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CardioidMXL V63M

  Street: $60 / MSRP: $250 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

MXL V63M

Description

The V63M is a transformerless large-diaphragm condenser with a fixed cardioid pickup pattern. Part of MXL’s “900 Series,” it is OEM’d by MXL for Guitar Center and its various retail outlets, including Musician’s Friend, Music 123, and Woodwind & Brasswind.

The capsule is spec’d at 32mm, with a 6-micron diaphragm. This is likely very similar to the K67-style capsule found in other MXL condenser microphones.

The output circuit is transformerless. Self-noise is rated at 20dBA, making this the noisiest of MXL’s large-diapragm FET microphones (along with the multipattern MXL 4000, another 900-series mic). The only large-diaphragm mic with a higher self-noise rating is the V69M, a tube mic, at 22dBA.

Although similar in size, shape, and circuitry to the older 2003 and 2006 models, the V63M has much less HF presence than the older mics. The V63M shows a +2dB peak from 6kHz–13kHz; compare to the +5dB peak on the 2003 and +10dB peak on the 2006.

The V63M ships with a ring mount (MXL p/n MT-001). Some retailers bundle it with an elastic shockmount; the mic is compatible with the MXL-57, USM-001, and USM-002 shockmounts.

The circuitry of the V63M is similar to numerous other mics from MXL, such as the 990 and MCA-SP1. The schematic for a general mod to this circuit board has been published in the “micbuilders” group on Yahoo. To access the schematic, join the Yahoo group and then download the “GenChinaMod.pdf” file from here.

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Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (15 mV/Pa; 30 - 20,000 Hz)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm
Capsule diameter: 32mm
Diaphragm gauge: 6 microns 		200 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 130 dB
Self-noise: 20.0 dB(A)
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
470g (16.58oz) 190mm (7.48'') 55mm (2.17'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires phantom power
  • Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v

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