Topic: Question for NAK mic owners...

[hexyjones]

Look at the tip of the mic under a good light or flashlight...can you see the actual holes in the mic capsule(under the screen)? Or are you unable to see past the screen...?

I've noticed on some you can see through to the capsule -  and some you cant see past the screen.

[Patrick]

Looking down on my CM300, shining a flashlight on it, I can't see past the screen on the capsule. 

What mic were you looking at?

[hexyjones]

I have been collecting the "Primo" manufactured mics for a while now...Primo is the OEM on the 100 and 300.

I have a pair of TEAC ME-120s that you cannot see past the screen.

But -

I have a pair of TASCAM PE-120s that have some other very thin mesh material under the screen - and you can see the actual holes in the capsules.

They are the same mic with different labels...just wondering if there was any variance in the NAK line...?

I've also noticed that some of the little cardioid icons on the tip of the mic are different sizes...

The TEACs sound more like I would expect NAKs to sound...

The TASCAMS - I think are more open and transparent.

In the 70s the hi-fi industry was prone to using materials that would not age gracefully - think of all the rotted foam surrounds you've seen on old speakers...

The capsules that you cant see through - might have some sort of foam under the tip...this might also affect the sound - especially if that foam has begun to rot.

I had one TEAC ME-80 (I think this one only came with the card cap) that - whatever - was under the screen had rotted to the point that it would come out of the tip of the mic like pepper! I removed the screen - and GASP! - used a vacumm cleaner to sweep out the  stuff that had fallen through the holes in the capsule (on to the diaphragm) - seems to be fine...

Just wondering if anyone has seen anything like this in the NAKs?

Pics to follow...

[hexyjones]

This was hard to capture in photos - the effect is much more obvious to the naked eye...

[jimmc]

Interesting.....  I'll have to check on mine also.

[Patrick]

Hmm, all that is very interesting.  Like I said, I have never experienced that with my Naks.

[shaggy]

Different production runs, mate.  I have seen it with CP701 caps too, there the holes before the diaphram are different.  In CP4 caps I have noticed differences in the color plastic used for the tube, quite subtle and not do to aging or wear.  Since Nak contracted it out to Primo, I suspect they had little control over these differences in specs between runs.

ANDY

[ts]

I have been collecting the "Primo" manufactured mics for a while now...Primo is the OEM on the 100 and 300.

I have a pair of TEAC ME-120s that you cannot see past the screen.

But -

I have a pair of TASCAM PE-120s that have some other very thin mesh material under the screen - and you can see the actual holes in the capsules.

They are the same mic with different labels...just wondering if there was any variance in the NAK line...?

I've also noticed that some of the little cardioid icons on the tip of the mic are different sizes...

The TEACs sound more like I would expect NAKs to sound...

The TASCAMS - I think are more open and transparent.

In the 70s the hi-fi industry was prone to using materials that would not age gracefully - think of all the rotted foam surrounds you've seen on old speakers...

The capsules that you cant see through - might have some sort of foam under the tip...this might also affect the sound - especially if that foam has begun to rot.

I had one TEAC ME-80 (I think this one only came with the card cap) that - whatever - was under the screen had rotted to the point that it would come out of the tip of the mic like pepper! I removed the screen - and GASP! - used a vacumm cleaner to sweep out the  stuff that had fallen through the holes in the capsule (on to the diaphragm) - seems to be fine...

Just wondering if anyone has seen anything like this in the NAKs?

Pics to follow...

My take is it's all about the thin foam piece under the mesh screen. If the foam hasn't rotted, you can't see the holes. If it's rotted and gone, the holes are visible. Simple but what effect does it have if any.

[hexyjones]

The pictures arent good enough really -

The TASCAM capsule is definitely not rotted...the material under the screen is different...a fine thin mesh - closer to pop filter material.

It seems more like a minor difference in the way the capsules are built...

Im really tempted to pluck the screen off one of my TEACs to see whats under there.( assuming it would be the same stuff in the NAK)

I do have the screen off one of the other TEAC ME-80 caps - but thats the one that was rotted...but for the record - I have two other ME-80s that have the screens that you cant see through. I think the TEACs are older than the TASCAMS as well...

Maybe some other NAK owners will chime in...

I agree with the different production runs idea - just curious if anyone has observed the above variations in the NAK line...

[tms]

I have been collecting the "Primo" manufactured mics for a while now...Primo is the OEM on the 100 and 300.

I removed the screen - and GASP! - used a vacumm cleaner to sweep out the  stuff that had fallen through the holes in the capsule (on to the diaphragm) - seems to be fine...

How did you remove the screen?  Is it possible to pop off the screen, vacuum out the element, and put the screen back on?