Topic: Dilemma : AT853's>AD-20 or PS-2

[Semayat]

Hi,

I may have a brand new job soon ( ) and i would love to make myself a present 
I use AT831's>batt box>IHP-120, and i love the sound. I just bought a CA STC-11>pre-amp combo in the YS that i need to test (in a week at the reggae sundance)
But i would love to get a new rig.
I do not have any skills in that domain (electronics terms and all) that's why i need your help guys.

I am trying to get some comments on these alternative rigs. What could be the best?

AT853>phantom power adapter>PS-2>IHP120  OR
AT853>AD-20>IHP-120

I've read that in the "favorite stealth cardioids" :

I have had a chance to use a variety of equipment AT853, AT933, AT944, KM140, 4023...  A lot of people complain about lack of bass on low cost rigs.  And this is true, most low cost rigs have terrible bass response.  I've used a couple different SP batt boxes and the CA-9100; all I can say is that running the AT mics under phantom power is one of the best improvements you can make to the sound quality of these rigs.  Anyone who is using a 9V battery box should look at moving to phantom power set-up.  If you take a look through the Team Audio Technica thread you'll see a lot of similar comments from other tapers.  A phantom rig does not add much cost either.

I am really interested in the 1st alternative, but if anyone have opposite feedbacks, i'll consider them.

Thanks a lot in advance
Semayat

[plogan]

I currently use At853's > Beyer mv-100 > minidisc...I have to get the mv-100 modded to dial the attenuator, but for stealthing, word has it that Church has an awesome pre, small and stealthy. Of course, I wouldn't reccomend a recorder, that's all to your personal liking and ability to conceal. The mv-100 is small enough for stealthing, but Church audio offers smaller stuff, check out his site. Good luck, btw, I have no problems with the bass with those mics at all. Pat

[j.mart]

get phantom. ATs love it.

[nameloc01]

if you are getting 853s you absolutely MUST get phantom power.seriously. either the ps-2 or the AT power modules.
if you dont you are going to have problems ( unless you use a 3 wireBB,which isnt as good as a phantom setup)

[Semayat]

Tks a lot guys....that's what i thought

Is a PS-2 + phantom module set up be as steathable as a preamp
Is that PS-2 be as big as a CA preamp of bigger
If so, i guess i'll jump on one as soon as i got my new job....

I do not find so much informations on :
- Do AT853's with phantom power give a good bass response??? (I love the bass )
- How long will the battery will power the AT853 mics (I've seen 5-38 hours depending on mics)

Tks again for any inputs.
Semayat

[George]

I would highly recommend a chris church preamp with mini xlr ends (i'm assuming your mics terminate to mini xlr).

If you want the smallest rig possible that sounds good, skip the other stuff, it'll just weigh down on you.

[Church-Audio]

Hi,

I may have a brand new job soon ( ) and i would love to make myself a present 
I use AT831's>batt box>IHP-120, and i love the sound. I just bought a CA STC-11>pre-amp combo in the YS that i need to test (in a week at the reggae sundance)
But i would love to get a new rig.
I do not have any skills in that domain (electronics terms and all) that's why i need your help guys.

I am trying to get some comments on these alternative rigs. What could be the best?

AT853>phantom power adapter>PS-2>IHP120  OR
AT853>AD-20>IHP-120

I've read that in the "favorite stealth cardioids" :

I have had a chance to use a variety of equipment AT853, AT933, AT944, KM140, 4023...  A lot of people complain about lack of bass on low cost rigs.  And this is true, most low cost rigs have terrible bass response.  I've used a couple different SP batt boxes and the CA-9100; all I can say is that running the AT mics under phantom power is one of the best improvements you can make to the sound quality of these rigs.  Anyone who is using a 9V battery box should look at moving to phantom power set-up.  If you take a look through the Team Audio Technica thread you'll see a lot of similar comments from other tapers.  A phantom rig does not add much cost either.

I am really interested in the 1st alternative, but if anyone have opposite feedbacks, i'll consider them.

Thanks a lot in advance
Semayat

I can mod your mics for $15.00 And put my 4.7k mod on them. My preamp and mics are already modified for high SPL recording.. So you are set. Your AT mics with my mod will plug right into my preamp and you can use ether my st-11 cardioid mics or your AT mics. There is no advantage to using phantom power on these mics unless you have a higher end preamp then the 9100. I would suggest keeping things small. I like the combination of the H120 and my 9100 preamp they work very well together and give you enough gain for any situation.

