Topic: Sonosax SX-M32 Sound?

[stevetoney]

Does anyone have any idea if the sound out of the SX-M32 would be similar to the SX-M2?

http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/sxm32_index.html

[oleg]

Does anyone have any idea if the sound out of the SX-M32 would be similar to the SX-M2?

http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/sxm32_index.html

dont have sxm2 but the 32 i worked with, sounds Excellent

[stevetoney]

Does anyone have any idea if the sound out of the SX-M32 would be similar to the SX-M2?

http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/sxm32_index.html

dont have sxm2 but the 32 i worked with, sounds Excellent

Thanks for the reply Oleg.  To bring this thread a little bit more to closure, I sent a message directly to Sonosax and received the following reply...

Dear Mr Toney,

thank you for your demand and for your interest in our products.
The SONOSAX  SX-M32 is based on some newer technology than the former SX-M2 meanwhile the "working principle" remain almost the same.
Thus, taking benefit of new components, the sonic performances of the SX-M32 are slightly better than the SX-M2, but I do not have any audio sample available.

I hope this answer your question
Kind regards

Pierre Blanc
SONOSAX
Sales and Customer Support

[oleg]

the pramp clarity is way better then sound devices  mix pre or 302/442
ability get 3 individual prefader /post fader ( unbalance only ) is a huge plus( 7pin xlr aditional out )
digital out ( 48/96 only ) is making your recording device  not be involved at all in the analog stage
lo cut filter in front of the preamp stage  is  even a bigger + for these who are in documentary business ( for example get rid from proximity effect  before the preamp stage  or wind bumps )

[SClassical]

Oleg, do you have samples comparing SD vs Sonosax? I thought about selling my SD442 and SD722 and getting the SX-R4 cuz of size, weight and convenience. Don't know if it's worth it. I only have recordings of miniR82 sound which is quite good with the DPA 4060 and MMA6000. I actually use high end mic when I record so I don't really have any samples of Sonosax with high end mics.

[oleg]

Oleg, do you have samples comparing SD vs Sonosax? I thought about selling my SD442 and SD722 and getting the SX-R4 cuz of size, weight and convenience. Don't know if it's worth it. I only have recordings of miniR82 sound which is quite good with the DPA 4060 and MMA6000. I actually use high end mic when I record so I don't really have any samples of Sonosax with high end mics.

no , the sonosax wasn't my , just came with the  hd package they send with the crew .
i will really wait a bit to see what comes from AETA  ,6track recorder   and what i heard from mr  Sax  changing  all the filing system on sonosax to match Cantar .
For music i have no doubt the sonosax preamps are way better , i guess  if you really like to investigate the qoality , you may need contact TREW AUDIO (  USA distributor  )  and get the recorder for testings, its not like to heare it with your ears as everyone have different taste and yellow stuff which blocks :-)

[stevetoney]

its not like to heare it with your ears as everyone have different taste and yellow stuff which blocks :-)

 

[SClassical]

I heard from Sonosax that the preamp and AD converter is exactly the same as the SX-R4. They say they both should sound the same. Here is a picture of all sides of the mixer which I found online.

[stevetoney]

I heard from Sonosax that the preamp and AD converter is exactly the same as the SX-R4. They say they both should sound the same. Here is a picture of all sides of the mixer which I found online.

I've been drooling over those pictures since I first laid eyes on that preamp a couple months ago. 

So, any idea if the preamps in the R4 and M32 are the same as those that were used in the M2 before it was shelved?  For me that's the million dollar question because I'm so familiar with the sound of the M2.

[SClassical]

I don't know...You can email them and let me know what they say..I'm also planning on getting a sonosax either the R4 or the M32...What I heard was that the M32 only run 2-3 hours on a full set of AAs..which is not great. But their AD converters are impressive (119 dB dynamic range!!).

[stevetoney]

I don't know...You can email them and let me know what they say..I'm also planning on getting a sonosax either the R4 or the M32...What I heard was that the M32 only run 2-3 hours on a full set of AAs..which is not great. But their AD converters are impressive (119 dB dynamic range!!).

