Telefunken ELA M 260
The small diaphragm ELA M 260 is arguably one of the industry’s finest acoustic and classical recording tube microphones, offering plenty of tone with excellent detail and clarity. While not a historically accurate reproduction of the original ELA M 260 like the Diamond Series microphones, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik’s version of the ELA M 260 is still built with the same attention to detail and level of quality that would be expected from a TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik microphone.
Sonic Characteristic
In use, the ELA M 260 has plenty of tone with excellent detail and clarity. It captures sources with a natural presence, making it a fantastic tool for recording acoustic instruments of all types. Violin, cello, upright bass, drum overheads, percussion, woodwinds, saxophones, strings, and especially acoustic guitar all shine through the ELA M 260. Also, despite its size, it has also served well on vocal applications. Its unique tonal character is very well suited for a myriad of applications, both traditional and not.
Circuit Design
The ELA M 260 system features a new circuit design based around a New Old Stock (NOS) EF732 / 5840W vacuum tube and a custom output transformer that is wound to exacting specification in the United States. The combination of these features yields a small diaphragm microphone that is unique while also bearing the qualities of the vintage microphones that it was based upon.
System Configurations & Accessories
ELA M 260 tube microphone systems include an M 902 power supply, M 860 25’ dual-shielded TX-7 tube microphone cable with right angle female XLR connector, M 761 elastic shock mount, and hard shell zipper carrying case.
The ELA M 260 Cardioid Set system packages are supplied with one interchangeable TK60 cardioid capsule. Additional TK61 Omnidirectional and TK62 Hypercardioid capsules can be purchased and attached separately.
The ELA M 260 Master Set system packages are supplied with a set of three interchangeable capsules: the TK60 Cardioid, TK61 Omnidirectional, and TK62 Hypercardioid. With all three capsules the user can have the flexibility to record their source material in any way they wish.
Technical Specifications
- Type: Pressure Gradient Condenser
- Capsule: TK60, TK61, TK62 – 15 mm Edge Terminated Diaphragm
- Tube Type: Raytheon JAN EF732 / 5840W (NOS)
- Transformer: Custom Wound TELEFUNKEN T60
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Omindirectional, and Hypercardioid (Interchangeable Capsules)
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ± 3 dB
- Sensitivity: 16.5 mV/Pa ± 1 dB
- THD at 1kHZ at 1Pa (Amplifier): < 0.15%
- Output Impedance: 200 Ω
- Maximum SPL (for 1% THD): 135 dB
- S/N Ratio: 83 dBA
- Self Noise (Amplifier): 11 dBA
- Dimensions: 140 mm L x 21 mm Dia
- Weight: 116 g
- Current Draw from Mains: 55 mA
- Power Supply: M 960 – 7 Pin Female XLR Input, 3 Pin Male XLR Output
- Cable: M 860R – 25 ft Accusound TX-7 Cable, Right Angle 7 Pin Female XLR, 7 Pin Male XLR
- Wooden Box: WB60
- Flight Case: HC60 – Hard Shell Protective Case (not included), FC60S for Stereo Set, FC60T for Tri-Mono Set