Chris

[Humbug]

There is no advantage to using phantom power on these mics unless you have a higher end preamp then the 9100.

Thanks for confirming that Chris - I use a three wire battery box which a board member on here made me last year(currently retired from building them), and I cannot imagine the AT853 mics sounding better than they do now, for rock shows.

For the quieter stuff, I will eventually end up buying a mini-XLR preamp from you, just don't have the money at the moment.

Cheers

Humbug

[cgrooves]

I am trying to get some comments on these alternative rigs. What could be the best?

AT853>phantom power adapter>PS-2>IHP120  OR
AT853>AD-20>IHP-120

Not sure why this has not been addressed, but....

The first chain above would work, but you are depending on the pre / AD in the iRiver, which I would avoid unless you want a really small rig for use in 'closed' settings.

The second chain above wouldn't work because you need to have:  AT853>phantom power adapter>PS-2>AD-20.
You have to power the mics before they go into the AD-20 (pre / AD)

I think the AT853 / AD-20 is a great sounding combo.  I've used that combo, but used the ART phantom power supply instead of the PS-2. 

EDIT:  The AD-20 / PS-2 in this thread you responded to:  http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,84292.0/topicseen.html
are good deals.  For $250, you should also consider the UA-5 (you could just go with a digi-mod for cheaper than the denecke combo).  I moved to the digi mod UA-5, but actually like the sound of the AD-20 better with the AT853's.  The UA-5 gives me an 'all in one box' solution with the ability to run a matrix on the fly, so that's why I made the switch.

[Semayat]

Tks a lot all you guys for your comments....well, my intention to buy a "new" rig is becoming compromised. I want to keep things small for sure.
@ CGrooves : Tks for your explanation
@ Chris : I might need your help about your ST-20B preamp.

If anyone has any other comments, they are welcome

Bye
Semayat

[Church-Audio]

Tks a lot all you guys for your comments....well, my intention to buy a "new" rig is becoming compromised. I want to keep things small for sure.
@ CGrooves : Tks for your explanation
@ Chris : I might need your help about your ST-20B preamp.

If anyone has any other comments, they are welcome

Bye
Semayat

If your recording loud shows and need a preamp with headroom the 9100 is what I would get not my 20b preamp thats for recording really quiet things. And does not have the same headroom as the 9100. Its always hard to know what to do but in the end you have to ask some questions and get some answers good luck and let me know if you need my help ok, even if you dont want to buy anything from me.

Chris

[Semayat]

Tks a lot all you guys for your comments....well, my intention to buy a "new" rig is becoming compromised. I want to keep things small for sure.
@ CGrooves : Tks for your explanation
@ Chris : I might need your help about your ST-20B preamp.

If anyone has any other comments, they are welcome

Bye
Semayat

If your recording loud shows and need a preamp with headroom the 9100 is what I would get not my 20b preamp thats for recording really quiet things. And does not have the same headroom as the 9100. Its always hard to know what to do but in the end you have to ask some questions and get some answers good luck and let me know if you need my help ok, even if you dont want to buy anything from me.

Chris

Tks a lot...actually i've bought that preamp + STC-11 mics in the YS....i did not know it was for quiet shows...hopefully i knew that before the next festival
Then, will your mics work fine with a simple battery box, or should I use that preamp indeed

Semayat

[nameloc01]

again i think the best results would be wielding the 853>nadys>ps2. however it is not ( by far) the easiest to stealth,as compare to a little 3 wire BB.

so....decisions,decisions....

please let us know what you are going to choose to do.

[M]

Hey nameloc, If you haven't yet I highly recommend trying out a st9100.   It will make your taping life a whole lot easier.  The only differences I notice between the 9100 & ps2 are gain, size, and a bunch of 9volts.  The only time I use the  ps2 is when the st9100 is already in use.   

fwiw I'm quite sure that there is actually a little more power going to the caps with a standard bat box than either of these set ups.

[nameloc01]

Hey nameloc, If you haven't yet I highly recommend trying out a st9100.   It will make your taping life a whole lot easier.  The only differences I notice between the 9100 & ps2 are gain, size, and a bunch of 9volts.  The only time I use the  ps2 is when the st9100 is already in use.   

fwiw I'm quite sure that there is actually a little more power going to the caps with a standard bat box than either of these set ups.

so what is the $$ on this unit? and what kind of inputs does it have..miniXLR or 1/8" ??
also, is the casing plastic or metal?...this may be a deciding factor.