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.

Passive Components
We’ve optimized our passive components to achieve a true audiophile performance. While audiophile equipment is usually referred to at the end of the chain in recording, we feel that it is most important that the first link in the recording chain, the microphone, be the best attainable.

For capacitors C1 and C2, we’ve incorporated the historic wet tantalum capacitors valued $200 (larger silver capacitor in photo). Resistors are Vishay Beyschlag and Vishay RN Resistors. The bodies and every mechanical part is an exact replica of the original part. The clear plastic parts in our bodies employ a modern polymer that will not crack or have impedances creep across it like the originals. This is very important because the capsule part of the circuit is very high impedance.

Photos show Wunder 251 (left) vs Original 1960 ELAM 251 (right) modeled after George Benson Elam 251, except we use a NOS wet tantalum. The AEON cap in the Benson mic (right) is not original.

Power Supply
The new generation tube Microphone PSU is proprietary to Wunder Audio and is an upgrade from the vintage tube mic PSU’s used for the 1960’s era. Our upgrade gets a clean and stable DC voltage to the mic and shields the influx of Wi-Fi and RF interference with 100 percent reliability.

We’ve engineered our PSU to the equivalent of the technology incorporated in top-tier audiophile systems, using a dual-pole neutral-fusing design. The PSU can be plugged into any voltage in the world without having to jumper a voltage setting switch. Inside, we’ve incorporated extremely accurate 30 turn trim pots so we are able to fine-tune all of the voltages. Most other power supply designs either do not have a voltage trim or use a single turn pot, which is susceptible to drifting.

Box and Carrying Case
Your Wunder Audio ELA M 251 is nestled in velvet and softly secured in place in a foam-lined quarter sawn oak box that is clasped and hinged. This box then is safely encased in a precision velvet-lined thick foam tweed case that also holds your PSU, your swivel mount, and your cables. The tweed carrying case is a work of art in itself; it uses the same Fender tweed found in a vintage Fender guitar case which amplifies the vintage period of the vintage-style ELA M 251 microphone, and it is trimmed with top grain leather and fine stitching. The ELA M 251 case has a strong leather handle and combination lock to keep your mic secure. This case can be sold separately.

• 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