Topic: Audio Technica AT 853 RX or Core Sound Binaurals opinions or suggestions please

[schoff]

Any opinions on these two sets of microphones would be greatly appreciated. I would be matching up both mic sets with a matching battery box and base roll off switch. If anybody has any other suggestions for mics in and around the same price range for a small stealth rig. Feel free to give me your suggestions.

Thanks

Schoff

[jeromejello]

i would go for the AT 853s  - i think they sound better and they offer switchable caps
/fluff

[madman]

Depends on what you want to accomplish.  I've owned both; I had the 853s for a short time but didn't know about the 3-wire battery packs at the time, so any loud venue resulted in distorted recordings.  The CSBs were good because they were able to handle higher SPLs without distortion and were smaller and easier to conceal.  They didn't sound as good as the 853s, though (I had card caps in there) and Len at Core Sound is not a personable guy.  There are some other choices out there now like Giant Squid and Church Audio, you might want to do a search about those mics on here.  They seem to be more reasonably priced than the Core Sound stuff and I haven't heard anything bad about customer service from either company. 

[schoff]

This is what I`m after; thanks for the imput guys

[jcrab66]

i've had both, go with the 853's, they are a bit more versatile than the csb's although both are capable of making some nice recordings

[schoff]

Somthing which does concern me however is with is how easy is it to shortern the cabel length as 25`is a little excessive for a stealth rig.
(Mind you, there is a place in Liverpool which may be able to help me out)

[Myco]

The AT853's have a wider frequency range also. The Soundprofessionals have diagram showing the patterns of both if your interested. The AT853's might distort with louder recordings in some cases, but if you use the battery box, or if you have them phantom modded you'll get great results. The coresounds won't didtort maybe because they record a more narrow range than other mics do, you lose some of the highs & lows.

[spyder9]

Depends on what you want to accomplish.  I've owned both; I had the 853s for a short time but didn't know about the 3-wire battery packs at the time, so any loud venue resulted in distorted recordings.  The CSBs were good because they were able to handle higher SPLs without distortion and were smaller and easier to conceal.  They didn't sound as good as the 853s, though (I had card caps in there) and Len at Core Sound is not a personable guy.  There are some other choices out there now like Giant Squid and Church Audio, you might want to do a search about those mics on here.  They seem to be more reasonably priced than the Core Sound stuff and I haven't heard anything bad about customer service from either company. 

Are you talking about the regular 853As?  They have 1/8 connection like the CSBs and run on standard 9V battery power.  The 853RXs are phantom powered.  Never heard of anyone running the RXs with a 3-wire battery pack.  You need a separate phantom box like the Denecke PS2 or a preamp w/ phantom power like the Sound Devices MP2 or Mixpre, to power the RXs. 

Any hoot, definitely get the 853RXs.  Phantom power is king.  Better SPL handling, better dynamic range.  I recorded the Black Crowes last year in a tiny venue.  The 853RXs took a full shot from the head-level PA system and had no distortion or issues in my recording (I can't say the same for my ears  ).  And everyone knows how loud the Crowes can be.  No brainer, 853RX over the CSBs all day long. 

As far as 853As vs CSB, I have not compared them.  But I'd have to give the 853As the edge because of multiple caps. .

Hope that helps.  Good luck!   

[madman]

Are you talking about the regular 853As?  They have 1/8 connection like the CSBs and run on standard 9V battery power.  The 853RXs are phantom powered.  Never heard of anyone running the RXs with a 3-wire battery pack.  You need a separate phantom box like the Denecke PS2 or a preamp w/ phantom power like the Sound Devices MP2 or Mixpre, to power the RXs. 

Yea, I wasn't talking about the rxs, but I assumed they are identical other than phantom powe.  I was just saying the reason I didn't like them is that they distorted, which is obviously not a concern for him if he uses phantom.

[spyder9]

Are you talking about the regular 853As?  They have 1/8 connection like the CSBs and run on standard 9V battery power.  The 853RXs are phantom powered.  Never heard of anyone running the RXs with a 3-wire battery pack.  You need a separate phantom box like the Denecke PS2 or a preamp w/ phantom power like the Sound Devices MP2 or Mixpre, to power the RXs. 

Yea, I wasn't talking about the rxs, but I assumed they are identical other than phantom powe.  I was just saying the reason I didn't like them is that they distorted, which is obviously not a concern for him if he uses phantom.

+T   

[poorlyconditioned]

The AT853's have a wider frequency range also. The Soundprofessionals have diagram showing the patterns of both if your interested. The AT853's might distort with louder recordings in some cases, but if you use the battery box, or if you have them phantom modded you'll get great results. The coresounds won't didtort maybe because they record a more narrow range than other mics do, you lose some of the highs & lows.

Correction/clarification: CoreSound do not distort becuase they are using a *3 wire* battery box!  It is different than the one Sanjay and I made (and has different connectors), but that is why it does not distort.

OK, so you want to get AT853, probably from Soundprofessionals.  Those mics will sound great.

I would try them with a regular batt. box first.  If you get too loud, then get a 3-wire battery box.  I'm not making boxes at the moment, and I think Sanjay has dropped out of the game for a bit.  Perhaps Church can make you one?  Or, get a battery box + pre from Church.

Either way, you probably want the "phantom power mod" from SoundProfessionals.  This is where he puts a miniXLR 3-pin connector on each mic.  These *should* plug into Church's preamp/battery box.

  Richard

[schoff]

Ok sitting over here getting my head round this lot.

if I want to run the 853 RX mics I would feed these into either a Denecke PS2 and then into the microtracker (  OR

run the 853 RX mics into a preamp with Phantom power such as the Sound Devices MixPre and from there into the microtracker

With the second setup would I need a separate battery box for the mics? If not this would
be on the way to fulfilling my stealth requirements

thanks for the help

[madman]

If you run the rx's into a pre w/phantom, you won't need a power source.  If you have the cash, you might as well get a pre to start with since you will upgrade anyway.  We all do it, it's a sickness and we need help.  The 853s are really great mics and as another poster mentioned you can always get other caps to expand the microphones for different situations.  I have DPA 4061s and love them, but I'm always toying with the thought of buying 853s or some other cards to use in bad rooms. 

[Javier Cinakowski]

The Microphone Madness Sennheiser MKE40s sound very nice and will absolutly not distort, even if you just plug them directly into a Plug In Power Recorder.  They have a 138SPL rating with 3v PIP.   With 9v you can record a jet engine from 2".

[Sparge Master]

I won a pair of 853s > mp-2 and love the combo. I can get my gear in but I hate standing around in long lines with my junk next to my junk.