Available as a single mic or stereo set, the small diaphragm ELA M 260 from Telefunken 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 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 single ELA M 260 tube microphone includes an 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.

The matched ELA M 260 Cardioid 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 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 separately.

Telefunken ELA M 260 Cardioid Tube Condenser Mic Specifications

• Type: Vacuum Tube Condenser
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, ±3 dB
• Power Source: External Power Supply
• Capsule: TK60 Edge Terminated Small Diaphragm, Thread-on
• Tube: NOS Philips 5840W
• Transformer: TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik T60
• Sensitivity: 19.5 mV/Pa, ±1 dB
• THD at 1kHZ at 1Pa (Amplifier): < 0.15%
• Output Impedance: 200 
• Maximum SPL (for 1% THD): 135 dB
• S/N Ratio: 83 dBA
• Self Noise (Amplifier): 11 dBA
• Dimensions: 140 mm L x 20 mm Dia
• Weight: 116 g
• Included Accessories: Tube Mic Cable, Power Supply, Shock Mount, Foam Windscreen, Carrying Case