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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: TheImplodingVoice on May 15, 2019, 04:06:44 PM

Title: RadioShack tie-clip microphones
Post by: TheImplodingVoice on May 15, 2019, 04:06:44 PM

I own a pair of RadioShack tie-clip microphones from almost 20 years ago.
They came with a button-cell battery box (1.5 V).
They sound nice pwoered by the 3 V of the Sony M10 plug-in power.
Still, I think they can benefit from more voltage.
I have the specs for the mics from RadioShack, however they do not state the required Voltage.
Is there any way I can find out the optimum voltage required for these microphones?

Thank you

Title: Re: RadioShack tie-clip microphones
Post by: TheImplodingVoice on May 15, 2019, 04:46:37 PM

Here are the specs:

Current Drain:  Less than 2.0 mA
Impedance (at 1,000 Hz) .... 1k Ohms +/- 30%
Sensitivity (at 1,000 Hz) .... -65dB +/- 4 dB

Title: Re: RadioShack tie-clip microphones
Post by: Perry on May 15, 2019, 06:40:00 PM

I can't speak to your mics but I've run similar mics as high as 12vdc with no problems. But I don't think there was much to be gained by exceeding 9vdc.

Title: Re: RadioShack tie-clip microphones
Post by: MIQ on May 20, 2019, 03:51:39 AM

Increasing the power supply voltage allows the mics to handle louder sound sources.  Are you running into the mics overloading at loud performances? 

Generally, the way these mics fail is you pass too much current though them.  As long as you make use the load Resistor between the supply and the capsule FET large enough, you can’t easily hurt the mics.  For 3V it should be about 3000 (3k) ohms, for 5V it should be about 5000 (5k) Ohms, 9V = 9k, etc...  If you get a battery box with a higher voltage (more than 3V), it should have the right load resistor since they don’t want to hurt anyone’s mics. 

Title: Re: RadioShack tie-clip microphones
Post by: dogmusic on June 17, 2019, 08:57:50 AM

Quote from: MIQ on May 20, 2019, 03:51:39 AM

Increasing the power supply voltage allows the mics to handle louder sound sources.  Are you running into the mics overloading at loud performances? 

Generally, the way these mics fail is you pass too much current though them.  As long as you make use the load Resistor between the supply and the capsule FET large enough, you can’t easily hurt the mics.  For 3V it should be about 3000 (3k) ohms, for 5V it should be about 5000 (5k) Ohms, 9V = 9k, etc...  If you get a battery box with a higher voltage (more than 3V), it should have the right load resistor since they don’t want to hurt anyone’s mics.

Would it hurt these mics if I ran them into the M10 with its plug-in power on AND also using their own button cell battery power on?