AKG C414 XLII B-Stock

Unlike the lower-priced XLS, the AKG C414 XLII is based on the original C414 design, which has a slight presence boost and a subtle brightness that is particularly flattering on vocals. Both models provide a myriad of options for use in a wide variety of recording situations, however. The C414 XLII's nine polar patterns range from omnidirectional to figure-of-eight and everything in between, and users can also activate one of three bass roll-offs (at 40Hz, 80Hz, and 160Hz, respectively) and three attenuation pads (at 6dB, 12dB, and 18dB). It has a lock mode to prevent unintentional changes to the control settings, as well as several status LEDs which display information on current settings and, if necessary, any overload peaks. AKG also hasn't skimped on the accessories here – a shock proof elastic mount, pop filter, windscreen, and an aluminium case are all included.

AKG was founded in Vienna, in 1947, by Dr. Rudolf Goerike and Ernst Pless. After only a few months, the first AKG microphones were already being used for the first time in radio stations and theatres. AKG's big breakthrough occurred during the early 1950s, with some very sophisticated innovations that were unique in their field. One example is the D12, the first large-diaphragm condenser microphone with remote-controlled, switchable polar patterns – the first client to acquire them was the BBC in London. AKG is today a world-renowned brand in many different fields. With countless high-class products in its range, such as the well-known C414, the name AKG has always been synonymous with quality and outstanding sound.