Topic: Busman BA-SR1 stereo ribbon: to Lundahl or not to Lundahl

[notlance]

I really like the Busman BA-SR1 stereo ribbon mic, which I have owned for a couple of years.  It is the version with the stock Chinese transformers.  I have always wondered if it was worth the extra $200 for the Lundahl transformers.  Since I "needed" another stereo ribbon, I decided to get the new one with the Lundahl transformers.  So here are two files, one recorded with a BA-SR1 with Chinese transformers, the other with a BA-SR1 with Lundahl transformers.  You decide which you like best.

Mic A:  http://www.4shared.com/audio/4fxtNN_X/4a_Trio_Op_9.html
Mic B:  http://www.4shared.com/audio/UNJut7_S/4b_Trio_Op_9.html

The mics were on the same stand, the same hight, the same distance from the performers, and 11cm apart laterally.  The recorder was a Sound Devices 788T.  I used mic inputs 1 - 4 which were linked together so that gains were matched to within 0.1dB.  Recorded 24bit/44.1kHz.

[page]

oooo
thanks.

[F.O.Bean]

First off, they both sound great! Secondly, I prefer 4b. It has an overall balance and musicality to it that 4a is lacking

[NorseHorse]

I prefer sample B, mostly because of the lower noise floor.  It also seems to have a smoother top end.

Thank you for sharing.

[choros]

Which was which? Which one had the lower noise floor? I didn't sign up to 4shared to listen yet but I'm debating whether to get Lundahl or not and will if it has lower noise. Thanks! 

[raymonda]

I have not listen to your samples but will say out of the gate that upgrading the transformer to a Lundahl should greatly improve your mic. Go for it!

[tubems]

so which is which?  im actaully about to get one or the other in that i do not have access to a royer anymore.

have been figuring out my gain with one of these as well and was looking at a cloudlifter which has recieved favorable reviews for adding 20-25 db of clean gain being powered by 48v of a preamp, basically making a ribbon a phantom mic (yes it is 48v protected to not blast out the ribbons).

well, hope to hear more about these.