Topic: Converting Schoeps KC5 cables to separate KCY and AK I cables

[hi and lo]

This is a project I'm genuinely interested in making happen. As I see it, I can purchase the genuine Schoeps junction boxes from Vark and 5-pin Binder connectors from Binder to convert a single pair of KC5 cables into separate KCY and AK I cables at a significant cost savings. I could also optimize the cable length of any unbalanced runs I make between capsule and cmc body, so I do see a minor benefit in that area, assuming proper shielding at connectors between the two cables.

So, my questions are:

1) Has anyone done this before and would there by any considerations I am overlooking? Other than identifying a correct value for the capacitor inside the junction box on the KCY (we know Vark omits this; unsure if a genuine AK I cable would have one), it seems this conversion is nothing more than a trivial re-wiring job.
2) Can anyone explain why using a KCY + AK I combo it results in a +5dB increase in sensitivity? Why would this not be the case when using a straight KC5 between the capsule and CMC body?

TIA for any useful info!

[H₂O]

Call redding directly - they can sell you parts (only parts) and have already put a list of required parts - as I asked them to do this for me in the past.  I never followed through as I ended up selling my beater KC5's before I decided to pull the trigger.

I would think the best route to go is to take a KS5i and KC5 pair + additional parts to make this happen. 

I don't know exactly why there is a +5 db increase in a real KCY>AKI setup - maybe the circuit is slightly different

[F.O.Bean]

Neat idea for sure. I wonder if my KCY>Lemosax setup has a +5 increase in sensitivity

And lets not forget that SchoepsNBox can make you a cable to go from mkxx>nbox cable>pfa>any +48v preamp

[page]

Neat idea for sure. I wonder if my KCY>Lemosax setup has a +5 increase in sensitivity

it's something in the AK setup as far as I can tell, thats where they mention the signal differences in their online literature.

paging mr.satz.

[F.O.Bean]

But arent trhe AKI cables just binder>binder extensions Because I had Robb make me a 15' KCY Binder>Binder extension. Isnt that the same thing

[page]

But arent trhe AKI cables just binder>binder extensions Because I had Robb make me a 15' KCY Binder>Binder extension. Isnt that the same thing

http://www.schoeps.de/en/products/aki2c

it's the binder > cmc body piece.

[noahbickart]

And lets not forget that SchoepsNBox can make you a cable to go from mkxx>nbox cable>pfa>any +48v preamp

Any idea what he is charging for just the nbox cables?

[acidjack]

And lets not forget that SchoepsNBox can make you a cable to go from mkxx>nbox cable>pfa>any +48v preamp

Any idea what he is charging for just the nbox cables?

Uh, is he even offering that?  Just because he can doesn't mean he will.

[hi and lo]

The NBox/PFA solution is amazing, no question about it. But reagardless of whether or not they are available individually, the better question to be asking is how well the solution will work using genuine Schoeps made cables. Solutions I can think of include...

- A custom made PFA for the KCY cable. Will cost about $200 to do it right with genuine Schoeps colette cable and a junction box, but will be the most incredibly useful cable ever and will be build to last a lifetime.

- Unterminated MK connectors and having them hard-wired to individual PFAs. This solution would be like having two "CCM" microphones, but with interchangeable cables. Completely badass if you ask me and probably a good bit cheaper than the KCY solution because there are no junction boxes or Binder connectors. This also allows you to run each channel individually and, of course, directly into any mixer or recorder with p48.

- If you've got a complete KC 5 cable, you could also just hack it in half and run into individual PFA's using Binder or Mini XLR connectors while still being able to run with CMC bodies as a complete KC 5 cable. That's a lot like Nola has his active cables setup and is pretty ingenious.

I think I may very well have to be the guinea pig on some of this stuff. Very curious to know if there are any noticeable performance differences between the KCY and Nbox FET designs when used with the PFA. If the standard Schoeps works as well as the Nbox variant, it's certainly the more accessible option.

[noahbickart]

Given that I've already got a Vark KCY and various extension cables- I'd love a PFA solution. My Sense was that Jon wasn't interested in doing that.

[jbell]

The NBox/PFA solution is amazing, no question about it. But reagardless of whether or not they are available individually, the better question to be asking is how well the solution will work using genuine Schoeps made cables. Solutions I can think of include...

- A custom made PFA for the KCY cable. Will cost about $200 to do it right with genuine Schoeps colette cable and a junction box, but will be the most incredibly useful cable ever and will be build to last a lifetime.

- Unterminated MK connectors and having them hard-wired to individual PFAs. This solution would be like having two "CCM" microphones, but with interchangeable cables. Completely badass if you ask me and probably a good bit cheaper than the KCY solution because there are no junction boxes or Binder connectors. This also allows you to run each channel individually and, of course, directly into any mixer or recorder with p48.

- If you've got a complete KC 5 cable, you could also just hack it in half and run into individual PFA's using Binder or Mini XLR connectors while still being able to run with CMC bodies as a complete KC 5 cable. That's a lot like Nola has his active cables setup and is pretty ingenious.

I think I may very well have to be the guinea pig on some of this stuff. Very curious to know if there are any noticeable performance differences between the KCY and Nbox FET designs when used with the PFA. If the standard Schoeps works as well as the Nbox variant, it's certainly the more accessible option.

The MK connectors wired to a PFA would be awesome!!  I'm not sure Jon would offer this, but wouldn't hurt to ask so I sent an email to see if this is possible.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

I don't know exactly why there is a +5 db increase in a real KCY>AKI setup - maybe the circuit is slightly different

The bodies are balanced, the KCY is not.  That explains +4 dB.  I believe the cmc5/6 may add an additional 1dB of gain, but am uncertain.

[jbell]

Where would you be able to purchse MK connectors??  Vark Audio or would there be a better place.

[page]

Where would you be able to purchse MK connectors??  Vark Audio or would there be a better place.

If I were going to do this, I'd contact three places; Redding, Posthorn, and Vark. We know Vark can make them, not sure on the others although they do sell all the little pieces and parts needed to do it. Other than skipping the junction box and binder plug, I'm not sure what else you'd get for a price reduction, the rest of the cable is the same as a KCY. $100 discount maybe? Better than nothing, especially given the following:

If I had separate access to the "power" (drain) pins of each KC, then the PFA could be balanced input.  The KCY has the drains wired together so that's not possible.  The PFA output is always balanced, and you get +6dB from that.

One of the most facinating aspects of this would be the potential to have long cmc-less runs. Have your unballanced section be like 3', put the PFA and then a long balanced run back to wherever you need. Not sure it would be much lower profile than just running bodies since you end up with 2 full sized XLR barrels for the adaptors (hanging, nearby, somewhere), but if you don't have bodies, it would make a nice temp solution if you need a long run.

[hi and lo]

Posthorn has MK Connectors listed:

KC Cap End   KC-- Capsule-side complete only, no cable.   $296.00

Someone would need to inquire with Jerry or Redding about what you actually get when you purchase one of these; I assume if there is no cable, then it probably is not assembled as well. Nevertheless, raw colette cable is $8/ft meter and I'm sure Vark would wire them up at reasonable prices. Is it a savings? I dunno... you'll probably get bigger savings simply by finding a lightly used pair of KC 5s and chopping them in half.

I just paid Jon for the first to KCY/KC PFAs. He's sending them to me unterminated and I will buy bulk colette cable and a junction box to make the first KCY PFA. This should be a fun experiment!