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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: heathen on August 24, 2017, 07:13:56 PM

Title: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: heathen on August 24, 2017, 07:13:56 PM
On the Countryman site the company says that the B3 is "a water-resistant mic for water sports or hurricane reporting" and has "extreme water-resistance."  I've seen the YouTube video of a B3 submerged in liquid and still working.  How far have people gone with torturing their B3s?  I'm wondering if B3s would stand up to constant rain without being damaged in a situation where putting them under an umbrella isn't a possibility.
Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: beatkilla on August 24, 2017, 07:24:32 PM
Mine haven't been in any water but I wouldn't hesitate to use them in the rain.

Ask countryman themselves as they have always been quick to respond to my questions.

But they are marketed as waterproof.
Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on August 24, 2017, 08:00:11 PM
I'm not afraid to run mine in whatever weather mother nature has to offer.

One of the nice things about these mics is they aren't crazy expensive and they are readily available so if you really do kill them at least you can get another.

Can't say that about my other mics.
Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: T-90 on August 26, 2017, 09:20:52 AM
I have always found these to be amusing...

https://vimeo.com/22328213

https://vimeo.com/63437464

I know it's not apples to apples but one time Gutbucket had some condoms around some Dpa 4061's and due to the setup when it rained the condoms filled with water with the mics inside.  The result was a surprisingly listenable recording. 

I have placed my b3's in some distilled water to clean them after a dusty festival, had no adverse effects from it.

A friend and I are starting to work on a homemade documentary of the suwanee river and I plan on placing the b3's on a kayak paddle for some cool water scape sounds to use during paddling scenes.

I will return here to cry if something goes horribly wrong with the underwater recording.

Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: Gutbucket on September 05, 2017, 11:50:09 AM
I suspect the B3's are probably even more water resistant than the DPA 406x just because the diaphragm under the grid is a flat stainless steel metal surface and less likely to retain water and go mute than the DPA capsule.  Both have an atmospheric vent somewhere on the body, so don't submerge them deeply else water pressure could force water inside which would likely kill the mic.  But wouldn't worry about rain, splashing, or submersion and swizzling in a glass of water, condom or whatever.
Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: John Willett on September 05, 2017, 01:36:58 PM
I have always found these to be amusing...

https://vimeo.com/22328213

https://vimeo.com/63437464


Cola is not water and, in the second video, there ia a gas bubble on the mic. so the diaphragm does not get wet.

It would have been good if they had demonstrated them is water without any gas in it to prove thier point.
Title: Re: Just how water resistant are Countryman B3s?
Post by: justink on September 09, 2017, 10:23:01 AM
aren't dpa 40xx series "waterproof"?

i've been told they clean them by dipping them in distilled water and shaking dry.

the lemo connectors on the other hand, you will want to tape those up. 

but the capsules themselves, you should be fine.