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CardioidMXL 2001

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

MXL 2001

Description

  • 25mm (1'') Large Capsule Condenser
  • Gold-sputtered, 6 micron, low distortion diaphragm
  • FET preamp with balanced transformer output
  • Durable heavy duty brass enclosure
  • Supplied with screw-on mic stand adapter
  • Optional high isolation shock mount available

The Marshall MXL 2001 was one of the early Chinese-made microphones to appear on the US market. The capsule, a single-diaphragm 25mm design, is a copy of the K67 Neumann capsule (used in the U-67, U-87, SM-69 and M-269).

The mic uses a FET preamp and transformer. It ships with a stand adapter; a shockmount is available separately (p/n MXL-56).

In 2001, David Royer of Royer Labs created a tube mod for this microphone, swapping the stock FET preamp with a tube circuit. A HOWTO article was published in TapeOp #25 (reprints available here): One tube microphone from Berlin and one from Barstow. For a time, Royer was selling mod kids, including a replacement circuit board, but these are no longer available. More information on the mod is available at the Royer mic-mod project. Alternate parts can be used; for example see this MXL2001 tube mod.

Note that Mojave Audio’s MA-200 is a fixed-cardioid, large-diaphragm tube mic built around a Chinese K67 capsule, the 5840 tube, and a Jensen transformer, much like the modded MXL2001. In some sense, the MA-200 is Royer’s commercial release of the MXL2001 mod kit.

HomeRecording.com, 2004

Jonah:
I heard a rumer you can rewire a MXL 2001 to sound like a Neuman U87. Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks guys!
Harvey Gerst:
I’d gladly pay a rewiring charge just to get a 2001 to sound like a “Mister Microphone”.
Michael Joly:
Harvey, is that like the Speak n’ Spell mod or do I have my circuits confused?
Marik:
I think you have heard something about David Royer mod. Well, if so I wouldn’t call it rewire—more like completely rebuilt. And yes, if you put in K87 capsule as well (it runs at around $400), there is chance that it will sound really very good, probably even with the same tonal balance… but different.

Permalink: MXL 2001

The mic was released in 1999.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (15 mV/Pa; 30 - 20,000 Hz)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm
Capsule diameter: 32mm
 200 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 130 dB
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
470g (16.58oz) 190mm (7.48'') 50mm (1.97'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires phantom power
  • Phantom voltage: 48v

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