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Telefunken Elektroakustik Ela M 250 F

Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone

The Ela M 250 F was the lowest-cost member of Telefunken Elektroakustik’s family of Ela M 250/251 reproduction microphones.

Like the ElaM 250E, the 250F is a multipattern tube condenser, with Cardioid and Omni patterns selectable from a switch below the headbasket.

The primary differences between the ‘E’ and ‘F’ versions are:

• The 250F has an imported, “modern” power supply, rather than the historically-accurate “lunchbox”-style 250E power supply.
• The 250F uses the company’s TK-12 capsule, rather than their CK-12 capsule.
• The 250F’s “no frills” packaging does not include the the vintage-style locking flight case of the 250E.

The amplifier circuit, tube and transformer are identical to the higher-priced Ela M 250 E reproduction — both mics use a GE JAN 6072a tube, a Haufe transformer, and the modular construction technique peculiar to the original AKG-built Telefunken Ela M 250E and Ela M 251E.

Telefunken Elektroakustik manufactures numerous variations of the ElaM 250/251 family of microphones:

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)

Note the similarity between the ElaM 250F and ElaM 251F — the sole difference is that the 250F has only Cardioid and Omni patterns, whereas the 251F also provides figure-of-8.

The ElaM 250 F shipped with a wooden microphone case, a “modern” imported power supply, and a power cable.

Resolution, 2008-02

[I]t’s not the quietest microphone in the world, but certainly not the noisiest either. Specs quote equivalent noise at 16dBA although it somehow sounds a little noisier than that in reality.

There’s a fine line with vocals between detail in the
high end and harshness — some microphones sound very warm but lacking in detail, others give you plenty of detail but can sound very hard, very quickly. The 250 F nails it absolutely.

[O]n acoustic guitar and piano… although there isn’t quite the snap to the strings or hammer sound when compared
to a Neumann M149 or 414, there’s a very solid rounded out sound that is pleasantly lacking in the brittleness around the 3kHz mark that many modern large diaphragm condensers seem to exaggerate.

[Although] I was hugely impressed by the Soundelux ELAM 251, from memory the 250 F sounds just that little bit bigger in every respect.

Permalink: Telefunken Elektroakustik ElaM-250F

Specifications

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