Topic: Another comparison: three different mic capsules, glasses worn

[illconditioned]

OK, I've got another comparison.  The following are three different recordings of the same material from glasses-worn mic capsules.  Listen on speakers or headphones.

Please comment on quality of recording, and if you can, say why you prefer the one you do.

Sources will be disclosed shortly:

  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics1.mp3
  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics2.mp3
  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics3.mp3

Thanks for your ears!
  Richard

[illconditioned]

OK, you lurkers.  Please let me know what you think.  Included is one of my "usual" capsules vs. two newcomers.

Thanks,
  Richard

[guysonic]

OK, I've got another comparison.  The following are three different recordings of the same material from glasses-worn mic capsules.  Listen on speakers or headphones.

Please comment on quality of recording, and if you can, say why you prefer the one you do.

Sources will be disclosed shortly:

  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics1.mp3
  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics2.mp3
  http://Soundmann.com/2008-05-07-clip_mics3.mp3

Thanks for your ears!
  Richard

These are really close, especially almost not audible is mics 2/3 differences where mics1 is a bit harsher sounding, bit strident in comparison to the other two.

Mics2 sounds the most natural to my ears, but maybe because mic3 has less right channel high frequency response (a mismatch to the left channel upper frequencies) that the imaging is less than ideal as compared to the most natural sounding mics2 selection.

[stantheman1976]

1 sounds a bit harsh to my ears.  2 and 3 are very close but 2 sounds a bit more detailed overall to me.  It's lacking bass.  With a bit more low end added it would sound great.

[jmz93]

Cocaine eyes? Her love is what? Oh sorry, you wanted comments about the mics, not the flat guitar solo ...

I like sample 2 the best.  I think it has more bass than 1, and less high-end sizzle.  Sample 3 sounds great on the left. Something odd must have happened with the right capsule, as it is lacking in highs.

Sample 2 sounds most listenable on my Grado SR80 headphones. I actually prefer sample 1 through my tube amp and speakers.

[illconditioned]

Cocaine eyes? Her love is what? Oh sorry, you wanted comments about the mics, not the flat guitar solo ...

I like sample 2 the best.  I think it has more bass than 1, and less high-end sizzle.  Sample 3 sounds great on the left. Something odd must have happened with the right capsule, as it is lacking in highs.

Sample 2 sounds most listenable on my Grado SR80 headphones. I actually prefer sample 1 through my tube amp and speakers.

At least it didn't have accordian, or god forbid, banjo.  Thanks for the comments, though.  Keep 'em coming!

OK, yeah, the right side of #3 is messed up.  Can you listen to left channel #2 vs #3?  Do you have a preference?

  Richard

[CQBert]

Personally - #2... seems smoother, the bass is not to heavy, natural mids...

#1 - did not like the bass

#3 - close but not as nice as #2 IMO

Now for the mics???

CQBert

[illconditioned]

Personally - #2... seems smoother, the bass is not to heavy, natural mids...

#1 - did not like the bass

#3 - close but not as nice as #2 IMO

Now for the mics???

CQBert

I'll send mic info by PM to you.  Others, please wait until I get enough "experimental" subjects.

  Richard

[Church-Audio]

I did a little frequencey anylisis of your mics..

Green is mic #3
Red is mic #2
Purple is mic #1

This was done by taking a snapshot of the frequency analysis at the same exact point in the song on all three samples 33.40 seconds into the track. I thought you might be interested in this. I just used one side of the tracks for this so as not to have it be confusing with left and right traces being on the screen so its just one side or one mic out of each pair. And it was the same side for each recording so provided that care was taken in the process of making sure left was left * I am sure Richard did this * then this shows that there are real differences and what exactly it is some of you are hearing.. I liked sample 1 my self.


Disregard the blue line at the bottom its just a input trace line that is not part of the frequency capture.
Chris

[illconditioned]

I did a little frequencey anylisis of your mics..

Green is mic #3
Red is mic #2
Purple is mic #1

This was done by taking a snapshot of the frequency analysis at the same exact point in the song on all three samples 33.40 seconds into the track. I thought you might be interested in this. I just used one side of the tracks for this so as not to have it be confusing with left and right traces being on the screen so its just one side or one mic out of each pair. And it was the same side for each recording so provided that care was taken in the process of making sure left was left * I am sure Richard did this * then this shows that there are real differences and what exactly it is some of you are hearing.. I liked sample 1 my self.


Disregard the blue line at the bottom its just a input trace line that is not part of the frequency capture.
Chris

Hey, thanks Chris.

You used the Left channel of each recording, correct?

By the way, I found another nice way to analyse.  There is a pluging called "Waves Analyzer", part of the "Waves" package.  You can view the spectrum in fast, medium, and slow mode.  In slow mode you see both channels increase, then slowly change.  Nice for testing if mics are balanced.  Unfortunately, I didn't get it right with mics #3.  I think I messed up that capsule.  Well, I messed up a lot of capsules trying to solder, lol.

  Richard

[illconditioned]

OK, here are the sources:

1. Sennheiser KE4, my oft-used hat mic,
2. Knowles Acoustics FG-3742, 0.1" diameter mic
3. Sonion 8044, 0.1" diameter mic

The 0.1" diameter mics are tiny!!  Very hard to solder to, lol.  The Knowles is available from Digikey.com, approx $30 each.  The Sonion are available for approx $15, but only in qty 25 minimum.

Which one do I like?  Well, I think they are all pretty good.  I'm leaning towards #2.  It has a very clear midrange and seems otherwise well behaved.  #3 sounds a bit less "transparent", but sounds a bit smoother/easier on the ears too.  Tough call.

Stay tuned for more comparisons.  I'll have one more in approx one week.  Help me in the search...

  Richard