Topic: Countryman mic questions

[dmonkey]

I've got a friend interested in getting back into the taping game. He just bought an M10 and is now looking for some mics for stealth taping at a reasonable price. I've played samples of the Church Audio stuff and the Countryman B3's. He's taped stuff with my DPA 4060s before and liked the results, so he's leaning toward the Countryman product. I've searched the forum here but I'm having trouble finding what I need. So...here are my questions...

by the way, he's interested in taping mostly loud stuff in stealth environment (metal, punk, etc.)

(1) (sanity check question) It's the B3 model that he'd want to get, right? I see there's a B3 and B6 model, but I think I've seen most folks talk about the B3.
(2) Is there a high/low sensitivity option with these (like the DPA's)? If so, what's generally recommended?
(3) Where do most folks buy these mics? Recommended vendors? I seem to recall some folks saying they're available unterminated (pigtail) -- where can I get those?
(4) He'd probably want to wire them both to a single mini stereo plug for use with the M10. Who can do the termination service?
(5) Will these mics work well with loud music powered by plug-in-power from M10 only? Or is preamp needed?

Thanks!

[rastasean]

1) Yes, its the b3s that get used around here.

2) There are two versions, with one at -10 http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=138486.msg1795022#msg1795022

3) I recommend calling full compass* and you could be able to get two separate unterminated ones for just under $300, but don't forget to check ebay as well. The only issue with ebay is that it will most likely already be terminated to something for wireless packs which leads to question four...

4) sound professionals can do the mod: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-ATMIC-MODIF
if you go the ebay route, maybe they can unterminate and re-terminate for the same price.

5) The mics will work well with plug in power from the m10. If you want to run with a pre-amp, you can get Naiant's PFA: http://naiant.com/naiant/inlinedevices.html

*full compass will take about two weeks delivery and to save postage, perhaps it could be directly mailed to SP....if you want it modded from them.

[scoper]

I bought a set of the B3's on Ebay a few weeks ago... Sound Professionals did the miniplug connection (including the resistors to lower sensitivity). No problems, results were great... these are really nice mics!

[rastasean]

I bought a set of the B3's on Ebay a few weeks ago... Sound Professionals did the miniplug connection (including the resistors to lower sensitivity). No problems, results were great... these are really nice mics!

May I ask how much you paid and if they are normal sensitivity or -10?

[dmonkey]

Cool! Thanks everybody.