Topic: When one of your DPA 4061 4060 etc dies in your Core Sound HEBs...

[90meterInAD8]

Debate on, however:

One of the mics in my Core Sound HEB's died a few years ago.  I sent it back to Len who quoted me some price around $500 +/- $100 (can't remember for sure).  I requested them back, and they sat on a shelf until now.  I sent them to DPA in Colorado, who said that for $320 they would replace the broken one with a brand new one matched to within 1dB.  According to the tech I spoke with there, he said they'd do it, but that matching wasn't too important, as the variation is at max 2dB in units off the shelf.  I know figures have been quoted here up to 9dB, but I thought this would be an interesting piece of knowledge for guys wanting to pick up ebay unmatched sets. 

Also, FWIW, he said that he's seen a lot of Core Sound modified sets come through with one dead channel.  He hypothesized that either they're all abused, or that there's something screwy with the power supply on these things.

I'm not a tech, I'm not an electronics expert, I'm just posting what the tech there told me as I'm sure this info might help some people's decisions down the line.

Cheers.

[Kindguy]

Interesting I have a set of HEB's with the same problem. Been sitting in the closet since approx 03. Thanks for the info.

[hi and lo]

The HEB power supply is just a 9volt battery with 13k resistors (I believe, need to double-check my notes. I know for fact it's > 10k) and DC blocking capacitors (which control roll-off).

I can't really see anything being 'screwy' about the power supply itself other than possibly failing (short, broken solder joint, bad connection in the mini-xlr).

I would also assume that Len is buying them new from the factory, but who knows. Just consider yourself lucky he actually sent them back.

[boojum]

Has anyone written Len to tell them that DPA sees a lot of his modified stuff coming in for repair??  Might be a good idea.  It is only fair to give Len a chance on this rather than talk about him.  I have no relation to Len nor am I a customer or business affiliate.

Cheers

[TNJazz]

Len's on this board.

I'd be surprised if he wasn't following this thread.

[surf1div1]

As if he cares? Do a search of Core Sound, and you'll see why he has such a how would you say "infamous" reputation- been there, burned too. From now on, I stay away from Len because anytime I've sent something in, it's been abused. Go figure that I've recorded with those mics maybe only 4-6 times a year and kid glove them (who wouldn't at $900+ a pair) and still they're abused. What a waste- Sent mine into DPA and they said that it wasn't abused but unfortunately because it was over 2 years they couldn't do anything about- at least it was double the warranty core gives you- but then based on the amount of feedback from others here I can understand why. If you have a superior product you can stand behind it- but Len gives you 1/2 the warranty DPA does and that is after his 'mod'. That's because your getting 1/2 the service ;-)- I just can't believe that there's still people that know about this site and STILL buy from him. Yeah, were all sour grapes because we didn't get what we want- like honest service. I will never go back to that place.

Has anyone written Len to tell them that DPA sees a lot of his modified stuff coming in for repair??  Might be a good idea.  It is only fair to give Len a chance on this rather than talk about him.  I have no relation to Len nor am I a customer or business affiliate.

Cheers

[hobbes4444]

Debate on, however:

One of the mics in my Core Sound HEB's died a few years ago.  I sent it back to Len who quoted me some price around $500 +/- $100 (can't remember for sure).  I requested them back, and they sat on a shelf until now.  I sent them to DPA in Colorado, who said that for $320 they would replace the broken one with a brand new one matched to within 1dB.  According to the tech I spoke with there, he said they'd do it, but that matching wasn't too important, as the variation is at max 2dB in units off the shelf.  I know figures have been quoted here up to 9dB, but I thought this would be an interesting piece of knowledge for guys wanting to pick up ebay unmatched sets. 
Cheers.

So, DPA will replace a mic in Len's set up and reattach the cable to the mic head for $320?  That's a bargain compared to Len.  I may actually do this since my mics are mismatched now by about 6dB, and that was after replacing one bad capsule with one mismatched one.  Maybe DPA can match one of the remaining capsules.  Did they give you a timeframe?

Thanks!
Dave

[Ekib]

As if he cares? Do a search of Core Sound, and you'll see why he has such a how would you say "infamous" reputation- been there, burned too. From now on, I stay away from Len because anytime I've sent something in, it's been abused. Go figure that I've recorded with those mics maybe only 4-6 times a year and kid glove them (who wouldn't at $900+ a pair) and still they're abused. What a waste- Sent mine into DPA and they said that it wasn't abused but unfortunately because it was over 2 years they couldn't do anything about- at least it was double the warranty core gives you- but then based on the amount of feedback from others here I can understand why. If you have a superior product you can stand behind it- but Len gives you 1/2 the warranty DPA does and that is after his 'mod'. That's because your getting 1/2 the service ;-)- I just can't believe that there's still people that know about this site and STILL buy from him. Yeah, were all sour grapes because we didn't get what we want- like honest service. I will never go back to that place.

Has anyone written Len to tell them that DPA sees a lot of his modified stuff coming in for repair??  Might be a good idea.  It is only fair to give Len a chance on this rather than talk about him.  I have no relation to Len nor am I a customer or business affiliate.

Cheers

I don't know these DPA's but I am a CSSC user for over 10 years.
Len has always treated me as a great customer. He answers emails very quick.
When it comes to fragile stuff like mic's there is always a chance they could break. Especially thinking about the " live " circumstances.
But the few times I've had a problem Len went out and fixed the problem ASAP. He has treated me more than fair.

[shaggy]

FWIW, I lost one 4061 that I bought as a matched set from DPA in Denmark (some kind of fuzziness and lower output problem) and I had these for 5 years.  These mics will go out on you whether or not they come from Core or not...they can be abused to some extent but are not indestructable.  My pair, at that point were 4 years old and had probably seen 50 or more shows.  I alway treat them nicely by wiping the cables down with a damp rag and coiling the wires gently to a circle of 4 inches in diameter.  The day they went out was in the pouring rain at Fuji Rock 2007, I had them under a silicone treated ranger style hat but it was not enough, apparently.  I have recorded in the rain a few times before without any issues.

I got the same $300 deal that DPA in CO offered, they matched the output to within 0.7db and the equivalent noise floor.  They didn't give a beautiful frequency trace like when I bot the set but there is official DPA documentation that they give to you stating that the mic (serial numbers listed) is matched in output and noise level.  The mics are completely even in output and there is no difference to my ears.