Topic: Mic Comp: DPA4060 vs. Nevaton MCE400

[JD]

Here is a very unscientific comparison of my DPA4060s and my MCE400

One rig was; DPA4060>DPA DAD6001(Microdot to XLR adapters)>SD722
The other; Nevaton MCE400 >SD722

The mics were worn by two of us sitting side by side in the 6th row of a sit-down theater with pretty good sound.
Thanks to Tom for the second 722.

Sample A   http://www.sendspace.com/file/e8ayn1
Sample B   http://www.sendspace.com/file/4a14ar

The only editing done to the recordings was a quick adjustment to make the levels closer.

[stevetoney]

I'm not totally familiar with these two mics, so I ended up totally guessing whether my preference was the DPA or the Neveton but my 'guess' was somewhat educated based on some comments I'd read about the differences between these two.  Overall, they both sound nice and I wouldn't have a problem listening to the entire length of a show made with either one of these mics.  I chose B though as that was my preference.

[newplanet7]

Sample A is my choice. It had a more robust low-end which helped with the over-all balance of the recording.
Sample b was still good but had more of a focus on the highs IMO

EDIT TO ADD:
I think sample A is The Nevs and that's what I chose.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

No question, I like B better.

Now to see what source it is.

I've been pretty vocal about my love of the Nevaton's over the DPA's (regardless of cost). I wouldn't be surprised if B is the DPA's though. Sounds a little more open. Source A sounds a little more directional (less omni) to me. I've found that I like the Nevaton's better in situations with talkers around. The crowd (if any) was extremely well behaved in these samples, so in this situation I'd give the edge to DPA.

Both are great though. About as good as I've heard for body worn mics.

[newplanet7]

Both are great though. About as good as I've heard for body worn mics.

Truth ^^^
I think A is the Nevs and that's what I chose in the poll.

[JD]

Great comments so far. Keep em coming...

The crowd (if any) was extremely well behaved in these samples, so in this situation I'd give the edge to DPA.

Believe it or not, we were sitting amongst about 200 people for this recording. It was at the Sellersville Theater, which for the most part, attracts well-behaved/polite crowds.
Except for the occasional loud clapper/whistler/talker sitting immediately around me, I usually do pretty well recording in that room.

The artist in those clips, BTW, is Sierra Hull & Highway 111. They were the supporting act for Seldom Scene.
If there is any interest, I can post a couple of samples from the Seldom Scene set too?

[aaronji]

I prefer B.  Fuller bass and a little less emphasis on the highs, in my opinion...A bit more open and natural.  I guess they are the DPAs, but I have proven to myself over time that I'm not much better than chance with these comps!

Thanks for your time and trouble, JD.  I'm really curious to see which source is which...

[MarkE]

I liked "A" better. They both are excellent sounding, I prefer a little extra in that 1~3k freq. like A seems to have. B is flatter and great in different ways, but I gotta say for sure Nevaton is A and Dpa is B.
MarkE

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I always try and check levels before listening to a comp.   Level differences that are not apparent can influence our preference.  In this case, I notice the RMS average level of A is about 1.5 dB louder:

  RMS
  level                peak         
-12.3936dBFS 0.0000dBFS    sample a.wav
-13.9046dBFS -1.4883dBFS   sample b.wav

I matched the RMS levels before listening.  I am listening with headphones.

These do not seem to have been recorded from the same location.  The coughs in B are not heard in A.
It almost seems as though A is sourcing a single PA speaker.  It seems as though B is picking up the feed from two speakers, or maybe a bit more stage.

The config/pattern of these omnis seems different.   But that could be the location difference.

a = Fairly narrow soundstage.
Vocal a bit boxy.  Maybe slightly grating?

b= much wider soundstage and difference between capsules
Wondering if there is a response difference between the capsules

I prefer B, and find it less fatiguing than A.  Which capsule that is, I do not know.

[newplanet7]

I love the comps and comments.
It shows what one person hears could be the direct opposite as the next.

[OOK]

                         

[bhadella]

I strongly prefer the soundstage and "stereo-ness" of B.   Fuller and more lifelike.  Both are very nice tapes, amazingly quiet crowd.   

[Gutbucket]

Cool to see a comp with lots of variation in preference both ways.

B- More depth, sense of the space, more balanced frequency response, cleaner, more extended highs, open, a bit overbright up top, a bit recessed in the upper mids.
Listening straight out of the laptop on HD650s and asjusting foobar EQ for preference I make shallow valleys centered around 300-440Hz and 14kHz and broad flat hills centered at 70-100Hz, and 3.5kHz.. above that dropping down.

Before EQ, A has what sounds like a peaky midrange honk that bothers me, rolled off highs, less clarity and space. Listening straight out of the laptop on HD650s I EQ in a deeper valley centered around 620Hz and a smaller dip around 7-10kHz in a generally rising response with a hill cresting at 3.5kHz, and rising again from 10-20kHz.

EQ'd they are much closer, but I prefer B (4060)

[nardo]

I prefer B, sounds much more balanced. A almost gave me a headache for some reason, not that it sounds bad in general, not at all, but I find it tiresome to listen to - I think A is DPA.

[Gutbucket]

I'll add that I think B is the DPAs for two reasons. One, I know their sound well and recognized the sonic signature, and two, the foobar EQ curve I dialed in for preference approximates a 'classic 4060' correction curve I often end up using for my recordings using these mics.  The combination of both makes me pretty certain.