The small diaphragm ELA M 260 has become a staple for use in a multitude of recording applications due to its natural presence and high level of detail and clarity, especially in acoustic and classical applications. Keeping this in mind, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik is now offering the ELA M 260 Cardioid and ELA M 260 Master (three capsule) system as matched stereo sets.

In use, the ELA M 260 has plenty of tone with excellent detail and clarity. It 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)EF732 / 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.

The TELEFUNKEN TK60 is a small diaphragm cardioid capsule used with the ELA M 260 tube microphone and the M60 FET microphone. Featuring a 6-micron gold-sputtered membrane measuring 15mm in diameter, the TK60 has a surprisingly full low end for a small diaphragm capsule, and offers a quick and accurate transient response. These small diaphragm capsules are tested to a strict ±1dB sensitivity tolerance.The frequency response is flat from 150 Hz to 7 kHz, with a smooth, airy presence peak at 8 kHz making it ideal for drum overheads, acoustic guitar, and other acoustic instruments.

The matched ELA M 260 Stereo Set comes in a custom locking flight case that carries both M 860 cables, M 761 shock mounts, microphones, and an American-made dual-channel M 960S power supply unit. This power supply is fully regulated and will power one or both microphones simultaneously, and features a slow-ramping heater voltage to ensure vacuum tube longevity.
 
The Features
- A brilliant combination of tube warmth and small-diaphragm precision 
- Flattering tone and open top end complements most acoustic instruments 
- Thread-on TK6x Series capsules provide Cardioid, Hypercardioid, and Omni polar patterns 
- Vintage-inspired 5840W vacuum tube-based amplifier 
- Designed and hand assembled in the USA 
 
Recommended Applications
- Acoustic Guitar
- Violin
- Mandolin
- Drum Overheads