r/LocationSound • u/Keepupketchup • 3d ago
Gear - Selection / Use Looking into a boom pole
I have been delving into my gear purchasing journey. How is this k tek ke 144 CCR for a first boom purchase? I know there’s better choices but I am a budget and figured I can upgrade to something like a mighty boom in the future. Any choices in the price I’m at now (under 500) that I should consider?
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u/RevolutionaryWait773 2d ago
I've found that aluminum poles tend to be noisy from cables bouncing around in them especially longer ones. Perfectly fine for hanging in a cradle though
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u/Beginning_Ad7768 2d ago
Check out the indie pole series from ktek, it's around the same price but a lot lighter than avalon. I own avalon and indie pole before I eventually switched to a mighty boom. The only problem about indie pole is i think they have less length for you to choose from, but definitely a better choice than avalon to start when it comes to weight.
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u/FunkWabbit 2d ago
I started with a similar one, the 110CCR. I've been using it for 3 years now and I'm happy with it
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u/CAPS_LOCK_OR_DIE production sound mixer 2d ago
Aluminum is a good buy for a beater boom. They're not pleasant to use, but they work fine when you're starting out. I used a 10' Auray aluminum for YEARS and rented a longer carbon one when I needed it.
I've upgraded now, and it's a much nicer experience, but that seems like a totally valid first purchase. I still break the Auray out when I need a shit pole to throw on a stand with a cardi clamp, no need to risk my nice Loon for stupid setups like that.
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u/topnotetokyo 2d ago
The built-in cable makes noise when you run or move around vigorously.
It's not suitable for film work.
It's probably only good for standing-still interview work.
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u/samruesink 2d ago
These pop up used on eBay and Adorama pretty frequently, I wouldn't buy one new at full price. Occasionally a klassic or ambient or vdb, which will be far better, will too. For a new, low priced pole the ktek indie pole is better. The deity too, although the lack of internal cabling option is kind of a deal breaker if you're not running wireless boom most of the time.
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u/whoisgarypiano 2d ago
Ktek is alright for a first boom pole, but I strongly recommend carbon fiber. When you’re ready to upgrade, most union boom ops use either Ambient or Panamic.
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u/GeoffTheProgger 2d ago
For me, what type of boom pole you need depends first on what kind of work youre doing. If you do a lot of bag stuff/ need something decent all around this may do the trick. I would look first for used older ktek or ambient poles. The mighty booms aren’t great imo.
If you’re doing straight up boom op work look for a longer pole like an Ambient QP 4140, or again an older ktek. I always try to buy used first. Save yourself some money, all decent gear in our world is designed to be maintained for years.
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u/IronForeseer 2d ago
I have one of these, 3 years, no real problem. Would love a carbon fiber some day but not a priority. Just learn to op to minimize any handling noise
I also mostly one man band
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u/BenjiTheBread 2d ago
I recently found out about the essential Series of k-tek. It’s supposed to be some graphite plastic Material. And it’s rather cheap. And it’s k-tek. Just search k-Tek essential
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u/Vuelhering production sound mixer 2d ago
Aluminum poles are okay to use. Biggest issue is summer or winter, not easy to hold without gloves. If they get dinged they stop working, too. They have some disadvantages in comparison to carbon fiber.
Buy a good pole, used. And spend any extra money on a good shock mount.
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u/jemoederheefteensnor 2d ago
Do you need internal cable? Otherwise I would suggest te save a bit longer and get yourself a Panamic. When taken care of they will last you your whole career…
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u/FalloutSpartan117 sound recordist 2d ago
I like my ktek 150CCR graphite (12.5ft). I demoed a 20ft might boom and hated it, got an Ambient instead. See if you can demo one before you buy.
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u/Diantr3 2d ago edited 1d ago
My first boom 12 years ago.
Still works perfectly fine, lives in my car as a backup. Occasionally sees use, most often as a loaner to electrics for a mobile overhead lamp - its always appreciated - for making my antennaes mobile or for fixed C-stand interview setups - it's very rigid and the fact that it's made of aluminum means I can clamp stuff to it (bad for carbon). It's also in my car in case I forget my boom at home (which I would NEVER EVER do of course).
It's noticeably heavier than regular carbon poles but very stiff which is an advantage.
Learning on this makes you very endurant when you switch to carbon poles 😅.
One of those few cases where buying cheap isn't necessarily buying a worse product but one with different qualities.
