Topic: 4061 mismatch

[madman]

I got a pair of 4061s about 2 weeks ago, just going over the stuff I taped and running some tests here at home.  The microphones are sequential in SN, but I'm getting about a 3.5dB difference between the two.  Is this normal?  Is this sort of thing covered under warranty, or am I basically going to have to do a 3.5dB boost on one channel every time I tape?

[madman]

Well, they were a "demo" pair from Oade that they told me were used once for a show at the House of Blues.  Powering them with the DPA batt box as well.  I ruled out the batt box being an issue by swapping the mics, now the dB drop is reversed.  I suppose I can check in w/Oade tomorrow, or maybe just go right to DPA and see what they can do for me, maybe send me another one and see which one it matches best.  The difference is clearly audible, I had originally figured my mounting is what caused the difference, but I've spent some time testing at home with the mics draped in front of a speaker and get the same 3-3.5dB difference.

[madman]

Cool, thanks for the info.  I shot Doug an email, the mics are still covered under warranty even though they were a demo set.  I'm sure they'll be able to take care of it.

[pfife]

Mine are ebay mismatches...

[Evil Taper]

My ebay pair is nicely matched...guess I got lucky.

[TNJazz]

Keep in mind also that sequential does not necessarily mean matched.

Dirk

[madman]

No dice from Oade, he said to try DPA, as the mics are supposed to be within +- 2dB of a certain tolerance.  Will try them and report back.

[scb]

did oade sell them to you as matched?

[madman]

Nope, just as a sequential pair.  Which they are.  If DPA can't do a return, are there places that sell matched pairs (that aren't Core Sound)?  I'll just buy a matched pair and sell my mismatched pair on EBay or here if someone doesn't mind doing post to boost one channel.  It's going to drive me nuts having a pair this far off.

[madman]

Well, DPA can't do anything to help me either.  I'm going to see about a return at Oade and see if I can source a matched pair from elsewhere.

[madman]

No, no pre as of today. I am thinking of buying a single, but now I have to decide what to do.  Do I try to find someone who sells matched pairs (again, that isn't Core Sound), do I return the mics within the 30 day period to Oade (and get stuck with a 15% restocking fee), do I build a -3.5dB (or so) attenuator into my batt box or do I live with having to do a 3.5dB boost on one channel for all my tapes?  Followup: Anyone have info on building attenuators, I basically just need to find what value resistor will give me -3.5dB.

The spec is +-2dB of tolerance for the 4061s, so I have almost the most mismatched mics within spec.  Great luck.

[Brian Skalinder]

do I return the mics within the 30 day period to Oade (and get stuck with a 15% restocking fee)

They may or may not apply the re-stocking fee.  Many companies have a re-stock fee policy, but it's not always implemented across the board.  Might be worth finding out, if it'll impact your decision.

[madman]

I think I'll live with it and just attenuate inside the DPA batt box since there's plenty of room in there to put some resistors.  I got a great deal on them with a warranty and would rather not pay full price elsewhere just to end up with another mismatched pair.  I love the sound I get with the mics, so I'd just end up buying a pair for about $750 elsewhere and hoping for the best.  And in case I wasn't clear before, Core Sound isn't getting another dime off me 

Thanks for all the responses.

[pfife]

Wait, I'm confused, are they from Oade, or Core-Sound?

[Cooker]

i'd just do it in post. 

[madman]

Wait, I'm confused, are they from Oade, or Core-Sound?

They're from Oade...I bought my last pair from CS, though.

[pfife]

Wait, I'm confused, are they from Oade, or Core-Sound?

They're from Oade...I bought my last pair from CS, though.

ah, OK - I was a little confused.

FWIW, I'd do the correction in post too, if I were you.  But then again, I have no idea how I'd go about building an attenuator.

[madman]

I may skip the attenuator as well, I don't want anything that can interfere with the signal.  I'll call up Oade again tomorrow, see if maybe I can buy a 3rd 4061 and just return the one that matches less.  I figure if the DPA spec is +-2dB and I have a 3.5dB difference, I've pretty much got two that are at opposite ends of their tolerance.  Worst case, I'd end up with a 1.75dB difference if the 3rd mic was right in the middle.  We'll see. 

Or maybe just buy that MMA6000 I've been looking at