Topic: MonoPrice SDCondenser Microphones (Pair) $98 to $79 + Omni + Hyper caps avail

[ArchivalAudio]

Just got my daily MonoPrice update ans saw These Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones (Pair).

for $98, also available for about another $95 you can get a set of Omnis and Hypers.

Yep China made, not sayin that they would be great but for about $200 bucks get  some SD mics with three sets of caps ain't bad, especially for a beginner.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=115&cp_id=11502&cs_id=1150201&p_id=600700&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones (Pair)

When you need to record or otherwise amplify acoustic based instruments, you need high-quality, transparent microphones that will accurately reproduce every note, tone, and nuance of your performance. What you need is this pair of Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones from Monoprice!

These microphones come as a pair, so that you can stereo mic a drum kit or mic an acoustic duet. They feature a 6-micron gold-sputtered diaphragm with a cardiod polar pattern. They require +48V Phantom Power to operate and connect to your mixer using a gold-plated XLR plug.

Included with the pair of microphones is a pair of mic clips and a pair of windscreens. The microphones come in a storage box with cutouts in the foam for each item included, as well as four cutouts for additional transducer capsules (additional capsules available separately).

Note that the transducer capsules on these micropphones employ a Cardioid polar pattern. We offer replacement capsules that employ Omnidirectional (PID 600701) and Hypercardioid (PIC 600702) polar patterns, allowing these microphones to be used in a wide variety of applications.

omni caps:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=115&cp_id=11502&cs_id=1150201&p_id=600701&seq=1&format=2

hyper caps:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=115&cp_id=11502&cs_id=1150201&p_id=600702&seq=1&format=2


I have gotten many cables and adapters as well as Velcro ties from MonoPrice and they are all china made but hella inexpensive, and usually good quality.

Just thought I'd pass this info on here.

peace out
--Ian

[ArchivalAudio]

Oh specs:

 

Specifications

Type: Pressure gradient condenser microphone

Diaphragm: 6 micron gold-sputtered

Capsule Size: 0.87" (22 mm)

XLR Connector: Gold Plated

Frequency Response: 30Hz - 20KHz

Polar pattern: Cardioid

Sensitivity: 10mV/Pa

Output Impedance: 200 ohms

Equivalent noise: 18 dB (A-weighted IEC 268-4)

Max SPL for .5% THD: 134 dB

Power Requirements: +48V phantom power (+/-4V)

Size: 5.2" x 0.9" (133 x 22 mm)

Weight: 4.8 oz. (136.08g) each

Metal Finish: Black

[ArchivalAudio]

[Jammin72]

Exact Same Specs and Size as the MXL 603

http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/603/

Same Mics, different paint job.

[ArchivalAudio]

Exact Same Specs and Size as the MXL 603

http://www.mxlmics.com/microphones/studio/603/

Same Mics, different paint job.

ahhh yes but with interchangeable caps: card, omni and hyper.

[Phil Zone]

Wow that's quite a deal, they look decent for the price and monoprice has always been know for a good bang for the buck.

[ArchivalAudio]

On a side note while not the same SD mics in the current issue of Tape Op they  review the LD cards from Monoprice, with surprisingly good results:
http://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/96/600800-large-diaphragm-condenser-mic/

I did enough blind listening with the Monoprice 600800 that I will say this: this is not just a great mic for the money, this is a great mic. I know that many people will have a hard time believing this, but it's true. I am convinced that if this mic had one of certain brand names on it and came in a heavier-metal package, it would easily fetch $1000. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's a great all-around mic and a perfect first condenser for home studios.

[ArchivalAudio]

Price drop for the pair to $79

currentlyly also a $15 off $100
 so if one were to get the mics and 1 set of caps  it would be about $110 + shipping for a pair + a second of caps.

also I found this mod for the MXL 603's
see the pics in the first post, surely the mod would also work on these.

http://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=5156.0

PICS:

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

For the price of these I'm tempted to buy a bunch of them and permanently install them in all the different venues I go to.

Sure would be nice for those days I don't feel like lugging my gear around. Probably would turn out good results for venues/bands that allow soundboard patches for matrixing.