OK, I'll shoot them another email.  Yeah, 2-3 hours isn't great runtime on the m32.  OTOH, it does have an external DC connector and can be powered from 6V to 18V.  From the picture, the connector looks like the one used on the Sound Devices units, so it might not be all that easy to rig up an external battery solution, but maybe that connector can be found somewhere 'out there'. 

[oleg]

herosa 4  is a standard connector for dc in /out usage . you can find eacily in every normal store ,for film audio bizz .
.no one really works with internal batteries as these mostly serve the  shit happens :-)
the actual run time is much grater if you dont turn on  the a to d converter .

[yug du nord]

^^tonedeaf.....  the external battery jack looks like a 4-pin Hirose connection like Oleg said........  they can be found for about $20 for the bare connector only.  Easily wired up to your choice of battery cable.....  but the soldering is REAL tight...  not much room to work.  It can be done though!

[Erick del Valle]

 no , the sonosax wasn't my , just came with the  hd package they send with the crew .
i will really wait a bit to see what comes from AETA  ,6track recorder   and what i heard from mr  Sax  changing  all the filing system on sonosax to match Cantar .
[/quote]

Hey Oleg and others interested in Aeta recorder are manuals and new pictures of that baby!

http://www.aeta-audio.com/english/produits_detail.php?id=23


Erick del Valle
Santiago de Chile

[SClassical]

Just purchased the SX-M32...seems as if I'm the only person here that will have it. Cant wait to test it out   They say I need to wait min 2 weeks to receive it. So I guess it will be a long wait.

[SClassical]

Just received my SX-M32...It's an amazingly small and lightweight. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Surprised that nothing is included with the item..it was shipped in a small cardboard box like a small shoe box and inside was just the mixer...They didn't even include a user manual...Now I need a small, lightweight and reliable recorder with digital-in.

[OOK]

Just received my SX-M32...It's an amazingly small and lightweight. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Surprised that nothing is included with the item..it was shipped in a small cardboard box like a small shoe box and inside was just the mixer...They didn't even include a user manual...Now I need a small, lightweight and reliable recorder with digital-in.

R44...............R4pro or dare I say quietly 744t...........sshh I won't tell if you won't...

[stober]

Just received my SX-M32...It's an amazingly small and lightweight. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Surprised that nothing is included with the item..it was shipped in a small cardboard box like a small shoe box and inside was just the mixer...They didn't even include a user manual...Now I need a small, lightweight and reliable recorder with digital-in.

Congrats! Any chance you could snap a pic of it and post it so I can get a better feel for it's size?? The marantz 661 is pretty small with spdif line in.

[stevetoney]

...and also waiting eagerly to hear sound samples!

[SClassical]

Just received my SX-M32...It's an amazingly small and lightweight. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Surprised that nothing is included with the item..it was shipped in a small cardboard box like a small shoe box and inside was just the mixer...They didn't even include a user manual...Now I need a small, lightweight and reliable recorder with digital-in.

Congrats! Any chance you could snap a pic of it and post it so I can get a better feel for it's size?? The marantz 661 is pretty small with spdif line in.

Here are some pictures showing the size compared with a CD size. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but I will try and record something tomorrow. I plan to do line out into a SD722 because I don't have any digital leads yet for this item. I plan to make a digital cable (miniXLR to XLR) so I can try it out with my SD722. Been told by Sonosax that the SX-M32 sound is an upgrade to their old SX-M2 preamp (and by SD/sonosax users this Sonosax sounds cleaner than sound devices).

[page]

Just received my SX-M32...It's an amazingly small and lightweight. I haven't had a chance to try it out. Surprised that nothing is included with the item..it was shipped in a small cardboard box like a small shoe box and inside was just the mixer...They didn't even include a user manual...Now I need a small, lightweight and reliable recorder with digital-in.

Congrats! Any chance you could snap a pic of it and post it so I can get a better feel for it's size?? The marantz 661 is pretty small with spdif line in.

