Topic: Phantom Power for AT853s and AT943s

[Pieteker]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about powering my AT853s and AT943s. In my current setup, the mics are connected to a PIP Phantom Power Adapter, which then goes into the Zoom F3 recorder.

I’m trying to figure out whether I should use 24V or 48V phantom power for this configuration. Additionally, should I be using the Line In or Mic In on the Zoom F3 for this setup? Some have mentioned that 24V should be fine, but I’d appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

[Pieteker]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about powering my AT853s and AT943s. In my current setup, the mics are connected to a PIP Phantom Power Adapter, which then goes into the Zoom F3 recorder.

I’m trying to figure out whether I should use 24V or 48V phantom power for this configuration. Additionally, should I be using the Line In or Mic In on the Zoom F3 for this setup? Some have mentioned that 24V should be fine, but I’d appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

This is the Adapter Cable I'm using: https://immersivesoundscapes.com/earsight-pip-xlr-adapter/

[Chanher]

Sonically, you could use either 48v or 24v since the phantom adapter is stepping down the voltage to 9V no matter what is being fed to it.

Battery wise, 24v is better because it will drain your battery (or batteries) less quickly. Obviously very helpful when stealthing with internal batteries. I run my F3 almost exclusively with an external battery and when I run my at853rx's (hard wired to an at8533x phantom adapter) I switch it to 24v because why not *shrugs

Line In or Mic In will depend on how loud your source is, but I will personally say that almost all of the things we tape will benefit from Mic In. From what I've read here, the Line In is simply an attenuation (-20dB?) of the Mic In. If you find yourself stack taping a metal show it wouldn't hurt to set it to Line In to be safe, but I have done some pretty loud metal shows with my F3 using Mic In with no issues. YMMV and if it's an important show, it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side IMO.

There's lots of battery tests in the F3 thread, I recently did my own with some 7-8 year old AA Ni-MH rechargeables and I think I only got around 3 hours using the 24v setting. :/ I thought it would be better, but the rechargeables are quite old and have been used a lot. I will be ordering some Eneloop AA rechargeables sometime in the future and will post my 24v test results. I don't mind using Alkaline AA's for important shows, but the thought of not only spending money but then throwing something away for each show bugs me and if Eneloops can reliably give me the necessary time for most shows then I will use that option.

Off topic, but like a lot of us I have been following the Tascam FR-AV2 thread and I think it looks super cool and there's a good chance I will buy one someday because I'm a gearslut. The 3 AA's and 1/8th 5v PiP is obviously missing from the F3. But I already own an F3 and most importantly I love the sound of it; I still will want to buy a SECOND F3, shave down the excess plastic and remove the bulky metal caging for a super sleek stealth recorder and figure out some STUBBY xlr phantom adapters like the ones in the link you posted above. A shaved down F3 with stubby XLR phantom adapters will possibly be small and sleek enough for my needs and I know it will sound good. Hopefully the FR-AV2 will also sound good and we'll all have some great options.