Topic: DPA 406x series NO boost grids.

[beatkilla]

 I dont beleive these exist.Was going to try to modify the high boost grids by removing mort of the tube to leave mostly screen but the screen is to short.Anyone made anything that works?i dont want to run them with no grid.

[guysonic]

FWIW this is my personal experience.  Even completely removing the screen cap seems to have no effect on the basic uneven capsule response due to this being caused by the mic capsule still inside a brass tube, and facing the wall of that tube.  In other words, nothing except removing the actual brass tube surrounding the mic capsule has any real effect on making this mic natural (uncolored) sounding. 

[beatkilla]

I know you and others attempted removing the capsule from the tube but was too costly due to breaking some.Were you succesful in making a working pair?

[illconditioned]

I know you and others attempted removing the capsule from the tube but was too costly due to breaking some.Were you succesful in making a working pair?

I really don't get the benefit of removing the capsule from the tube.

The *frequency* response of the DPA  406x is flat.  I *think* the problem (of the high frequencies) of the DPA is due to the distortion *of the element*, and that may be due to the non-tensioned diaphragm (it just sits up against the backplate, insulated by a dielectric layer).

By the way, I've been looking into this design.  It seems a few others are using a rectangular diaphragm.  Sanken COS-11 ("vertical diaphragm", not sure about tension), Knowles acoustics (hearing aid mics, non tensioned diaphragm BT1759, first prototyped in the mid seventies), Lectrosonics TRAM 50 (rectangular, tension = ?).  I've found the Knowles sounds similar to the DPA, with a funny high end.  This one is not in a tube, just a flat 6mmx4mm element.  The Lectrosonics is the same size, but sounds a little better.  Perhaps there is some tension on that one?   I have not had time to evaluate Chris Church CA-1.  This is a flat element, same size as the DPA, and there is no tube.

This is certainly a topic worth investigating.  Just don't break your DPA!

  Richard

[beatkilla]

I compared what im hearing to a CSB recording made 2 feet away from mine and hear the same issue. A nasty breakup in some of the vocal peaks.maybe this is how it sounded thru the pa?But i notice this on other recordings ive stack taped at completely different venues as well.