AKG C414 Review

The AKG C414 is one of the most popular, and easily recognizable, large-diaphragm condenser microphones used in the studio and for live recording. Designed to handle a wide range of recording situations, the unique sound and durability of the microphone has made it a standard for decades. Because the pattern switching is electronic, the microphone must be attached to a phantom-power source in order to change patterns. It takes half a second for the new setting to take effect, and the microphone retains it when you turn off the phantom power. You can put it in Lock Mode if you want to disable the onboard controls so the settings won’t get changed accidentally during a session. On the rear of the microphone are three switchable low-cut filters (0, 40, 80, or 160 Hz) and three pre-attenuation pads (0, –6, –12, and –18 dB). The 40 and 80 Hz filters have a 12 dB/octave slope, while the 160 Hz filter’s slope is 6 dB/octave. The C414 XLS can handle SPLs up to 140 dB without the pad engaged, and up to 158 dB with the –18 dB pad. The microphone offers an overall dynamic range of 134 dB. What distinguishes the C414 XLS from earlier models is its potential for handling beefier instruments in more settings. With its extra patterns and ability to handle higher sound pressure levels, the C414 XLS could even be used on a snare drum in a live setting, a fairly non-traditional use for a condenser microphone. I was also able to get a sense of how this model sounds as a room microphone. I set up the C414 XLS about 13 feet away from my acoustic guitar while I close captured the instrument with a small-diaphragm condenser. The added ambience of the room captured by the C414 XLS was a nice addition to the mono track, with the slightly out-of-phase signals merging to create stereo-like depth when panned slightly off center. The C414 XLS was one of the best sounding microphones I’ve used for this test. AKG knows not to mess with a good thing, and they’ve definitely maintained the classic sound of the C414 in the C414 XLS. With the addition of four intermediate polar patterns, the company has increased the microphones versatility, making this an attractive microphone for studios in need of a top-notch, multipurpose condenser. I would rate this Microphone a 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it to anyone that has the budget to afford it.