I saw that theses sennheisers can handle 138db SPL without a battery box.....Is a battery box necessary since they can handle such high levels by themselves? Anyone have experience?
Hello,
As far as I'm concerned they can handle really loud rock concerts, no mods, no issues. I've been taping loud to very loud concerts but always using a regular BB with my R-09HR Line In (MM sells a really small bb, same size as a Zippo lighter). No distortion at all. Great mics all around.
Take care
My measurements at 1k at 114 db unmodified indicate a distortion of almost 8% Now that's at 1k at lower frequencies I suspect that percentage would increase dramatically. They dont need a mod for some things.. But if you are in a loud concert they should be modified and never run with out a battery box. And besides that you will want to always use a foam in front of the capsule as there is no proper protection for fine Derbies from entering the front of the capsule and depositing them selves on the diaphragm or worse damaging the diaphragm part of my mod I put a fine brass mesh in front of the capsule so that the diaphragm is protected and RF shielded.
I might be a very lucky guy. I've never had any problems with my pair. Even at very loud concerts. You're correct about the foam protection.
Unless you measure db levels at the shows you go to with a calibrated db meter you might not be in as loud of a show as you think you are.
Chris
Well, Chris, I've been to terribly loud concerts for decades.
My ears are a very good tool to measure loudness. As longs as my recordings sound fine, I'm OK.
You might be right about the meter, but if a particular show starts to hurt my ears, well, I don't care about my mics or distortion, I care about my ears. In that case, I should not be there in the first place.
Take care