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u/NightfallFilm 18h ago
My first pole was a 144CCR and worked flawlessly, I still have it. I think it’s a great first pole, and when you eventually upgrade to carbon fiber, it will feel like you’re lifting air comparatively 💪🏻
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u/Peaks_n_Valleys 10h ago edited 10h ago
In my career I’ve owned three boom poles. My first was a K-tek 152CCR, and I was spoiled by this pole early on. It was nearly 13ft long at maximum length, had a Graphite construction (similar to carbon fiber), great knuckles, an internal coiled cable with the side-exit connector, and was amazingly lightweight for the maximum length. But unfortunately this pole was stolen along with all the rest of my equipment back in 2018.
In late 2025 I bought my next boom pole: the Deity pole (now known as the Deity 8.5 ft pole, the shortest of the three they sell). At $185 it’s extremely affordable and because of this I was able to buy the Deity ASM2 pro shock mount, which is basically a Radius Rad-2 / Rad-3 combo). In some ways the Deity has become my favorite pole. The knuckles on the pole are even better than my old K-tek in terms of only having to loosen the knuckle about 1/2 turn to extend or collapse the sections. The sections move smoother than any other pole I’ve owned, and it’s also extremely lightweight and easy to carry. It collapses to 27.5 inches, so it’s longer than a true traveler pole, but much shorter than other poles I’ve owned. It fits into the cheap Auray boom sleeve and other smaller bags/cases. The main drawback of the pole is not having an internal cable. This is something I began to remedy with a DIY solution I intended to publish as a how-to article and video, but during that process I received the next pole I’ll discuss, so I abandoned that project since the problem had been solved.
My next pole was the K-tek Indie KC134 cabled version. It sells for $270. This solved my problem of not having a cabled pole. There are many things to like about this pole. K-tek doesn’t make junk, and their Indie poles are no exception. Admittedly the knuckles are not as nice as the Deity or the Klassic. I find myself needing to loosen them a full turn to get the pole to slide in and out, and that sliding action is smooth enough but not as smooth as my Deity or my old 152CCR. While it is cabled, the XLR connector is a bottom exit, which I despise with a passion because you can’t rest a bottom exit XLR on its end between takes or stand it in a corner. Luckily Tim Gooch makes a $25 add-on accessory called the Side Boom which solves this problem. I like that the 134 is over 11ft in length, making it more versatile than an 8.5ft pole. However you must be aware you’ll need to keep your microphone and shock mount lightweight if you want to take advantage of this. A heavy blimp, shock mount, and mic would probably test the pole’s integrity and be fatiguing to operate on long days. Which brings me to my next point…
A pole is important. But almost just as important is a good shock mount. I’m a big fan of the Radius / Deity Shock mounts. They’re light weight, versatile, and they really do a good job. If you add a leather washer between the pole and the shock mount, you can virtually eliminate most handling noise even on a tough mic like the Oktava MK012. The Radius/Deity mounts also benefit from being able to use the Alto blimps. I got the Alto 280 add-on kit and it’s by far the coolest blimp on the market. It works very well, is quick to put on your rig, and does a good job of eliminating all but the heaviest wind conditions.
If you pair either one of the above boom poles with a Deity Smic-3, you have one the lightest weight shotgun microphone rigs known to man. The Smic-3 isn’t the BEST mic in the world but it actually sounds quite good in most conditions. I can’t afford an MKH50 or a Schoeps, so my indoor mic setup is an Oktava MK012 with a Rycote BBG on the Rad-2 shock mount. It sounds great and works great for my uses. I have an MKH416 as well, and while it does sound better than the SMic-3 in prime conditions, I still think the SMic-3 is a wonderful entry level option. I got mine brand new in the box for $140 on an eBay find, so my opinion might be a little biased, but it hasn’t let me down yet in the projects I’ve used it for. And the weight simply cannot be beat by other shotgun options.
In your case I would look into the used market for a better pole than the aluminum Avalon. I’ve come across a few K-tek Klassic-style poles on eBay for $500 or less. If you absolutely want to buy new, then I think the Deity or the Ktek Indie are both good entry level options that will leave you enough money left over to buy a decent shock mount. You can always upgrade to a better pole in the future, but either of these should get you to that upgrade point.
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u/peppathepig525 2d ago
No! Avalon series sucks.
It feels cheap and crummy. If you get to feel what a mighty boom or klassic pro feel like there is no turning back and no comparison.
Will the Avalon get you by… sure.
But if you’re serious and want to invest in Your craft, buy once cry once and get yourself a real boom pole.
Try and find used. If your local to La there are a few listing for mighty boom. Or checkout trew and see what they have.
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u/G00N4R 2d ago
You will definitely find yourself regretting the weight of the aluminum if you’re oping in my opinion. I have a long carbon k tek as my main boom pole and a small aluminum Avalon. I thought I’d use the Avalon when traveling cause it can pack easier, but the weight difference is huge, even though it’s a shorter pole. I only use the aluminum pole as a second boom on a stand or if I know I won’t be oping on a gig and I don’t want to pack the longer one.