[ArchivalAudio]

I actually ordered a pair of these with a set of Omni caps too with a 4$5 off coupon including shipping was less than $120

I will likely see if the MXL 603 mod would be the same and

Change ceramic caps C3 and C4 from .22uf ceramic to .22uf Metal Film Panasonic caps from Digikey

Change the capsule/Gate cap C13 (on back of PC board) from a .001uf (1000pf) ceramic to a 1000pf Xicon Styroflex polystyrene cap from Mouser

unless these are totally different than the 603's  then I can use these as my beater and rain mics...

more info soon

[willndmb]

Looks like a busman mic without the switches too

[ArchivalAudio]

I'd use a C0G ceramic rather than the styroflex, also has vanishing low distortion but much less fussy.

The most important "mod" would be to make sure the FET is critically biased, which is set by that trimpot.  If that's off, then distortion will be orders of magnitude higher than any capacitor change.

Thanks for that Jon, I'm not electronics wiz but I can soldier.
Can you point to a  link C0G ceramic?

If I were to do this mod how would one check that the FET is Critically Biased? 
How would one adjust the trimpot and exactly how could you tell if it was set correctly?

[ArchivalAudio]

You hook up a 1-2VRMS signal source (1kHz sine) to the input (across a small cap, 100pF ought to do) and measure distortion on the output (view on a FFT).  If the second harmonic (2kHz) is more prominent than the third (3kHz), it isn't biased properly.  You should be able to manage at least 0.1% THD at 1VRMS--that's harmonics at -60dB or less than the fundamental.

This is somewhat time consuming vs. setting the bias at a fixed DC (which will be close but not close enough), so if the factory wanted to cut corners that would be a likely procedure to skip.  Or they may do it right, who knows?  At least they use a trimpot, which shows they cared enough to make it possible to do right.

Here is a capacitor:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/C410C102J1G5TA7200/399-4448-1-ND/818305

You might say hey that looks like the cap that is already there.  And it might be, you don't know.  Ceramics come in many grades (they call them temperature coefficients), some have really low distortion (like C0G) and some are horrible (like X5R, etc.)  Many modders assume all ceramic caps are bad--they are wrong, but if you don't know which kind you have it's not expensive to replace the ones in critical spots.  I would measure distortion before and after, but I'm weird like that.  Many modders simply replace and then always claim they hear an improvement.

With SMT parts it's really easy to tell: the C0Gs are gray, the X5Rs (X7R, etc.) are brown.  I don't know why that is, but it holds across every brand I've tried.  So if you have a gray one in the audio path, no worries.  Also if you have a brown one that is a filter cap, no worries there either.  Brown in signal path is probably bad.

Jon,
Thanks again this information is super helpful although  a bit over my head.
Upon looking for the .22uf film capacitors I found many , many options,  here:
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?vendor=0&keywords=.22uf+Metal+Film+Panasonic+
I found this one
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/ECQ-V1H224JL/P4667-ND/144461
Which the novice in me seem to fit the bill, as it's for   50VDC
which I thought was closest to the 48vdc phantom power... is there a better one?

Also without an  oscilloscope is there an easy way to generate 1-2VRMS signal source (1kHz sine) to the input?

Though I think I'm lost after that, should I even attempt to adjust the trimpot?

I've got a nice Tektronix DMM 252 Multimeter, but it's not that fancy.

I just received the mics yesterday and have not yet taken one apart to see and confirm that they are the same as the MXL603's.

which I will do soon and try to post pics too.

any further information is , of course helpful.

thanks
--Ian

[ArchivalAudio]

You can find test tones via Google, send them out your DAC and calibrate the level with your multimeter set on VAC.

Thanks  Jon,


Here are some pics.
It doesn't look like there is a trim-pot.
also the C-# & C-4 caps look very tiny and brown, not like the MXL's
Also the C-13 cap is similar small and brown squarish and soldiered to the top of the PC board.

I can see the PC board does indeed have MXLMics.com - or similar on it up near the top by the capsule mounting end.

Wondering if removing the screen and cutting out the "fins" behind the capsule would or might make a difference in the way the capsules sound?  I know this is a trick used on some other mics to open up the sound.
Thoughts?

Photos:
unopened box with extra capsules boxes:


Opened box: 


Close up of box contents:
 

Opened up mic and PC board:   
 


Modding these could be fun! 


--Ian

[Chuck]

The guts do look similiar to the CAD GXL 12000 and MXL 603. But some of those components are surface mount which can make modding them trickier.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

$10 off code for new customers:

http://slickdeals.net/f/6602326-monoprice-coupon-additional-savings-for-10-off-your-first-purchase-of-30-or-more-new-customers