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Telefunken Elektroakustik Ela M 251

Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone

The Telefunken Elektroakustik Ela M 251 is a three-pattern tube condenser microphone, presented as a historically-accurate recreation of the AKG-built vintage mic of the same name.

Like the original ElaM 250/251, the Telefunken Elektroakustik recreations use a Telefunken AC701 vacuum tube in the amplifier circuit. (The vintage ElaM 250E and 251E, intended for export, used a 6072a tube.)

The capsule is a recreation of the AKG CK-12, arguably one of the most complex condenser capsules in the world. It is a large-diaphragm, edge-terminated design with gold-plated Mylar diaphragms. Telefunken Elektroakustik has invested considerably into the research, tooling, and process development necessary to recreate these capsules; see additional notes on the profile for the ElaM 251 E.

Pattern selection is effected via a switch below the headbasket. The ElaM 251 provides Cardioid, Omni, and Figure-of-8 polar patterns.

The output transformer is built by Haufe, provider of the original 14:1 transformer to AKG for the Telefunken ElaM microphones, although there is some dispute about the authenticity of the construction.

Klaus Heyne

Transformers used in clones are not the same as in the original ELA M 250/251 design… Simple DC resistance tests alone will show that the current generation of these transformers has grossly different winding ratios. If you then take the transformer apart, you will also notice that it was wound to a different pattern than the original — all this adds up to a noticeably different sound…

Telefunken Elektroakustik manufactures numerous versions of the ElaM 250/251 microphone family:

Model	Capsule	Tube	Patterns	PSU	MSRP (2010)
Ela M 250	CK-12	AC-701	Cardioid, Omni	Historical	$13,495
Ela M 251	CK-12	AC-701	Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8	Historical	$13,995
Ela M 250 E	CK-12	6072a	Cardioid, Omni	Historical	$10,495
Ela M 251 E	CK-12	6072a	Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8	Historical	$10,995
Ela M 250 F	TK-12	6072a	Cardioid, Omni	Modern	n/a
Ela M 251 F	TK-12	6072a	Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8	Modern	($5,995)
Ela M 251 T	CK-13	6072a	Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8	Historical	n/a

(MSRP current as of Nov, 2010)

The ElaM 251 ships with a padded wooden storage box, a historically-accurate “lunchbox”-style power supply, power cable with swivel mount, and a vintage suitcase.

From September 2010 through the end of 2011, Telefunken is offering a commemorative 50-year anniversary edition of the ElaM 251 (and most ElaM models). The Ela M 251 anniversary edition includes a custom leather flight case with an embroidered 50th Anniversary logo.

Permalink: Telefunken Elektroakustik Ela-M-251

Specifications

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Omnidirectional (12 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz) Cardioid (12 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz) Bidirectional (12 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm Capsule diameter: 32mm Diaphragm gauge: 6 microns	200 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 138 dB Self-noise: 16.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
567g (20.00oz)	216mm (8.50'')	51mm (2.01'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Includes tube power supply

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