AKG C451 B Small-Diaphragm Condenser Reference Microphone

Welcome to the next generation of reference miking. The C451 B from AKG is a small-diaphragm condenser microphone designed around the acoustic legacy of its predecessor, the renowned C451 EB + CK1 capsule—whose stunning quality and pristine accuracy immediately made it a bestseller when it was originally introduced in 1969 and quickly became an established tour standard. The C451 B continues in this legend’s footsteps, delivering airy sound, high overload capacity, and enhanced engineering…all in a rugged build that enables this condenser mic to provide excellent sound quality even in demanding onstage applications.

The centerpiece of the C451 B is its handcrafted capsule, but that’s not the end of this mic’s premium features. It boasts a hardy sound pressure level (SPL) capacity of 155dB, making it ideal for close-miking high-energy sound sources (such as electric guitar or drums) without fear of distortion. An efficient high-pass filter with a 12dB/octave further protects against distortion on the low end of the mic’s frequency range—for example, rumble or wind noise. Inside the mic itself, its preamp electronics work without a transformer for low-noise operation. The mic’s durable housing is made to be roadworthy and incorporates surface-mount technology for an overall result of low distortion, high reliability, and lighter weight.

Included in the box with the AKG C451 B Small-Diaphragm Condenser Reference Microphone is a W90 Windscreen to minimize wind and plosives, an SA60 Stand Adaptor, and a microphone bag to protect it from dust and other environmental factors when it isn’t in use.