Telefunken ELA M 260 Small Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Tube Microphone

The small diaphragm ELA M 260 is arguably one of the industry's finest acoustic and classical recording tube microphones, offering plenty of tone with excellent detail and clarity. While not a historically accurate reproduction of the original ELA M 260 like the Diamond Series microphones, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik’s version of the ELA M 260 is still built with the same attention to detail and level of quality that would be expected from a TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik microphone.

In use, the ELA M 260 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 shine through the ELA M 260. Also, despite its size, it has also served well on vocal applications. Its unique tonal character is very well suited for a myriad of applications, both traditional and not.

The ELA M 260 system features a new circuit design based around a New Old Stock (NOS) 5840W vacuum tube and a custom output transformer that is wound to exacting specification in the United States. The combination of these features yields a small diaphragm microphone that is unique while also bearing the qualities of the vintage microphones that it was based upon.

ELA M 260 Cardioid Set system packages are supplied with one interchangeable TK60 Cardioid capsule. Additional TK61 Omnidirectional and TK62 Hypercardioid capsules can be purchased and attached separately.

Each microphone system also includes a new M 902 power supply, M 860 25’ dual-shielded TX-7 tube microphone cable with right angle female XLR connector, M 761 elastic shock mount, and hard shell zipper carrying case.

Technical Specifications

Type
Pressure Gradient Condenser
Tube Type
NOS EF732 / 5840W
Transformer
Custom Wound TELEFUNKEN T60
Frequency Range
20 Hz - 20 kHz, +/- 3 dB
Sensitivity
16.5 mV/Pa +/- 1 dB
THD at 1kHZ at 1Pa (Amplifier)
< 0.15%
Output Impedance
200 OHM
Maximum SPL (for 1% THD)
135 dB
S/N Ratio
83 dBA
Self Noise (Amplifier)
11 dBA
Dimensions
140 mm L x 21 mm Dia
Weight
116 g
Current Draw from Mains
55 mA