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« Even angrier than the AE4100 »
Published on 06/30/11 at 00:29When I found myself with all the Audio-Technica Artist Elite microphones, I was dumbfounded at the sheer quality of these microphones. When it comes to stage mics, Audio-Technica isn't really a company that most people would take a second look at, but that's because everyone's too busy comparing every model to the legendary SM58.
The Audio-Technica AE6100, like its brother, the AE4100, is a stage dynamic microphone from Audio-Technica's Artist Elite series. Unlike the AE4100, the AE6100 is hypercardioid, meaning it offers even better rejection. Unlike the AE4100, which has a frequency response from 90-18,000Hz, the AE6100 only has a frequency response from 60-15,000Hz.
Let's not get bogged down with numbers though. In my review of the AE4100, I talk about the simultaneous smoothness and sizzle of the AE4100. This microphone is a bit like that, but give it a bit more cut. Every microphone in the world claims to cut through the mix, but this one really does. Hence, my evaluation that this microphone is “angrier” than the AE4100. But it's not harsh. I hesitate to give it the general term “hotter” because the AE6100 seems to impart something beyond mere hotness.
OVERALL OPINION
The Audio-Technica AE6100, like its little brother, the AE4100, is at the top of its class. For live vocal performance, I would pick these dynamic microphones over any of the dynamic offerings from Sennheiser, Shure, Electro-Voice, everything. The only microphones that seem to equal or surpass it are the live handheld condensers, but there are times when I would pick this over a Neumann KMS 105. I'm not saying that the AT is better necessarily, but there are times when I wonder whether that vaunted KMS is really worth that price tag besides its looks. Not that the AE6100 isn't a looker itself. It's more than that though; it's one of the best vocal microphones in the world. Quote me on that one.
The Audio-Technica AE6100, like its brother, the AE4100, is a stage dynamic microphone from Audio-Technica's Artist Elite series. Unlike the AE4100, the AE6100 is hypercardioid, meaning it offers even better rejection. Unlike the AE4100, which has a frequency response from 90-18,000Hz, the AE6100 only has a frequency response from 60-15,000Hz.
Let's not get bogged down with numbers though. In my review of the AE4100, I talk about the simultaneous smoothness and sizzle of the AE4100. This microphone is a bit like that, but give it a bit more cut. Every microphone in the world claims to cut through the mix, but this one really does. Hence, my evaluation that this microphone is “angrier” than the AE4100. But it's not harsh. I hesitate to give it the general term “hotter” because the AE6100 seems to impart something beyond mere hotness.
OVERALL OPINION
The Audio-Technica AE6100, like its little brother, the AE4100, is at the top of its class. For live vocal performance, I would pick these dynamic microphones over any of the dynamic offerings from Sennheiser, Shure, Electro-Voice, everything. The only microphones that seem to equal or surpass it are the live handheld condensers, but there are times when I would pick this over a Neumann KMS 105. I'm not saying that the AT is better necessarily, but there are times when I wonder whether that vaunted KMS is really worth that price tag besides its looks. Not that the AE6100 isn't a looker itself. It's more than that though; it's one of the best vocal microphones in the world. Quote me on that one.