AKG c214 - is a blue AKG badge a fake/counterfeit?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CPhoenix
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CPhoenix

CharlesAllen/ BMR Studios
Hey everyone,

I've decided to grab an AKG c214 mic in the next 24-48 hours.

I'm looking for the best deal. In doing so... i've come across numerous good deals on eBay. Or so they look at least. However... I've noticed that these mics have a blue AKG badge on them in the front. It's clearly blue.

On AKG's website, or any other reputable dealer website... the c214 has a black badge on the picture.


I'm having a very tough time trusting these "great deals"... I don't want to get a counterfeit mic by mistake. I worked very hard to get my budget up to finally grab this mic.

Can anybody tell me what color the AKG c214's badge should be? Is it one of those things where the official picture from AKG doesn't show the true "blue tint" to the color?

---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 PM ----------

Every freakin picture i can find of this thing where it's a real-life use is blue. I haven't seen one in use that's black.

Man... I hope i'm not losing my mind here.
 
I think there are blue badges on some of the newer ones, but I can't remember. If you're worried, why not hold-off a few days and go to a physical location (Guitar Center, for instance) and look at one?

BTW, I'm not sure what you plan on using the 214 for, but if you aren't super familiar with it, again maybe hold-off until you can try one? A few years back, I had my heart set on a C214. But I wanted to use it on my vocals, and the best mike I had heard for me at that time had been a 414 (and I've sung on U47's, 87's, etc.). I couldn't afford a 414, so I was going to settle on the 214, but I decided to do a shoot-out to make sure. I went down to GC and lined-up a bunch of mikes, and sang on them while a I listened through headphones. I had the AKG, a few other higher end condensers, a couple of Rodes, and a Sterling tube mike. In the end, I liked the Sterling the best (and it was less expensive), so that's what I went with.

GJ
 
Thanks for the response man.

I spent the entire night looking at personal pics of c214 mics and not just the factory released picture... i couldn't find one single picture where it wasn't blue.. between google images and youtube unboxing vids, after about 1 1/2 hours lol. So... i pulled the trigger. I feel comfortable.

Thanks also... I've been researching mics for a good 5-6 months. After doing some extensive listening live, shootouts... reading reviews, etc... this is the one i decided one. Got it for a great price too.... the guy included an extra mic stand, pop filter, and cable lol. Couldn't beat it.
 
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Maybe all of those people bought a fake one too? :D jp

Enjoy your microphone.
 
^nice.. yes, i eventually saw that too which made me feel much better.

I think I freaked out a little bit b/c I was on eBay looking for my purchase, then I remembered a thread here talking about counterfeit mics on eBay and yeah... the rest is history lol. But mine is OTW now.. along w/ my much wanted Yam HS50's. Can't... freakin'.... wait.

Also Krushing... FYI... you were right in the end, I ended up reselling all of that gear my cousin dropped on me (behringer DDX 3216, digi 002 rack, few others). The key was he told me he just wanted me to get a use out of them... sooooo... i no longer felt guilty, since i technically traded that stuff in for some studio improvements i can actually use (with cash as the medium for the trade lol)
 
Nice going :)

As a very odd coincidence, I just noticed that there's a blue AKG logo sticker on our office floor. No reason, it's just sitting there under someone's table. And this is an ad agency. :D
 
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