Topic: AT853's

[nihilistic0]

I've been using a set of AT853's for several years now, and I've generally been pretty happy with them. The distortion at high SPL's hasn't really been a big issue, with most of my recordings only experiencing little or no distortion at all. I've gotten pickier though, and I think it's time to mod them and take care of the distortion issue once and for all.

I've done a bit of research reading over older threads, but I'm not exactly sure what the best route would be. Could I just mod the mics to mini-xlr's, and run it directly into a recorder like this? If so, are there any comparable recorders I should also consider? Barring that, what would be the most economical way to go about things? I'd also like to keep the amount of equipment I have to use when recording to a minimum.

[ashevillain]

Could I just mod the mics to mini-xlr's, and run it directly into a recorder like this?

Yes, although you need some phantom power adapters in there as well.

[nihilistic0]

Could you elaborate? Why would I need one?


edit: Could I just get a naiant PFA, and plug my mics as-is into it? Or would I still need to mod the mics?

[SmokinJoe]

Plugging your mics into a PFA as is doesn't eliminate the distortion concern.

I see three options...
1) Get the 4.7k mod (costs about $50).  That eliminates distortion, but lowers the sensitivity by about 12db or something.  Still use the batt box, you would need more gain on the JB3.
2) Get a little preamp like a Church Audio ST9100, or a Naiant Tinybox, and get the mics terminated 3 wire hookup for that pre.  This is probably a $200 upgrade, but it handles your gain as well.
3) if you wanted to get the mics wired to phantom adapters like original AT8533x, you might find a pair for $50 or $100 where someone cut them off to make a set of mics wired to a minijack. Now you need a phantom powered preamp to go with them, which costs money.

If you did option 1 or 2, the next upgrade might be to buy another small recorder which has better preamp, like a Sony M10, Roland R05, etc to replace the JB3.  The meters will be much better.  There is a the Denecke AD-20 which has been in the yardsale for a year, which takes a miniplug, and outputs an optical signal.  This would go nicely between the battery box and JB3 if you felt like going that route.

[Myco]

I have the AT8533x's, and if you have a more compacted option, I'd recommend going with that. They're awkward due to their size, but they do a good job.

[yltfan]

I have the 4.7 mod and a CA-9100, that's a winning combination!

[yltfan]

And there's a 1/8" in 9100 in the Yard Sale for $100!

[paulbaptiste]

Personally i wouldn't bother getting a 9100 with the 4.7k mod.  You lose 12db on the mics and the 9100 only provides 20db of gain.  So after the mod the 9100 just gives you 8db of gain and IMO a waste of money.  That money would be much better spent on a new deck like the Sony M10 which has very nice preamps and clean gain, def. upgrade from the JB3.

[Cheesecadet]

Kinda of a random question, but i have a pair of AT853's that are terminated mini-XLRs...does that mean that they are wired 3-wire?

The reason I ask is because i run them into a tinybox via the Dual miniXLR to 6-pin miniXLR breakout cable that Jon built for me.  I noticed on one recording that I had a very minor tinge of distortion.

I assumed if they were mini XLR terminated that that is 3 wire...is that correct???

Thanks

(Don't mean to hijack thread, just curious about this - Feel free to PM me instead of clttering this thread if you like)

[paulbaptiste]

Yes they "should" be 3 wire as that is how they are terminated by Audio Technica

[nihilistic0]

Thanks for all the replies.

I actually currently have a Tascam DR-05, but I'm perfectly OK with selling it and getting something nicer with a decent preamp built in.  Getting the 4.7k mod with an R-05 or something seems to be most appealing option. 


As far as phantom power goes though, the AT8533x's seem  bit unwieldy, but I can't find that much info on them. Would they serve the same function as the Naiant PFA, or is there something particular about the AT8533x's? Would it be possible to run 4.7k>PFA/AT8533x>recorder w/ phantom power? If I could eliminate the need for a battery box, and just worry about mics and a recorder, then that would be ideal.

[paulbaptiste]

Lots of options.  If you wanna stay small just send them off to Robb and get the 4.7k mod. 
No need for the mod if your gonna run off of phantom power.  You could just terminate the mics with p48 adapters; no distortion. 
Or get a standard set of 853 that still are terminated in minixlrs, and a set of phantom adapters like the AT's mentioned.  Then you could run them phantom, or off of plug in power with an m10 ect. Have Robb or Ted build you a Y cable with the 4.7 mod build in>minixlrs to 1/8th stereo jack.  Then you could run them anyway you wanted to.

I'm pretty sure i have a set of 853 bodies with 25' cables, terminated in minixlrs if you just wanted to trade also.  Got phantom adapters also, or AT8531 battery boxes that you can power them with, and will also work off phantom power. 

Hope that didn't confuse you 

[nihilistic0]

Hope that didn't confuse you 

Ha, yea. That's the reason why I seem to have trouble figuring out exactly what I can do and what the results will be. A ton of options, and some things that seem to contradict each other.

A poster above said that getting a naiant PFA would work, but wouldn't do anything for the distortion. You're saying terminating to adapters will take care of the distortion. I'm assuming you're talking about hardwiring them, and not just plugging in an adapter? Does hardwiring them alter the wiring in such a way that makes them suitable, but not a PFA?


edit: Reading a little more closely, I think I missed or misunderstood part of what you wrote. So I would need the mics terminated to xlr AND an xlr power adapter, and this will give me distortion free phantom power? Is there any solution that could combine the 2?

[Myco]

Below is the info on the AT8533x's. I have them hard-wired to my mic's, so unfortunately, I don't have the option currently of using the Y-cable method of interchanging the input type between XLR's and a 1/8" connector.

The Audio Technica AT8533X is an in-line cylindrical power supply designed for use with the AT and RX series boundary microphones. The unit is designed to supply 9 to 52V phantom power and features A low frequency roll-off switch which minimizes structure and wind noise. The unit features screw terminal input connectors and a standard 3-pin XLR-male output connector. These are not available new any longer.

Power  9-52 Volts Phantom Power 
Switches  2-position: Low-Frequency Roll-Off / Flat 
Input Connections  Screw Terminals 
Output Connectors  3-pin XLR-male 
Dimensions  3.58 x 0.83" (91 x 21mm) (Length x Diameter) 
Weight  2.1 oz (60 grams)

[Cheesecadet]

Yes they "should" be 3 wire as that is how they are terminated by Audio Technica

I sent mine to Tgakidis to have him remove the single 1/8" mini plug and terminate them in Mini-XLRs.  Is there a way that I can easily check to see if they are actually 3-Wired?

Also, are you saying that mini-XLR terminated 853s are not necessarily 3-wire terminated?  I thought that Mini XLR had to be wired 3-wire since there is a shield, hot, and ground pins that are connected???  Now I'm confusing myself.