Here are some pictures showing the size compared with a CD size. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but I will try and record something tomorrow. I plan to do line out into a SD722 because I don't have any digital leads yet for this item. I plan to make a miniXLR to XLR cable so that I can also record via the digital out of the Sonosax. Been told earlier in this tread that the SX-M32 is an upgrade to their old 2 channel portable preamp and also to the sound devices preamps.

I'm surprised by the size. I was expecting something bigger.

[SClassical]

Its extremely lightweight too..
Anyone know what's the best NiMH high capacity AA battery available now? I've used 2700mAh Powerex..they are good but many die on me after 1 year. I see there are 3000mAh now but don't know if they are good cuz I know a lot of them say they are 3000mAh but don't perform as well as lower capacity ones. Hopefully it will run for 5-6 hours on a set of AAs as advertised..

[stober]

thanks for the pics..I love the size of it.  What's the price on these?

[page]

thanks for the pics..I love the size of it.  What's the price on these?

like 2k, maybe 3k (usd). Somewhere in there.

[stevetoney]

It's actually $2400 (and change) from the two or three US distributors that sell sonosax products.  I started looking into this box when I couldn't find an available SX-M2, but have since abandoned the sonosax objective.  That doesn't mean I don't find these pictures uber-sexy and make me want one!!  The guys at sonosax claim this SX-M32 sounds better than the SX-M2 due to enhanced components.  At that price, it BETTER sound at least as good as the SX-M2, although as all SD owners know, on-board pretty lights are worth at least $1k because they make tapers look so damn cool...LOL.   

[page]

It's actually $2400 (and change) from the two or three US distributors that sell sonosax products.  I started looking into this box when I couldn't find an available SX-M2, but have since abandoned the sonosax objective.  That doesn't mean I don't find these pictures uber-sexy and make me want one!!  The guys at sonosax claim this SX-M32 sounds better than the SX-M2 due to enhanced components.  At that price, it BETTER sound at least as good as the SX-M2, although as all SD owners know, on-board pretty lights are worth at least $1k because they make tapers look so damn cool...LOL.   

we be blingin. 

The danger in saying this is "better" than the original sx-m2 is that people are generally drawn to it for it's flavor. If the internal components are so different that it's more technologically advanced, is that better to the manufacturer, but is it better to the user who may not be hunting just for gain, but also a flavor? 

[RichT]

I've actually just sold my SX-M2 to put some money towards one of these.
I'm just wondering which output options you went for and do they cost extra?  I'm looking to use it for both concert recording and location sound and it seemed to work for both, so I'm looking at getting one with a camera send and direct outs.

The ADC also seemed to hold up pretty well in a blind test with a number of top end converters here (they're the same as those in the SX-R4): http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-shoot-outs-sound-file-comparisons-audio-tests/424688-big-d-converter-test-session.html

Nagra VI also seemed to come up highly in a number of people's opinions

[SClassical]

there r many options for outputs..i've used line out only but wil use digital out soon i hope. I realize that i can change the internal jumpers frm aes3 to spdif without making or buying an external transformer (110 to 75 ohm). And there r other options too like recording in 192khz etc but u have to know where the jumpers are inside. Im stil waiting for sonosax to email me. I contacted them a few weeks ago but they hav not told me yet. They either dont want to tel me or they r too lazy to reply. I dont understand the way they work cuz in us customer service is important but they seem to take a long time on everything. Its an excellent product but their customer service sucks if u need help. So now im stuck with aes3 until they tel me how to change the jumpers to spdif.

[flipp]

http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/sx-m32-umeng.pdf is the users manual and the block diagrams are on page 22 but in my quick glance I didn't see any mention of where the jumpers were.

< looks like you'll need to trace the wires from the AES out back to the A>D and the jumper should be very close to the converter >

[page]

http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/sx-m32-umeng.pdf is the users manual and the block diagrams are on page 22 but in my quick glance I didn't see any mention of where the jumpers were.

< looks like you'll need to trace the wires from the AES out back to the A>D and the jumper should be very close to the converter >

I thought about the same thing.

Out of curiosity, I wonder if it's labeled on the inside. Probably not, but an interesting idea. I wonder if they are still on holiday. 

