CU-51
VIVID
SONIC
IMAGERY

CU-51 A Great ‘Desert Island’ Choice Dual-Capsule Cardioid Mic

This latest addition to the Sanken Chromatic range truly stands out from the crowd – if you have to choose one mic then this is the one.

It is ideal for vocals but in reality it can capture the essence of any instrument with a clarity and transparency that has to be heard to be believed. The sound is consistent throughout the entire cardioid pattern.

Sanken Chromatic CU-51
 
Top Engineers & Producers
Talk About the CU-51
 

United Recording Studio Staff Engineer Wesley Seidman talks about why he chooses and how he uses the Sanken Chromatic CU-51 mic for recording music.

 
Sound On Sound AES
Interview with Jim Pace
 

Sanken Chromatic’s Jim Pace talks with Sam from Sound On Sound about the design philosophy and features of the new CU-51 mic

Booth Junkie
Review of CU-51
 

Mike DelGaudio, the Booth Junkie, checks out the CU-51 mic against his Neumann TLM 103 in his VO booth. It shows an excellent example of how the CU-51 has consistent tonality close or further away – the proximity effect.

CU-51 Advanced Design Excels In Every Application

Perfect for vocals and music delivering all the magic

Over 90 years of technological innovation and artist feedback have gone into the design of this unique microphone. No other manufacturer includes the features of the CU-51. What you hear in the studio is what you capture in the control room. The CU-51 offers a new dual-capsule design pioneered by Sanken, providing an exacting cardioid pattern ideal for vocals and a wide range of musical applications. The CU-51 also has a very low proximity effect making vocals and instruments seem bigger than life.

A very special characteristic of the CU-51 is its ability to maintain uniform response in both on-axis and off-axis positions. It is common knowledge that varying the direction of a microphone will change the frequency response and tone.

The tone and response of the CU-51 remains consistent through changes in the axis angle while maintaining the benefits of a large capsule design. The CU-51’s frequency response is truly flat at 90 degrees, essential in maintaining sonic transparency.

The CU-51’s specially designed double capsule has one diaphragm that is optimized for low frequencies, while the other one captures the higher frequencies with guaranteed phase coherency between the two capsules in a meticulously engineered microphone that achieves totally transparent high-resolution results. The PPS (Polyphenylene) membranes are immune to the effects of humidity and temperature change, resulting in consistent response, regardless of the recording environment.

The CU-51 consistently delivers a high transient, natural and uncolored sound with vivid sonic imagery.

  • Perfect for vocals and acoustic instruments
  • Dual phase coherent capsules – low and high
  • Uniform response in both on-axis and off-axis positions
  • Truly flat frequency response even at 90 degrees
  • Low proximity effect
CU-51
CU-51 Kick Drum
CU-51 Piano

APPLICATIONS

Sanken Chromatic Logo 02 outlineCU-55CU-51CO-100KCU-41RCU-44X MK II
ApplicationMics-for-AppTable-80x160_CU-55Mics-for-AppTable-80x160_CU-51Mics-for-AppTable-80x160_CO-100KMics-for-AppTable-80x160_CU-41Mics-for-AppTable-80x160_CU-44X_MK_II
Acoustic Guitar
Background or Chorus Vocals
Brass and Woodwind
Drums Close Mic
Electric/Bass Guitar Amps
Orchestra Mains
Orchestra Solo
Overheads
Percussion
Piano
Sound Design, Effects and ATMOS
Strings
Upright Bass
Vocals

CU-51 Applications | Brochure PDF

ACOUSTIC GUITAR

BACKGROUND OR
CHORUS VOCALS

BRASS AND
WOODWIND

DRUMS
CLOSE MIC

ORCHESTRA SOLO

PERCUSSION

PIANO

STRINGS

UPRIGHT BASS

VOCALS

  • Acoustic Guitar
  • Background or Chorus Vocals
  • Brass and Woodwind
  • Drums Close Mic
  • Orchestra Solo
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Strings
  • Upright Bass
  • Vocals
Brochure PDF CU-51

SPECIFICATIONS

 

Model Name

CU-51

Transducer

DC biased condenser

Directivity

Cardioid

Frequency response

20Hz – 20kHz 

Sensitivity

-30dB (31.6mV , 0dB=1V/Pa)

Equivalent noise level (IEC)

14dB-A

Max SPL(1% THD)

138dB SPL

Output impedance( 1kHz )

150 ohms

Powering

+48V±4V phantom

Current consumption

4mA

Weight

430g/.95lbs

Dimensions

157mm X 41.5mm (D)
6.2in x 1.6in (D)

Surface finish

Matte brown

Connector

XLR-3-12C(M) equivalent
1: GND, 2: Hot, 3: Cold

POLAR PATTERN
CU-51 Polar Diagram
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
CU-51 Frequency Response

ACCESSORIES

CU-51 Included Accessories:
Vinyl Case

CU-51 Optional Accessories:

KS-51

Shock Mount Basket Suspension for CU-51

CU-51 KS-51 Shock Basket Suspension

S-51

Shock Mount Basket Suspension for CU-51

CU-51 S-51 Shock Mount Suspension

RS-51

Shock Mount Basket Suspension for CU-51

CU-51 RS-51 shock mount suspension