Topic: good pre/batt box for use with a rockboxed H320?

[allan]

I've got a H320 that I want to use with some sp cmc-8 mics, I cant get a hot enough signal out of the sp batt. box... any suggestions on a new box or is it possible to modify the one I have?

[fmaderjr]

If the battery box is not defective, a new one won't do any better. Battery boxes don't amplify.

A CA-9100 pre works great with the H320. Provides 20 dB clean gain for quiet stuff. You don't want to turn the H320's gain above 24 dB at most because then you get into digital gain.

The CA-9100 can also be helpful when recording very loud stuff, because people have reported that if you have to turn the H320 below -0.5 dB to keep the meters from going over 0 dB your recording might well clip anyway. Since the ST-9100 provides attenuation as well as gain, you can attenuate with the ST-9100 if necessary and keep the H320's gain from going below -0.5 dB.

[allan]

I need quite a bit extra gain so the CA-9100 may be just what I need. Thanks!

[su6oxone]

I need quite a bit extra gain so the CA-9100 may be just what I need. Thanks!

The 9100 has nice, clean gain and is a big improvement over a standard battery box.

[deadhoarse]

I've got a H320 that I want to use with some sp cmc-8 mics, I cant get a hot enough signal out of the sp batt. box... any suggestions on a new box or is it possible to modify the one I have?

Are you recording really quiet sources? The sp-cmc-8 mics are pretty hot, I can't recall ever having an issue with signal on my iriver (or dat, or edirol for that matter).

[sunjan]

I've got a H320 that I want to use with some sp cmc-8 mics, I cant get a hot enough signal out of the sp batt. box... any suggestions on a new box or is it possible to modify the one I have?

Are you recording really quiet sources? The sp-cmc-8 mics are pretty hot, I can't recall ever having an issue with signal on my iriver (or dat, or edirol for that matter).

Interesting! Deadhoarse, how much gain do you usually have to add in your iriver, going CMC-8>bbox>H320?

A CA-9100 pre works great with the H320. Provides 20 dB clean gain for quiet stuff.

IIUC; the CA-9100 provides 30dB of gain. Maybe fmaderjr doesn't regard the the last 10dB as clean though?! ;-)

[fmaderjr]

IIUC; the CA-9100 provides 30dB of gain. Maybe fmaderjr doesn't regard the the last 10dB as clean though?! ;-)

Incorrect! It is the ST-9000 that provides up to 30 db of gain.
The ST-9100 provides only 20, but has other features that make it more popular than the 9000.
Both are great preamps. The 9000 would be a good choice as well, especially if you think you could use more than 20 dB of gain.

[sunjan]

Sorry, my bad... I really wish that Chris would set up a web site with the specs for each model one day.
The post in the retail section can be hard to find sometimes:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,79928.0.html

[fmaderjr]

I really wish that Chris would set up a web site with the specs for each model one day.

Would be a great idea for Chris to do so. Also maybe online user manuals with some recommended settings depending on the conditions at the venue. We pretty much have to piece all this together by reading his posts here.

Love his equipment though. Can't beat the bang for the buck.