Topic: Naiant tinybox/littlebox battery times and related questions

[ArchivalAudio]

My LittleBox
has dual internal 7.2v Li-Ion batteries, and I can power my Milab VM 44's at 48v for about 30 hours!
Stellar!
Even at a festival I can occasionally get a little charge action so this is the best deal, no external battery or non rechargables!

I have yet to try the 20v option but I bet it would run hella long time...   

--Ian

[F.O.Bean]

I can run my Busman Actives>LB[Output Transformers] for around 12 hours[8-9hrs SAFELY] at +48v Phantom.

And I can run my Schoeps mk41s>LB[Output Transformers- for a WHOPPING 18hrs or so at +48v Phantom so lets say [15 hours SAFELY]

[F.O.Bean]

Oh and thats using my 4xAA Battery sled, with 2300mah Energizer AA's and a Powerizer MH-C9000 charger

[carpa]

Don't want to confuse this thread with another question.....I have a first generation littlebox with a 6v powering ( 4 1.5 AA's).  I have also an external power input ( jon wrote me that it can hold up to 15 volts).
Do you know if:

1) I can use a li-ion battery as an external power source)

2) I can use an AC adapter and plug the little box in a wall socket?
thanks alot

[F.O.Bean]

1. Yes

2. I wouldnt suggest that altho i guess it COULD be done

[ianmacd]

I'm getting very close now to ordering a Tinybox for use with some MK 41Vs and a KCY cable.

The final detail I'm pondering is whether or not to order the box with output transformers. They can't be switchable on the Tinybox, so it's either with them or without them.

• Does anyone have useful (i.e. A/B, all other equipment the same) samples of the sound with and without the transformers? I hear very positive things about the effect of having the transformers, but at the same time, even an effect that was pleasing to the ear kind of clashes with the idea of using high quality microphones, purchased for their faithful reproduction of the actual sound on the night. I thus can't make up my mind about whether I want such colouration, no matter how pleasant sounding, but not being able to even hear it before I buy certainly doesn't help, either.
  
• Secondly, and less subjectively, what does having the output transformers do to battery life?
  

Cheers guys,

Ian

[Todd R]

The easy answer is that transformers are passive devices, and have no effect on battery life.

As to the sound, I've got switchable output transformers in my Littlebox.  I ran the LB without trafos for a couple years, then got it upgraded to includes them.  My general impression is that I like the sound with them better, and I always run with them engaged.

Unfortunately though, I've never tried to do any kind of comparison with or without them.  The only thing I could really do is do one set with them engaged and another set of the same band on the same night without them engaged, but I haven't even done that.

[hi and lo]

I'm getting very close now to ordering a Tinybox for use with some MK 41Vs and a KCY cable.

41V's? Did you mean 4vs?

[ianmacd]

41V's? Did you mean 4vs?

No, 41Vs. Why? 

[ianmacd]

The easy answer is that transformers are passive devices, and have no effect on battery life.

You can tell I know nothing in this area. Thanks. Jon confirmed the same in e-mail.

As to the sound, I've got switchable output transformers in my Littlebox.  I ran the LB without trafos for a couple years, then got it upgraded to includes them.  My general impression is that I like the sound with them better, and I always run with them engaged.

Unfortunately though, I've never tried to do any kind of comparison with or without them.  The only thing I could really do is do one set with them engaged and another set of the same band on the same night without them engaged, but I haven't even done that.

I suppose the only way to make them switchable in the Tinybox is to buy 2 Tinyboxes, one with and one without, try them both and then sell on the version you like the least. 

[page]

41V's? Did you mean 4vs?

No, 41Vs. Why? 

I think it's in reference to your other question about a top-shelf cardioid mic.

[ianmacd]

I think it's in reference to your other question about a top-shelf cardioid mic.

Oh, as opposed to a hypercardioid, you mean? Sorry, when I said cardioids, I meant the whole spectrum of wides to hypers.

As it happens, I thought I probably would end up with a pure cardioid, but Acidjack has kind of convinced me that I'll like the 41 more than the 4.

[Todd R]

Can you say about when you get noticeable saturation?  I thought it was more like 0dbV to +6dbV that it kicked in, so I've been running somewhat hot too to get the saturation effect.

If it starts more like -10dbV, maybe I'll dial things down a bit.

[hi and lo]

I think it's in reference to your other question about a top-shelf cardioid mic.

Oh, as opposed to a hypercardioid, you mean? Sorry, when I said cardioids, I meant the whole spectrum of wides to hypers.

As it happens, I thought I probably would end up with a pure cardioid, but Acidjack has kind of convinced me that I'll like the 41 more than the 4.

And because there is exactly one person on this board that owns 41vs (to my knowledge), because there very few sources for that capsule on the archive, and because it is Schoeps most expensive capsule. If you can afford it, by all means, but given it's limited availability to audition, I don't think it is necessarily wise to consider as a first capsule purchase. ymmv

[F.O.Bean]

I have boer runningpbanlb w outnxformers adninlovoe otherbsiund