Topic: Church Audio STC-9100 Connectors & other mics

[pianogineer]

Hey Guys,

So I just ordered a STC-9100 with CA-14 cardiod combo from Church Audio -- really looking forward to this.

I ordered everything with 3.5 mm connectors. My question is, if I want to use my STC-9100 pre-amp with other microphones, what are my options?

The STC-9100 is obviously a single-ended amplifier. Is there any way to use the 9100 with 2 XLR mics (such as Audix M1280's or something similar). It seems like even if I got my Church gear with 2 x TB3M connectors, I still wouldn't be able to simply adapt to XLR, as it's still not a differential AMP.

Can the STC-9100 only be used with non-differential mics? Can I simply adapt my 3.5mm to 2 x XLR's, just grounding the (-) signal to each of the 2 mics and supplying phantom to the mic from the 9100?

The CA-14's should suit me fine for now, just thinking ahead...

[crazifyngers]

general answer is no you cannot power phantom mics with the 9100.  the current version of the 9100 gives you 9v and phantom is between 12-48v.

However, it is funny you should mention the audix m1280 mics. these mics can be run with a 9100 but not with the standard 1280 bodies.  chris makes "active" cables for the capsules of the 1280 mics.  There are other examples of certain mics being modified to run on plug in power.  some popular ones here are the 1280, akg ck9x series, and the nakamichi cm-300. the 1280 cables that chris sells are the same as his ca-11 cables but have the same sensitivity.  chris matches his capsules to his cables and he says that using ca-11 cables with 1280 caps will work but the signals may not be matched.  when he makes cables for the 1280 he matches them based on one capsule instead of two individual capsules.  Chris please correct me if i mispoke.

[sunjan]

Can the STC-9100 only be used with non-differential mics? Can I simply adapt my 3.5mm to 2 x XLR's, just grounding the (-) signal to each of the 2 mics and supplying phantom to the mic from the 9100?

The easiest workaround is probably: phantom mics>Denecke PS-2>CA-9100, but that would of course add another piece in your chain.

Apart from that, crazifyngers is absolutely right. Chris makes non-standard versions of his pre which are suitable for some mics only. I bought a custom mini-XLR version to power my AT853's.