Telefunken ELA M 260 Small Diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

The small diaphragm ELA M 260 is arguably one of the industry's finest acoustic and classical recording tube mics, offering plenty of tone with excellent detail and clarity.

Prior to 1959, TELEFUNKEN GmbH distributed Neumann GmbH microphones throughout the world. When Neumann GmbH decided to take their distribution direct, TELEFUNKEN GmbH commissioned Austrian company AKG Acoustics GmbH to produce a series of 5 microphones. This series of microphones was comprised of the famous ELA M 251, the ELA M 250, the stereo ELA M 270, and two small capsule microphones, the ELA M 260 and the ELA M 261.

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik is pleased to offer the ELA M 260, our first small diaphragm tube condenser. While not a historically accurate reproduction of the original ELA M 260 like the "Diamond Series" microphones, our version of the ELA M 260 is definitely built with the same attention to detail and level of quality as its Diamond Series brethren.

Arguably one of the best recording tools for acoustic and classical music, the ELA M 260 system features a new circuit design based around a TELEFUNKEN EF-732 vacuum tube and a custom output transformer that is wound to exacting specification in the United States. The combination of these features yields a microphone that is unlike any other small diaphragm microphone that you have ever experienced.

All ELA M 260 system packages are supplied with a set of three interchangeable capsules (the 260 cardioid, 261 omni, and 262 hyper-cardioid), and include elastic shockmounts, wooden microphone boxes and a dedicated power supply.

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 sound amazing through the ELA M 260. Also, don't discount this for vocals just because it's small. Its unique tonal character is very well suited for a myriad of applications, both traditional and not.

All system packages of the ELA M 260 can have a custom adaptor added which was designed by our friend and fellow audio enthusiast Chip Machokas that permits the use of any of the AKG "CK" series of capsules (or capsules made by other manufacturers with the same thread) AND Neumann bayonet-style capsules. This adapter is available for an additional $79 USD.