[JasonSobel]

From the manual, it sounds like the internal jumpers can not be changed very easily.  On page 11:

Internal soldering jumpers offer following choices:
- FS at 192kHz/24bits instead of 96kHz (the 48kHz position remain unchanged)
- 48kHz at 16 bits instead of 24bits ( the 96kHz position remain unchanged )
- SPDIF format instead of AES-31

and

WARNING: Any modification of the default settings must be done by a qualified technician.
Please contact SONOSAX our your nearest Sonosax dealer

That sounds like the jumpers need to be de-soldered and then re-soldered.  Not exactly something that I'd be willing to try to do on my own.

[RichT]

there are quite a lot of factory options, including different physical connectors on the output. This includes AES/SPDIF options.
Hers'e the order form from the manufacturer: http://www.sonosax.ch/mixers/sxm32/SX-M32_purchase%20order%20form.pdf
I'm looking at option 'B' with the 10pin Hirose option and thinking of getting a transformer to do AES/SPDIF, although it's likely I'll be going to SPDIF at first

It also seems significantly cheaper at some German dealers than the UK, and my German isn't too great (for explaining configurations). :S

[SClassical]

Anyone know what's the difference between AES31 and AES3?

[RichT]

I think they've got something confused in translation here.  AES31 is the Broadcast wav standard.  AES3 is digital interchange over balanced cables and AES3-id is AES3 signals over 75ohm unbalanced cables. 

I thought they may have meant AES3-id (the SD 7 series have an input for this, it's on BNC), although it says the connection's 110ohm in the manual

[F.O.Bean]

This thing is AWESOME looking. Is it at the same price point of Aeta's new 4-chan pre/adc/recorder

[RichT]

This thing is AWESOME looking. Is it at the same price point of Aeta's new 4-chan pre/adc/recorder

It's just a mixer/pre so it's cheaper (still expensive), Best price I've found is EUR1900.  US price seems to be $2700ish.

They also do a similar recorder- the http://www.sonosax.ch/recorders/sxr4/sxr4_index.htmlSX-R4, which is around the same price point as the AETA and has the same pre's and ADC as the SX-M32.   

[RichT]

Just pressed go on one of these, seems like the prices have gone up (£2100 new) but I managed to get an ex-demo unit

...now to make all the output cables

[SClassical]

Just wanted to let people listen to the SXM32 sound with the SD722 and Schoeps CCM2S...the clarity and cleanness of each note is amazing...Very wide dynamic range and very clean throughout...

http://tinyurl.com/d4tja78

PLEASE USE YOUR BEST HEADPHONES!

[page]

Just wanted to let people listen to the SXM32 sound with the SD722 and Schoeps CCM2S...the clarity and cleanness of each note is amazing...Very wide dynamic range and very clean throughout...

http://tinyurl.com/d4tja78

PLEASE USE YOUR BEST HEADPHONES!

did you seriously record that in 16/48 or am I reading the 722 incorrectly?

beautiful track, especially for a late night listen.

[SClassical]

Yes I did record it as 16/48...wanted to record at 24bit but my SD has problems with 24bit...I don't know what it is but when I record silence I get small visible waves but I can't hear it - it's like DC off set problem...But when i record in 16bit silence I get the straight audio line without any visible waves...It's sort of weird my 722 hopefully I send it and get it checked out this summer...Now it's been used more or less every day so I can't get this fixed. But even at 16bit the sound is amazing..Can't wait to hear how it sound after the summer when I do 24/96... Now I just have to stick with 16/48 meanwhile.

Actually maybe next time I do digital out from the sonosax into the SD (or into the D50) - maybe I can do 24/96 and not get this weird wave form in my audio track when i record silence.

[RichT]

Just as a note the digital out seems pretty happy going straight into an R44's spdif without the transformer (over a short distance). I'm also rather pleased with mine, although it has had a trip to switzerland (under warranty). I've had mine for over a year now

[flicflac]

on-board pretty lights are worth at least $1k because they make tapers look so damn cool...LOL.