Detail 01
Nine polar patterns
Omni through figure-eight plus four in-between settings. You reshape the pickup instead of moving the mic or swapping it out.
Product detailSKU #1273887983564
AKGC414 XLS/ST Stereo Set Condenser Microphones
1/6
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A matched pair of nine-pattern condensers at $2,599. For engineers who want one mic set that covers vocals, rooms, drum overheads and loud cabinets.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Stereo overheads, room pairs and Blumlein or M-S arrays
- Close-mic'ing loud sources — snare, brass, guitar cabinets
- Quiet acoustic and distant room capture where mic hiss shows
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Single-channel interfaces — a matched pair needs two preamps
- USB mic setups with no XLR input or 48V phantom
- Untreated rooms; wide patterns pull in every reflection
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Figure-eight on a matched pair
Opens up coincident stereo — Blumlein from two figure-eights, M-S from a cardioid plus a side eight.
Detail 03
Switchable pad, 0 to –18 dB
Raises the ceiling to 158 dB SPL. Snare, brass and cranked cabinets stay clean instead of crushing the capsule circuit.
Detail 04
6 dB-A self noise
Very quiet. On soft acoustic passages or a distant room mic, the mic's own hiss stays under the source.
Detail 05
20 mV/Pa sensitivity
Hot output. Preamps need less gain, which keeps preamp noise down on quiet sources.
Detail 06
Bass cut at 40, 80 or 160 Hz
Trims proximity buildup on close vocals and stage rumble before it reaches the converter, so you EQ less later.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Both mics need 48V phantom — two preamp channels, not one
- 02Set pad and bass-cut switches on the body before the take, not after
- 03Standard 3-pin XLR cables required; each mic weighs 300 g on the stand
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01How many microphones come in the stereo set?
It's a stereo set — two C414 XLS mics supplied together. You'll need two preamp channels with 48V phantom to run both at once.
02Can the C414 XLS handle a loud guitar cabinet?
Yes. With the pad switched to –18 dB the maximum SPL reaches 158 dB at 0.5% THD, which covers cranked cabinets, snare and brass up close.
03Do I need phantom power?
Yes. 48V phantom to DIN/IEC, drawing about 4 mA per mic, over standard 3-pin XLR. An interface or preamp with phantom on both channels is required.
04Can I record Blumlein or M-S with these?
Yes. Figure-eight is one of the nine patterns, so two mics give you Blumlein, and a cardioid plus a side figure-eight gives you M-S.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
6 detailsSound
- Max SPL
- 200/400/800/1600 Pa = 140/146/152/158dB (0/–6/–12/–18dB) for 0.5% THD
- Polar Pattern
- omnidirectional, wide cardioid, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-eight and four intermediate settings
- Impedance
- <=200 ohms
- Recommended Load Impedance
- >= 2,200 ohms
- Frequency Range
- 20Hz to 20kHz
- Sensitivity
- 20 mV/Pa (–34dB V) ±0.5dB
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
3 detailsConnections & power
- Powering
- approximately 4 mA
- Supply Voltage
- 48V phantom power to DIN/IEC
- Connector
- 3-pin XLR to IEC
3 detailsSize & weight
- Weight
- 300
- Net Weight
- 300 g (10.6 oz.)
- Dimensions
- 50 mm x 38 mm x 160 mm (2.0 inch x 1.5 inch x 6.3 inch)
4 detailsOther
- Preattenuation Pad
- 0dB, –6dB , –12dB , –18dB, switchable
- Signal Noise Ratio
- 88dB
- Equivalent Noise Level
- 6dB -A (0dB preattenuation) (IEC 60268-4)
- Bass Cut Filter Slope
- 12dB/octave at 40Hz and 80Hz; 6dB /octave at 160Hz
