Topic: AT-853 and sound quality

[Evil Taper]

They're a good buy for the price.  But beware.

[Brendan]

be aware of what?

[Evil Taper]

Bass distortion when not phantom powered.  I will no longer stealth these for that reason.  If you can get a phantom setup into the show, you'll dig your results.

[Jimna]

great thread, very informative. +t

[George]

Without the phantom style setup those mics just can't perform the way they need to.

Agreed.  I listen to some of my shows when i used a sp battery box and the sound is generally dull and bassy compared to when i got them converted for phantom power based on comments from other ts members (i think nickgregory was one member who had a lot of issues with the bass distortion). 

[nickgregory]

issues dont even begin to describe it...distortion to the point of the tape being unlistenable...of course this was from being 15 ft from the PA at the RHCP and 35 ft from the PA at Kid Rock

[Evil Taper]

i agree, my mudvayne recording came out with enough bass distortion where i can't help but be completely annoyed by it...the high end sounds fine though.  that show was recorded FOB at a bassy venue.  once i get my dpa's flying i might never use these again unless i'm running a mic tree for a local band....in which case i'll have them modded and plugged into a board.

[Brendan]

Bass distortion when not phantom powered.  I will no longer stealth these for that reason.  If you can get a phantom setup into the show, you'll dig your results.

cool cuz i only have phantom power unit~ Ps-2

[George]

issues dont even begin to describe it...distortion to the point of the tape being unlistenable...of course this was from being 15 ft from the PA at the RHCP and 35 ft from the PA at Kid Rock

yeah man, i remember you were talking about that.  Thanks for getting me to convert my mics to phantom power, they sures hell sound a lot better