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For a relatively young company in pro audio, Audix have certainly earned their pro audio stripes. The level of recognition and dedicated customer following the company has acquired from their beginnings in 1984 is reflective of their stable, innovative, and evolving pro audio products.
DP7 Drum mic kits can be convenient and cost-effective, but they can also be confusing. They come in all price ranges, from ridiculously cheap to the price of a small car, and to confuse the issue further, there are some kits of full‑sized mics and others based around miniature clip-on mics. So what’s the most practical option for a serious home studio?
The DP7 kit, comprising a D6 kick‑drum mic, an i5 for the snare, two D2 tom mics, a D4 floor-tom mic (which can also do a good job as a kick mic) plus a pair of ADX51 capacitor mics with windscreens for use as overheads. Included are gooseneck stand adaptors for the overheads and rim clips for the snare and tom mics, once again all packed in a custom-lined camera case.
The D6 is a transformerless, dynamic, cardioid‑pattern model, designed and manufactured in the USA. It features what Audix calls a VLM (Very Low Mass) diaphragm to help it keep up with fast transients, and boasts a frequency response of 30Hz-15kHz, plus the ability to handle sound pressure levels in excess of 144dB. In this kit, it fills the role of a kick‑drum mic, but its extended LF response also makes it suitable for use with large toms, bass guitar cabinets, and the low end of rotary speakers.
The package
Now, with DP7 you actually avoid both of those problems. Audix among other things does specialize in drum miking and each included model is well thought of. Those mics can be purchased individually and many people order them. This is also a good thing because if you lose one, you don’t have to worry about finding a replacement. However, if you bought them separately they would cost you much higher, around $1,100 just for the mics. That is excluding the aluminum case and mounting accessories.
Talking about accessories, they don’t have any issues that are so prevalent among similar mic bundles. The clips are hard to break but easy to mount. They sit well on pretty much any drum kit, never going loose during the performance and that’s a great thing. Here are the mics that are included in the package: D6 (kick drum), D4 (floor tom), 2x D2 (rack toms), 2x ADX51 (overheads), and I5 (snare).
SPECS:
Number of Microphones: 7
Included Models: 1 x i5, 1 x D6, 2x D2, 1 x D4, 2x ADX51
Microphone Type: Dynamic (i5, d2, d4, d6), Condenser (adx51)
Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid (D2, D4), Cardioid (i5, D6, ADX51)
Max SPL: ≥132 dB SPL (ADX51), ≥140dB SPL (i5), ≥144dB SPL (d2, d4, d6)
D6
The kick drum is the foundation of any drum set so this mic would be a most important piece. D6 is specced for 144 SPL, which is lower than the majority of kick mics, yet in reality, it doesn’t produce any noticeable distortion even during aggressive play. On contrary, this mic works wonders with rock and heavy metal music. It has a punchy attack sound that easily cuts through without being harsh or obtrusive. The low end is tight and both ends sound slightly more detailed than AKG112 or Beta52a. Overall, this is a great mic and it can sound nice out of the box.
D4 & D2
Audix D4 is meant for a floor tom; it is way smaller than D6 yet it still brings a significant low end. A versatile mic, also perfectly suited for smaller kick drums. The sound is tight and clean and has a distinctive “oomph” to it, but no mud whatsoever! Audix D2 add more body and warmth for rack toms – in my opinion, they aren’t as great as D4 but still of high enough quality and they get the job done. Both mics are hyper-cardioid and have excellent off-axis rejection.
ADX51 & I5
ADX51 is used as an overhead pair. Those lightweight, small diaphragm pencil mics produce clear and accurate highs, which won’t go wrong with any kind of setup. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from this pair but it turned out very decent. Finally, Audix I5 is an all-around mic that is very similar to SM57. Both mics work equally well for the snares and are considered the industry standard. I5 is maybe a tiny bit brighter but you won’t hear the difference.
Overall
Audix DP7 is an excellent bundle, not only for the quality but also for the price. With this kit, you can get that good sound without having much to worry about the EQ, compressors, and other advanced stuff. All of those mics are time-proven and they make an excellent match. Durability is another nice addition – they are quite hardy, especially the D-series. Then a good road case makes them impossible to break while on tours. Even the mounting is a breeze (maybe except for D6) so I can’t recommend them more highly!
Features:
- All-in-one solution for drum miking
- Instrument-specific mics for optimal results
- Professional grade setup
- Rugged Audix quality
- Designed, engineered, and made in the USA
- Includes;
- 1 x i5 Snare Mic
- 2 x D2 Rack Tom Mics
- 1 x D4 Floor Tom Mic
- 1 x D6 Kick Mic
- 2x ADX51 Overhead Mics
- Aluminum Road Case
Pros
- Sturdy construction. Won’t let you down in big and noisy venues.
Cons
- You’ll need a decent PA rig. Not ideal for quiet players.
Usage:
These mics would be at their best in large venues and loud onstage scenarios, where clarity is required.Even just the D6, i5, and ADX51s alone would be enough to get most engineers into a good spot, but being able to have all your bases covered with just one set of microphones is not something to be undersold, but rather underpins Audix’s ethos. I’d be stuck to give you a reason as to why I wouldn’t take the DP7 either into the studio or out on the road. Its versatility and durability alone are worth the price of admission
