TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik
Telefunken ELA M 260
Small-diaphragm tube condenser (5840W), transformer output, with interchangeable thread-on capsules: TK60 cardioid, TK61 omni, TK62 hypercardioid
Power External tube power supply (M 902; 115 or 230 V mains).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 3
- Sensitivity
- −35.7 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 11 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 78%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 79%
- Max SPL
- 135 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 40%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 36%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 2007
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 91% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 38% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the graph tk60.
Audio Precision plot, legend "260 TK60"; "RMS Level -> Normalize (dB)", 0 dB near 1 kHz. Distance, room and smoothing not stated.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
In practice
All specs
| From the catalog | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −35.7 dBV/Pa (16.5 mV/Pa)also −34.2 dBV/Pa, SDC manual (19.5 mV/Pa). Not stated by the manufacturer: From 16.5 mV/Pa: 20·log10(0.0165). | p. 8 |
| Self-noise | 11 dB(A)amplifier. "Self Noise (Amplifier): 11 dBA"; the same in the manual. | |
| Max SPL | 135 dB SPL1% THD. "Maximum SPL (for 1% THD): 135 dB". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 83 dBA-weighted. "S/N Ratio: 83 dBA". | |
| Output impedance | 200 ohm | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz±3 dB. "20 Hz - 20 kHz, ± 3 dB". | |
| Weight | 116 g | |
| Dimensions | 140 × 20 mm"140 mm L x 20 mm Dia" (length × diameter). | |
| Tube | NOS Philips/Raytheon 5840W | |
| Transformer | TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik T60 (American-made) | |
| THDamplifier | < 0.15% at 1 kHz, 1 Pa | |
| From the manual | ||
| Capsule | TK6x thread-on capsules: 15 mm diameter, 6-micron gold-sputtered membrane, edge-terminated"TK6x Series interchangeable capsules feature a 15 mm diameter, 6-micron gold-sputtered membrane"; "held to a strict ± 1 dB sensitivity tolerance". "Edge Terminated, Thread-on": catalog. | p. 2 |
| Powering | external tube power supply (M 902; 115 or 230 V mains)"External Power Supply"; "Make sure the power supply is set to the correct mains voltage (115V or 230V)" (p. 3). M 902 for single systems in the manual's table (p. 3); the product page lists the same. | p. 3 |
| Connector | 7-pin tube mic cable to the supply; XLR-3 output on the supplyQuick start: "Plug the included 7-pin tube microphone cable into the microphone then into the power supply"; "Connect a standard 3-pin microphone cable (not included) to the power supply". | |
| Supplied accessories | M 902 power supply; M 860 tube mic cable; M 761 shock mount; WS20 windscreen; ZC60 zipper case"ELA M 260 System Configurations" table, cardioid system (p. 3). The current product page lists an M 803R right-angle 7-pin cable (7 m) in place of the M 860. | |
| TK60 cardioid capsule | Flat from 150 Hz to 7 kHz with a presence peak at 8 kHz | p. 2 |
| TK61 omni capsule | Flat from 20 Hz to 5 kHz with a presence peak at 8 kHz; SD40 diffuse-field spheres make the upper mids more directional | |
| TK62 hypercardioid capsule | Flat from 150 Hz to 3 kHz with a dip at 6 kHz and a presence peak at 8 kHz | |
| Warm-up | Let the system warm up for 10 minutes before use | p. 3 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2007 | |
| From the manual 251e | ||
| Original ELA M 260Telefunken | The 1960s ELA M 260 (cardioid) and 261 (omni) used the AC701K circuit of the ELA M 250/251; the new 260 is built around the 5840W | p. 9 |
Documents
- TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik 2026 Product Catalog
- SDC Series Microphone Product Manual: ELA M 260, M60
- Diamond Series: ELA M 251E / ELA M 251T product manual2026
- ELA M 260 frequency response, TK60 capsuleproduct page graph image
- ELA M 260 frequency response, TK61 capsuleproduct page graph image
- ELA M 260 frequency response, TK62 capsuleproduct page graph image
- Telefunken Elektroakustik Ela M 260 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.