but it still has a very open, spacious high end that complements its smooth, full mid-range nicely. Compared with my Rode NT1, which I still think is a bargain amongst low-cost capacitor mics, I found the C3000B to be slightly more sensitive and just a little brighter.

The AKG Acoustics C 3000 B is also known as: C3000B, C 3000 B.

The mic was released in 1999.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (25 mV/Pa; 20 to 20,000 Hz)	Pad: -10 dB pad (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -6 dB/octave @ 500Hz (Via Switch)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm	200 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 150 dB Self-noise: 14.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
320g (11.29oz)	162mm (6.38'')	53mm (2.09'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 9 - 52v

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