Topic: Matched Pair or UnMatched TLs?

[Diggin]

I was going to buy Justin '"O"'s matched pair but when he told me his wife gave him the okay to keep them I would be the nice guy and just let him refund me.

I can get a pair of unmatched TLs for 650 or a matched pair for 800

just wondering what you think I should do?

[Diggin]

whoops, wrong forum, please move

[pfife]

Most of the things I have read is that ADK's QC is good enough that unmatched pairs are going to be close to matched anyways...

And, by most accounts, you might not be able to notice the difference anyways...


Mine are matched, but I think they are completely awesome.  Great mics.

[Craig T]

In theory, you should go with the matched to ensure you have even coloration across both channels.  In practice, I doubt you'd ever notice if you went with the unmatched pair.  I ran an unmatched pair of the older version TL's and I never noticed a difference in sound between the 2 mics.  When the new version came out with Larry claiming they sounded even better, I went with a matched pair because I'm the type of guy who thinks too hard about stupid details like matching (stupid considering what we are taping, I mean are the PA's channels "matched"?).

What are you planning to run behind the TL's?

Craig.

[Diggin]

I will be running W-Mod UA-5 > JB3 or Laptop depending on venue

[Craig T]

I will be running W-Mod UA-5 > JB3 or Laptop depending on venue

cool, another one.  great rig.  you will be pleased.

[pfife]

I will be running W-Mod UA-5 > JB3 or Laptop depending on venue

cool, another one.  great rig.  you will be pleased.

Same as mine, as well.  Welcome, brother.

+t

[Diggin]

thank you, it has been ordered, they are coming friday just in time to see some good bands this weekend
+t to you guys for helping

[pfife]

thank you, it has been ordered, they are coming friday just in time to see some good bands this weekend
+t to you guys for helping

Did you get the matched, or unmatched?

[Diggin]

unmatched, figured it wasn't worth the $150 extra

[Diggin]

Well I ran them today TL > WMod UA5 > Laptop and JB3
damn nice sounding, now if only the soundboard guys could keep the levels correct....Vocals went out a few minutes in and they turned up everything else to compenstate for a minute or 2.  then vocals came back and everything was distorted so I had to keep adjusting my levels every time they did theirs

[jpschust]

fwiw in cases like that i make sure to set my levels lower than normal and just leave them there.  when im doing field taping im not a foh engineer- i wanna enjoy the show and just let my tapes roll

[Diggin]

there were set perfect at first but then the sbd people adjusted like crazy so I didn't want it distorted.

Thanks for the tip, i will do that next time

[save]

thanks for being so understanding about my situation +T!  good luck w/ your new mics you're gonna love them

[BC]

In theory, you should go with the matched to ensure you have even coloration across both channels.  In practice, I doubt you'd ever notice if you went with the unmatched pair.  I ran an unmatched pair of the older version TL's and I never noticed a difference in sound between the 2 mics.  When the new version came out with Larry claiming they sounded even better, I went with a matched pair because I'm the type of guy who thinks too hard about stupid details like matching (stupid considering what we are taping, I mean are the PA's channels "matched"?).

What are you planning to run behind the TL's?

Craig.

Hey Craig,

I don't think this is a stupid detail at all. Sure, the PA system is not stereo "matched". But since your mics are, when you get home and listen after the show you can hear exactly how unmatched it was! I personally like to get matched pairs also, I think even small level differences on the order of a dB or so can audibly pull the stereo image to one side or the other. (yeah I admit it, I am an imaging freak!!    )

Take care,
Ben

[Diggin]

how can I make a test for how far off they are?
I know I read at one time how but after doing a search I don't find anything

thanks for your help

[BC]

how can I make a test for how far off they are?
I know I read at one time how but after doing a search I don't find anything

thanks for your help

I have not done this but I think the following should work:

1) Hook up your laptop rig with just 1 mic connected. Likewise just hook up 1 speaker out of your stereo system. Place mic in front of this speaker.

2) play test tones at a variety of frequencies. I would set the combination of playback volume and preamp level to be peaking at ~-5 dB to allow headroom for frequency response anomalies in speakers and mics while attaining max possible dynamic range for your measurement. I would crank the volume to a point where you do not have to max your pre out to get decent levels, if possible. Also make sure the speakers are not so loud they are distorting.

Write down what the peak levels are at the different frequencies.

3) repeat with the other mic. Make sure positioning is EXACTLY the same as for the 1st mic.

4) compare the two measurements.

I am not sure if this measurement is sensitive enough to detect very small differences in mic sensitivity, though I would think anything over a dB or so would show up.

Alternatively you could hook up both mics and place them side by side, make sure they are symmetric with respect to the drivers of your speakers. Then you can measure both at the same time. I think it is very important to make sure both mics are seeing the same volume from the speaker, which is why the geometry of how you set up the mics with respect to one another and the speaker is critical.

Anyone else have other suggestions?

Good luck,
Ben