Topic: microdot wiring!!?

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hello team,

I've been 'on the cusp' of a pair of DPA 4061's for a few years but the opportunity of some has come up. Albeit with "Sennheiser' minijacks.

Now, I want to run these things straight into my XLR connections, so I'll need the DAD6001 powering modules- but these are microdot I/Ps.

The world appears to be awash with microdot to minijack adaptors but not the reverse.


Despite having been a professional audio technician for a couple of decades; I've never mixed it up with microdot stuff before. Am I going to be able to chop these minijacks off and source rewireable microdot inline plugs and put them on. (I've got the skills, but just wonder if this is the best course of action?)

And wonder if there's a masterclass on microdot/DPA core allocation that I've missed on here somewhere.

all advice greatly received!

JimP

[andromedanwarmachine]

Thanks Jon,

really? you think they'll do a minijack socket to microdot male?

have you ever seen anything like that?

[yates7592]

Sennheiser minijack > microdot > XLR adaptor sounds quite convoluted and a potential recipe for disaster to me!

Now I'm not adept in wiring etc, but is there not a simpler and more robust solution here, like chopping the minijacks and just re-wiring to a microdot to cut out the minijack completely. Then you just need the stock DPA microdot to XLR adaptor. The microdot (and XLR of course) is a more secure connector than the minijack.

[andromedanwarmachine]

thanks yates-

that's exactly what I'm after. I don't plan to go around (nor have I ever gone around) with strings of protruding gratuitous adaptors just to make a connection. Bad practice.

I'm hoping to go straight to microdot and I'm asking if anyone has done it and what is involved.

[Ultfris101]

What's the difference between a Senn minijack and the standard 3.5mm minijack? They look like locking minijack to me but maybe there's more to it.

You've made it clear you want to go to microdot, but few work with them. Chris Church made me a female microdot > male stereo minijack adapter for some 4061's i have which were already microdot.

Mr Jon Stoppable up there didn't mention it, but he makes a PFA (see towards the bottom of this page: http://naiant.com/naiant/inlinedevices.html)  which could probably be a compromise you could live with. It replaces the expensive DAD6001.

A PFA which lets you run Plug-in Power mics off of P48 phantom XLRs could be exactly what you need. Terminating the DPA's to standard minijack would be considerably easier than microdot if you need to. You might hit him up via email and see if he can help you out.

Sorry if know all of that already. If you have microdots I'd recommend sticking with them. Since you don't, seems simpler to go the minijack > PFA route.

[Ultfris101]

Of course if you want to give the microdots a try, i believe these are compatible: http://www.pasternack.com/10-32-connectors-category.aspx

This thread by MIQ was very helpful in this regard: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160895.0

[weroflu]

uk ebay seller micronic007 will make you the cable you want. He did a good job with a dpa adaptor cable a while back.

[andromedanwarmachine]

thankyou thankyou Ultfris

this is dynamite_ I'll have a look now


hey Weroflu- how's the LB trucking..??!

[Gutbucket]

Mr Jon Stoppable up there didn't mention it, but he makes a PFA (see towards the bottom of this page: http://naiant.com/naiant/inlinedevices.html)  which could probably be a compromise you could live with. It replaces the expensive DAD6001.

A PFA which lets you run Plug-in Power mics off of P48 phantom XLRs could be exactly what you need. Terminating the DPA's to standard minijack would be considerably easier than microdot if you need to. You might hit him up via email and see if he can help you out.

Sorry if know all of that already. If you have microdots I'd recommend sticking with them. Since you don't, seems simpler to go the minijack > PFA route.

I second that suggestion.

Jon's Niaint PFAs work great for 4061 > XLR phantom input, and are less costly than the DPA XLR adapters.  He can provide them with female microjack plugs which may mate directly with the Senn locking plug (not sure [edit, Jon just posted saying they will]).  I'm not sure of the DPA 2-wire to Senn 3-wire assignment on your existing mini mono TRS plugs though, specifically the ring assignment (Tip=signal & +5-9V PIP, sleeve=ground).  He could also provide the PFAs with mini-xlr TA3's if you decide to reterminate the 4061s to something other than the locking Senn connectors (warning, the especially tiny signal wire in the miniature DPA cable can be a bit of a PITA to solder securely).

NOTE: If you order the Niaint PFAs, let Jon know they will be for use with the mini DPAs so he builds them as non-inverting, the standard low voltage PFA will invert the positive polarity output of your 4061s.

I use four Niaint PFAs with 4060 or 4061s.  The PFAs are wired in pairs to stereo mini jacks.  I made my own microdot to stereo mini plug 'Y' adapters which I use with them.  I prefer using the PFAs since the DAD6001 leaves the cable and microdot connector protruding in a vunerable way out of the recorder/pre-amp XLR inputs.  Performance-wise they seem functionally equivalent.

In-line microdots for cable termination are not available without special expensive install tools.  Alternate choices are re-using dots chopped from re-terminated mics which with have enough cable attached to use as a pigtail and make a splice (I've made several microdot(x2) > TRS stereo mini cables that way, for going the other direction), or using panel mount dots like the parts linked above and installing them in short sections of brass tubing with epoxy or something to form an in-line cable termination.  Chris Church has done that for some on this board.

[hi and lo]

Now, I want to run these things straight into my XLR connections, so I'll need the DAD6001 powering modules- but these are microdot I/Ps.

The world appears to be awash with microdot to minijack adaptors but not the reverse.

Are there any particular reasons why you want to go with stock DPA microdots and the DAD6001 phantom power modules? They'll certainly get the job done, but there are equally good aftermarket options that are cheaper and more easily available.

What I would recommend is that instead of using microdots, consider re-terminating the pair to a mini-xlr or stereo mini directly and use Naiant PFAs (for use with traditional 48v pres) or a Naiant Tinybox to power the mics. I'm surprised Jon didn't recommend this option, but he's probably trying to remain impartial. Overall, you're going to save a good bit of money going this route and easier access to parts.

edit: looks like a couple of people beat me to the punch, but it seems like there is a consensus.

[Gutbucket]

Yeah.

Tinybox will work as well but PFAs simplify powering if feeding a phantom supply XLR input anyway.

[Ultfris101]

thankyou thankyou Ultfris

this is dynamite_ I'll have a look now

If you end up doing the microdots I'd love to see some pics of the process and hearing how it goes if it's not too much trouble. Others would too probably.

[andromedanwarmachine]

OK- thanks everyone;

well, the gist of it is that with minijacks it's not a show-stopper.

I shall now 'drop the coin' as they say on a pair of 4061s and the fun will begin!

[jazzunit]

You could also use a couple of these if you will be powering from a phantom power source:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387918-REG/Sennheiser_MZA900P_MZA_900_P.html

[Len Moskowitz (Core Sound)]

really? you think they'll do a minijack socket to microdot male?

If they won't, we will.

(We're full-line DPA dealers and use the 4060-series in our High End Binaural microphone set.)