AKG C414 The Ultimate Comparison: XLS vs XLII vs B-ULS vs EB

To celebrate AKG’s 75th birthday, we’re shining a light on perhaps their most iconic mic. The C414 has been in production for more than 50 years, and a lot of Internet mythology has grown up around the different variants. So we got together two of the most famous historic 414 models alongside the current XLS and XLII and headed to Half-Ton Studios in Cambridge to record the same song four times. Our unique video gives you the chance to hear how all four models sound on drum overheads, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, male and female vocals, piano and hand percussion — and in a complete mix. Sound On Sound have also teamed up with AKG to give away a desirable C414 XLII stereo set. With nine polar patterns, multiple pad and filter settings and a self-noise figure of just 6dBA, today’s 414s have class-leading specifications. The C414 XLS captures exactly what you put in front of it, adding nothing and taking nothing away, while if you prefer something with more character, the XLII model is tuned to recall the sparking high end and rich lows of the classic C414 EB from the late ’70s. The stereo set includes a matched pair of these premium studio mics along with custom shock-mounts and a stereo bar, all housed in a super-sturdy flight case. To be in with a chance of winning this superb prize, head to and answer the questions there before the closing date of March 1st 2023. Good luck! This SOS video is brought to you in association with AKG. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:14 - C414 EB & Drum Recording Setup 02:03 - Drum Sound Comparison 02:54 - C414 B-ULS & Guitar Re-amp Setup 04:14 - Guitar Sound Comparison 05:09 - Bass Sound Comparison 05:58 - C414 XLS & Acoustic Guitar Recording Setup 07:15 - Acoustic Guitar Sound Comparison 08:04 - C414 XLII & Vocal Recording 09:04 - Male Voice Sound Comparison 09:43 - Female Voice Sound Comparison 10:20 - Piano Sound Comparison 11:09 - Percussion Sound Comparison 12:25 - Full Mix - C414 EB 13:20 - Full Mix - C414 XLS 14:15 - Full Mix - C414 XLII 15:09 - Full Mix - C414 ULS 16:04 - Enter The Competition! .................................................................................................... Subscribe to Sound On Sound Get FREE 170-page RECORDING TECHNOLOGY eBook: Visit Like FACEBOOK: Follow TWITTER: Follow INSTAGRAM: @soundonsoundmag #akg #microphone #comparison