Little experiment using a U47 style microphone (Moby BV08 $150, 3U M7 $150, Phaedrus SPIRIT U47 $300) in a U87 body. Normal U47 circuit would not fit a U87 body, but using the Spirit it is just possible..!
This is a really quick and dirty prototype (60 minutes), will be developing nice PCB board in the future. The Spirit is a Pheadrus tube running on phantom power and is technically identical to the VF14M emulation running on 105V.
If you have a very decent phantom power supply you could probably omit the 1K resistor and 10U capacitor (I did for now without obvious problems). Tested using Focusrite Liquid Channel and the UAD unison preamps.
Then you have the most basic microphone circuit possible using only 7 passive components + Spirit tube + capsule + transformer! The components even using Dale resistors and Wima/Vishay caps are only 10-15$ on Mouser, especially since you only need components rated 60+V saving space and money.
For new builds in my opinion it doesn't make sense to go the VF14 clone Phaedrus route with al the disadvantages working of having to use a power supply, just use the Spirit version.
I was so impressed by the sound compared to my other microphones (Max Kircher U67, U87 and Sphere L22 U47 emulation), the mid-forwardness and dynamics are one of a kind still. Will be recording a nice female singer soon. Using my Liquid channel I can easily add some 2nd harmonics (or using Nebula/UAD), which might be the only difference which some people observed compared to real VF14M.
The benefit of this approach that you can make all kind of hybrids, for example M7 capsule with Max U67 circuit in neutral mode (LOVING ITTTT!).
I have become U47 fan..might even go after the real thing..but oh boy $$$.
This is a really quick and dirty prototype (60 minutes), will be developing nice PCB board in the future. The Spirit is a Pheadrus tube running on phantom power and is technically identical to the VF14M emulation running on 105V.
If you have a very decent phantom power supply you could probably omit the 1K resistor and 10U capacitor (I did for now without obvious problems). Tested using Focusrite Liquid Channel and the UAD unison preamps.
Then you have the most basic microphone circuit possible using only 7 passive components + Spirit tube + capsule + transformer! The components even using Dale resistors and Wima/Vishay caps are only 10-15$ on Mouser, especially since you only need components rated 60+V saving space and money.
For new builds in my opinion it doesn't make sense to go the VF14 clone Phaedrus route with al the disadvantages working of having to use a power supply, just use the Spirit version.
I was so impressed by the sound compared to my other microphones (Max Kircher U67, U87 and Sphere L22 U47 emulation), the mid-forwardness and dynamics are one of a kind still. Will be recording a nice female singer soon. Using my Liquid channel I can easily add some 2nd harmonics (or using Nebula/UAD), which might be the only difference which some people observed compared to real VF14M.
The benefit of this approach that you can make all kind of hybrids, for example M7 capsule with Max U67 circuit in neutral mode (LOVING ITTTT!).
I have become U47 fan..might even go after the real thing..but oh boy $$$.
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