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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: MBHOTAPER on November 18, 2017, 10:19:12 PM
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I want a 2nd set of mics for festivals. Love my ho's but considering other possibilities under 2k. Maybe Neuman, schoeps, b&k/dpa.
I've seen a few posts about problems with 402x cable connections from stress. Is this a common problem or just occasionally occurs. Seen a few posts about scratches & dents in the grills is this from stealth taping ? B&K are close to 20 years old - little paranoid about buying buying mics that old but they look minty. What's a fair price? Too risky at that age?
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Looks like the 4018es is the replacement for the 4021. Any preference or difference? Also I've seen a few posts about problems with 4021 cable connections. Wondering if this is a common problem or just a minor issue that occasionally occurs. Also seen a few posts about dents in the grills is this from stealth taping and imprper storing or other?
i've owned 4021's. loved them. only sold them to get the 4023's.
that said, i don't have any experience with the new modular variety other than seeing them in action and talking with that taper. they look SWEET!
with the new ones, you get the option of buying caps (cheaper than the 40xx series), similar to the schoeps. i believe they are a bit larger on a stand than the 40xx series. i haven't studied charts but i think they are about the same as the 402xx series in sound.
4021 cable problems? None to speak of. maybe if you try to stealth them a lot, they might get frayed or something, idk. i'm not a stealther. obviously, the rear cabling of the 4022 and 4023 would be better for stealthing.
if you're an open taping guy, absolutely nothing wrong with the 4021's. if you stealth, you might have to get creative and be careful with the side cabling, ie make sure the side cabling comes out down to the floor from your hat.
if you can afford it, go for the new models. either way, buy the DPA's. then change your screen name! ;)
just my two pennies.
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I had nothing but trouble with my 4022s. To be clear I'd still say tha in the perfect spot that 40xx can't be beat. But I got so tired of shorts in the actives, like 5 in 15 years. Id already decided to move on to Schoeps because I know they are just more forgiving but primarily due to the unreliability of the 4022. As a final gift to me on top of last short, I had to replace a capsule for 1200 before selling them. been told that dpa got tired of denying the problem and just rolled out the new ones with a more sturdy cable.
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I had nothing but trouble with my 4022s. To be clear I'd still say tha in the perfect spot that 40xx can't be beat. But I got so tired of shorts in the actives, like 5 in 15 years. Id already decided to move on to Schoeps because I know they are just more forgiving but primarily due to the unreliability of the 4022. As a final gift to me on top of last short, I had to replace a capsule for 1200 before selling them. been told that dpa got tired of denying the problem and just rolled out the new ones with a more sturdy cable.
That's what I had read. Thanks for confirming. I'm not going to drop $1700 for future cable problems. Probably going with another set of matched mbhos but wide/sub cards this time. Started talking to Nick in May on a babynbox to stealth my caps with but he hasn't had the time to design/make one yet for mbho hoping sometime soon.
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I had nothing but trouble with my 4022s. To be clear I'd still say tha in the perfect spot that 40xx can't be beat. But I got so tired of shorts in the actives, like 5 in 15 years. Id already decided to move on to Schoeps because I know they are just more forgiving but primarily due to the unreliability of the 4022. As a final gift to me on top of last short, I had to replace a capsule for 1200 before selling them. been told that dpa got tired of denying the problem and just rolled out the new ones with a more sturdy cable.
That's what I had read from others as well. Thanks gor the confirmation. Not going to drop $1700 for cable problems. Probably going with 2 another set of matched mbhos but wide/sub cards this time. Been talking to Nick since May on a babynbox to stealth my caps wiyh but he hasn't had the time to design/make one yet for mbho.
why not pick up some 4028's. removable lemo cables.
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why not pick up some 4028's. removable lemo cables.
Trying to stay under 2k.
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why not pick up some 4028's. removable lemo cables.
Trying to stay under 2k.
fair enough. i can't remember what i paid for mine but i want to say it was only about $300 more. well worth the price.
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The MK4s Larry Sellers has on YS, NBox Platinum from Nick and actives under $2k. I have no skin in it but just providing an option.
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why not pick up some 4028's. removable lemo cables.
Trying to stay under 2k.
fair enough. i can't remember what i paid for mine but i want to say it was only about $300 more. well worth the price.
Where did you buy them from? My online searches show them around $1700 each. Discontinued so very few retailers have them in stock. Were they a used pair?
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This, the dark side is calling! >:D
The MK4s Larry Sellers has on YS, NBox Platinum from Nick and actives under $2k. I have no skin in it but just providing an option.
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why not pick up some 4028's. removable lemo cables.
Trying to stay under 2k.
fair enough. i can't remember what i paid for mine but i want to say it was only about $300 more. well worth the price.
Where did you buy them from? My online searches show them around $1700 each. Discontinued so very few retailers have them in stock. Were they a used pair?
i bought them used here in the YS. back in 2012-ish. i should probably keep a spreadsheet of my gear with serial numbers and how i obtained it.
anyone able to slap together a gear Excel spreadsheet?! :)
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If you're buying DPA these days, I think you would be nuts not to go with the newer modular system (barring a good deal on something used). Multiple caps available, full-size and compact bodies (with lots of flexibility in cables), and P48 and 5V actives. The 5V actives let you go into a d:vice and iPhone. Very versatile. Not cheap, though.
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I've had dpas for over 15 years now. I have owned 4022s, 4026s, 4023s and 4028s. I haven't had any issues with cables, and the only issue I did have with a capsule was probably caused by water.
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I got lucky and found a pair of 4021s on ebay for $1200, well used but the cables are still ok after three years. I'm pretty sure you can get them factory serviced when they wear out. The old design has zero strain relief on a tiny cable so yeah that's not going to last forever. Keep them mounted and the wires tied off and there won't be so much strain. That being said, they aren't a huge improvement over MBHO, I still use those almost as much.
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I got lucky and found a pair of 4021s on ebay for $1200, well used but the cables are still ok after three years. I'm pretty sure you can get them factory serviced when they wear out. The old design has zero strain relief on a tiny cable so yeah that's not going to last forever. Keep them mounted and the wires tied off and there won't be so much strain. That being said, they aren't a huge improvement over MBHO, I still use those almost as much.
So not a big improvement - I do luv the sound of my ho's even in a crappy room or not near dfc. I heard dpa has to be in the sweet spot to sound well. Might get a matched pair of mbho 603a. wide/sub cards that have an increased low end and bass response.. Plus new actives to run into Jon's ipa > pcm10 for stealth. So 2nd full rig plus a stealth rig in my budget range. Thanks that info was very helpful.
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So not a big improvement - I do luv the sound of my ho's even in a crappy room or not near dfc. I heard dpa has to be in the sweet spot to sound well. Might get a matched pair of mbho 603a. wide/sub cards that have an increased low end and bass response.. Plus new actives to run into Jon's ipa > pcm10 for stealth. So 2nd full rig plus a stealth rig in my budget range. Thanks that info was very helpful.
You can certainly find some comparison shopping on Archive. The DPAs lend a certain clarity and the word on the street is the capture exactly what's in the room and sometimes that's maybe not what you want. You probably know that B&K/DPA is the company that makes the test equipment that measures the performance of everyone else's mics, and it shows. HOs have a stunning low end if you want to make a seismic event on the home stereo, and the high highs can't be beat. I still don't know exactly what criteria I use to decide between them but I've been swinging back more often and liking what I hear. I know I don't like MBHO for the back of an echoey room, I want to be up close and personal but I'm leaning towards getting the hypers from yard sale for that purpose.