Topic: AT853 caps fit onto AT831 bodies!???

[poorlyconditioned]

For some reason I tried an AT853 cap on an AT831 body and the threads fit!  The AT853 cap has a larger diameter than the body, but it seems to make a physical and electrical contact OK.

I have not tried any serious recording with these, but it sounds good in front of my speakers.  I'm going to record a few shows and report back here.  But I thought other (crazy!) people might be interested.

DISCLAIMER: Do not try this unless you know what you're doing!  I don't *think* there could be any damage, but who knows.  I don't want to be responsible for someone messing up their mics...

I don't know if there are any differences in the FET between the two mics or if it is just the caps.  But we do know that AT853 sound a lot better. So this might be a possible upgrade for current AT831 owners.  I know I'm going to play with them.

More later,
  Richard

[dhora]

Interesting. Keep us posted on the results.

+T for trying it out.

[poorlyconditioned]

Interesting. Keep us posted on the results.

+T for trying it out.

Hey, I just recorded a show, AT853H (hyper) caps on AT831 bodies.

The sound was good, the same as with the AT853 bodies.  But there *may* have been more self-noise in the mics, I can't really tell.  I was running line in into an HiMD minidisc (PCM mode) and the gain was set at maximum (30/30).  I can't tell whether the hiss was from the AT831 bodies or the minidisc gain.  Anyway, I think it needs more testing

  Richard

[kuba]

hmm... sounds promising 

[§†∑∫åµÞ≥¥]

The question is: will the 831 caps fit on the 853 bodies? It might solve the 853 omni shortage problem.

[poorlyconditioned]

The question is: will the 831 caps fit on the 853 bodies? It might solve the 853 omni shortage problem.

I haven't tried it, but I would guess they do.  They have the same thread. But, remember that AT831 are cards, not omni.  I think AT803 is the omni version similar to the AT831, but I have never actually seen one of these or tried switching them around.

My informal experience (so far) is that the capsules are what make the difference, so putting (cheap, widely available) AT853 caps might be a nice option for people who want to improve an AT831 setup.  I was skeptical, but having tried both, I now see that 853s are a lot nicer sounding than the 831s.  I bet there is a different diaphram in there.

As for getting omnis, I would like to know the definitive answer.  Are they discontinued, or just rare?  Perhaps someone should get the true answer from AT.

  Richard

[jeromejello]

As for getting omnis, I would like to know the definitive answer.  Are they discontinued, or just rare?  Perhaps someone should get the true answer from AT.

  Richard

the answer is this... they are discontinued.  as of 2 weeks ago AT had less then 60 AT853Ow-ELE available.  these are the WHITE omni caps.  i got a pair thanks to the help of the fine people at Alpha Sounds.  i had asked if there were other AT mics that had an omni cap that would fit the 853... well duh, there are 2 versions of the 853... black and white... some others on here got in on that too... if you want them, now is the time...

here is the thread were they were discussed:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=42613.0

[§†∑∫åµÞ≥¥]

As for getting omnis, I would like to know the definitive answer.  Are they discontinued, or just rare?  Perhaps someone should get the true answer from AT.

  Richard

the answer is this... they are discontinued.  as of 2 weeks ago AT had less then 60 AT853Ow-ELE available.  these are the WHITE omni caps.  i got a pair thanks to the help of the fine people at Alpha Sounds.  i had asked if there were other AT mics that had an omni cap that would fit the 853... well duh, there are 2 versions of the 853... black and white... some others on here got in on that too... if you want them, now is the time...

here is the thread were they were discussed:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=42613.0

yep, i need to order these stat!