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In 1959, AKG produced a series of 5 microphones for TELEFUNKEN Gmbh, to replace the Neumann line that TELEFUNKEN had previously distributed exclusively, worldwide. The legendary sounding TELEFUNKEN ELA M 251 is the most famous of this wonderful group of microphones. Arguably the most beautiful microphone ever produced, the TELEFUNKEN ELA M 251 was originally sold in two variations: the "ELA M 251E" version utilized a 6072a tube, while the "ELA M 251" version contained a TELEFUNKEN AC701 tube, built to satisfy the standardized requirements of the German national broadcast system. Both versions have achieved legendary stature in the modern recording industry.

TELEFUNKEN | USA offers several variations of our historic reissue of the ELA M 251 system. In each case, the microphones are constructed with either our CK12 or TK12 capsules, custom wound Haufe output transformers (manufacturer of the original transformers), and wooden microphone boxes. The technical specifications of all versions are identical. TELEFUNKEN | USA also manufactures the ELA M 250, which is identical to the ELA M 251, with one exception: the ELA M 250 is a two pattern microphone which lacks the bidirectional option available on the ELA M 251.

The TELEFUNKEN | USA ELA M 251 was the 2003 winner of the TEC award for microphone technology, and we are grateful to the hundreds of industry professionals who have embraced the ELA M 251 as comparable to the legendary original. All microphones in the ELA M 251/ELA M 250 series are constructed entirely by hand, at our manufacturing facility in Connecticut, USA.