Wunder Audio ELA M 251 - Multi-Pattern Tube Microphone

Wunder Audio ELA M 251 - Multi-Pattern Tube Microphone

The Wunder Audio ELA M 251 Multi-Pattern Tube Microphone features the capability of producing 3 different polar patterns. The ELA M 251 includes a CK12 capsule, a Hiller T14/1 transformer, and a NOS 6072a 5 STAR vacuum tube, all built to impeccable specifications. Our ELA M 251 is designed to produce an audio signal with the detail, clarity, and character. The ELA M 251 is made with great care in creating components: the capsule, the transformer, the tube, the grille size and the screen mesh.

Grille
The grille is made like a piece of fine jewelry, as it is hand brazed, polished, and bright nickel-plated. The grille’s open mesh captures the ears of those who were spoilt by the luminescence and transparency of the ELA M 251.

Capsule
The Wunder ELA M 251 employs a capsule with 6-micron Mylar. It is a side-address, large-diaphragm design based is a 1″ membrane that is fully metalized. It This freely vibrating membrane will have a lower LF cutoff than any center fixed membrane capsule. The capsule also has a unique system of dual, asymmetrical, separated resonant backplates (each backplate is itself a resonant chamber), which is what gives it a very flat midrange and 10-12 kHz peak. Plus we are offering as an option a vintage 1960’s AKG CK12 capsule!

Transformer
The ELA M 251 uses a period correct Hiller T14/1 transformer wound to the Braunbuch specification, using laminations made from the identical nickel alloy mixture as used in the historic Hiller T14 transformer.

Tube
The Wunder Audio ELA M 251 tubes are hand tested NOS GE 5-star 6072A:
• 6.3 volts DC filament voltage,
• 120 volts DC plate voltage
The GE 5 Star 6072A is one of the finest 6072 tubes ever made. In fact, the GE 5 Star 6072A’s are the only 6072 (12AY7 variant) tubes recommended in high-end applications. The primary special purpose of a 6072 is its super low noise and microphonics. That is why these tubes are important in microphones and first stages of high-end audio equipment.

These special purpose dual triode tubes are equipped with spiral wound heater filaments to eliminate hum and have to pass rigorous screening for noise levels.
We are using a super rare tube that was made in the 1960s for “Lear Aerospace” worth $500 on the vintage market. It’s a GE 6072 Five Star that was specially made, and hand-picked for this aerospace company. Wunder Audio had acquired a Master carton of 100 of these tubes and that’s why we are making our ELA M clone limited to only 100 pieces.

Technical Data

• Frequency Range: 20 to 20,000 ± 2 dB
• Directional Characteristics (3 different positions):
  • Omni-directional.
  • Cardioid: better than 20 dB front-to-back ratio at 180° sound incidence
  • Bi-directional: 20 dB front-to-back ratio
• Sensitivity: 1.0 mV/µbar (–60 dB re 1 V/dyne/cm2), unloaded (200 ohms)
• Equivalent Noise Level: less than 20 dB
• Tube Complement: 1 x 6072, 6.3 volts DC filament voltage, 120 volts DC plate voltage

Package includes:
ELA M 251, Plush Oak Box, Historical Shock Mount, Wunder Audio Power Supply, Original large Tuchel connected mic cable, Tweed Carrying Case.