AT4050 versus the AT4050 CM5

ChrisNW · Post by **ChrisNW** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:59 am

Quick question:
Does anyone know what differences exist between the AT4050 and the AT4050 CM5?
Thanks,
Chris

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:48 am

http://www.audio-technica.com/cgi-bin/p ... de-address

I own two AT4050s. Not sure if they have a "CM5" on the name but I check the boxes at home tonight. Great mics.

Maybe the CM5 is an older version? I don't remember seeing it, though.

Jeff

PublicMelody · Post by **PublicMelody** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:11 am

I called AT once and asked the same question. The person there (nice guy) looked into it, and said he believed the only difference is how they were packaged (shockmounts, etc). So, according to him, there is no difference except that the CM5 was the older packaging (unavailable now).

However, I think the CM5 used through-hole soldering, and I have to think that the newer 4050s use surface mount. At least, I know that the AT4040 does.

Jeff, does the inside of your 4050 have surface mount components?

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:28 pm

Ummm... I'm not opening it up! No way!

MoreSpaceEcho · Post by **MoreSpaceEcho** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:44 pm

i'm pretty sure they are the same sonically.

AstroDan · Post by **AstroDan** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:53 pm

Whichever one is older and a more pain in the ass to get is better...

The 4050 is such a great microphone. It's one of those mics you can leave up during a session and just throw on something in a pinch and it will probably sound good.

Max · Post by **Max** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:57 pm

I have one of each and I know that they don't sound identical.
Last year I put them next to each other and recorded a 3 ft distant electric guitar cab. Then I matched the volume and flipped the phase on one of them and they didn't cancel each other out.
They sounded pretty similar when listening to each of the mics individually and I couldn't really tell which one sounded better.
I have a AT4051 and a AT4051a that canceled each other out almost completely in the same test.

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:21 pm

Max wrote:I have one of each and I know that they don't sound identical.
Last year I put them next to each other and recorded a 3 ft distant electric guitar cab. Then I matched the volume and flipped the phase on one of them and they didn't cancel each other out.
They sounded pretty similar when listening to each of the mics individually and I couldn't really tell which one sounded better.
I have a AT4051 and a AT4051a that canceled each other out almost completely in the same test.

That's not the best testing method as they cn not be in the same exact space.

The 4050 CM5 I believe is the whole catalog name. We just all call them 4050 and move on.

Max · Post by **Max** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:00 am

Of course it's not the best testing method out there. I'm not a microphone tester. The test gave me a rough estimation of how closely the mics are matched. The capsules where about the same distance from the speaker and about two inches apart from each other.
I've done similar tests with other mic pairs and it generally it works well enough to give me an idea of how closely matched the mics are.
In this particular case both mics sounded fine and were pretty similar in character but it was not possible at all to make them cancel each other out when trying to match levels.
Audio Technica doesn't sell matched pairs because according to them, their quality control standards are high enough to let you use any two mics of the same type as a matched pair.
I mentioned the test with my AT4051 and my AT4051a because they sound really, really close to each other.
If my 4050 and my 4050CM5 are supposed to sound identical and I have no reason to believe why they shouldn't, then we should re-think AT's statement about quality control and mic matching.
Edit:
I've used five or six different 4050 mics (CM5 or not) at different studios and they all sounded fine. I use mine in almost every session. All I'm saying is that I doubt that they sound identical. That's all.

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:25 pm

again I believe all 4050s are 4050 CM5. AFAIK they haven't changed the mic. I use a pair, bought separately all the time. They probably don't sound exactly the same, but they are damn close and work together just fine.

PublicMelody · Post by **PublicMelody** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:15 am

ipressrecord wrote:Ummm... I'm not opening it up! No way!

PUSSY!

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:23 am

PublicMelody · Post by **PublicMelody** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:00 pm

ipressrecord wrote:LOL!

Hey Jeff,

Why don't you bring your 4050 over to my place. I have a set of small screwdrivers, and a tampon.

The screwdrivers are for the mic.

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:33 pm

PublicMelody wrote:
ipressrecord wrote:LOL!
Hey Jeff,

Why don't you bring your 4050 over to my place. I have a set of small screwdrivers, and a tampon.

The screwdrivers are for the mic.

Who are you, like every band I record? Usually I get made fun for talking non-stop during setup after drinking half my weight in morning coffee.

Good times.

Jeff

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AT4050 versus the AT4050 CM5

AT4050 versus the AT4050 CM5

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