What's the best bet for ordering Chinese manufactured capsules direct? 797?

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kato

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Aug 16, 2004
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Hi folks, I'm planning to build a few more large-diaphragm condensers. My ultimate goal is a C12 style vocal mic with a CT12 capsule, but Tim is backed up with pre-existing commitments and may not be able to fit me into his production schedule for several months.

So in the meantime, I'd like to test circuits with some cheaper capsules, that I'm *hoping* could still be usable long-term.

I've read here (from KingKorg) that 797 capsules are mil-grade spec and highly consistent, so that seems ideal. But is it possible to order a 797 capsule in a single quantity?

I know about WGTCenter, and have read about their tendency to get orders wrong. But that's my only backup plan. Or try a crapshoot with ebay.

Has anyone ordered a rando Chinese-made capsule and loved it for vocals? (not crazy sibilance?)

Thanks for your thoughts brethren, Matthew
 
You need to email Guosheng to inquire about them though, no much info available in their website.

Yeah, thanks. I found a, (what looks like an) M7 style capsule on their site. I'll send an e-mail because I'm interested in their SDC capsules as well.

capsule.jpg
So far, my inclination is to try an Advanced Audio AK12 based on what Kid Vybes (RIP) had to say about them back in 2015: Dave's C12 variant has isolated backplates (4 wires), MP's does not (3 wires). Not to mention the brass retaining rings.

This leads me to believe more attention to detail is used at the factory where AA and Chunger get their capsules, and could result in a capsule I'd be happy with for life. That would probably be $99 well spent. Also, I wrote to Dave to inquire if I could get a mount for the AK12 and he said just mention I needed one in the order notes and they would include one.

On the other hand, for $99, I could also get 3 rando Chinese capsules of undisclosed factory origins. For example: a $20 34mm capsule? Seems to good to be true, but might be worth experimenting with. But there's no mention if it's supposed to be a U87 type, U47 type. Either way, it's a single-sided capsule so it's probably not either.

For the sake of experimentation, I'll probably try a rando cheapie, and mid-level cheapie or 3U, slightly higher, and still hold out for a CT12 one day so I can really learn from my own experiences.
 
Edge terminated k67's like those, is worth mention Maiku's K12. I know for sure theirs also has isolated backplates, I have 2, and they are the smoothest sounding edge terminated k67's I've tried so far. I believe 3U's are also like this. From them I've tried their very sweet sounding M7 capsule. An interesting thing about 3U, they have 3 flavors of each of their K47, 12 and 67's (dark, balanced and airy). kingkong has evidenced they accomplish this by backplate tweaking (ie, controlling the # of holes in their backplates etc).
In regards of the Campbel CT12, I'm in the same boat as you, have 2 mata/chung c12/251 builds in middle process. I'm taking a leap and decide to evaluate one of OPR's historic ck12 rendition. They are less known, not much internet presence/info about them. But I'm hoping it won't dissapoint. I'll let you know how it is, I'm hoping its arrival next week.
 
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In regards of the Campbel CT12, I'm in the same boat as you, have 2 mata/chung c12/251 builds in middle process. I'm taking a leap and decide to evaluate one of OPR's historic ck12 rendition. They are less known, not much internet presence/info about them. But I'm hoping it won't dissapoint. I'll let you know how it is, I'm hoping its arrival next week.

Oh yes. I REALLY want to hear about the OPR CK12 when you get a chance to sing through it. Right now I feel like Tim's CT12 is the only capsule guaranteed to replicate an original. And I haven't heard anything bad about the OPR so it might be in the same league.

Changing the subject: some inexpensive bodies arrived today. Way easier than the first body I built from a brass tube and mesh from McMaster-Carr. U87 style was $21 for anyone looking for a deal. Black body was $30.


IMG_2922.JPG
 
Got a pair of those black bodies too lol! Plan to put Homero's excelent pimped alice board and hopefully Marik's capsules in them.
 
Are you gonna try using that floppy rubber capsule holder that came with it? Or replace it with something else.

I'm a little worried I'm gonna gouge out a capsule trying to mount one in there.


IMG_2924.JPG
 
I hadn't thought of that yet, where did you get that ringed one?

It came with the black mic ($30) that I linked to above. Although it's not pictured in the assembly video so perhaps it's a recent add-on.

I don't think either of these mounts are ideal. The one on the left is rigid, which I fear would transmit body vibration noise into the signal.

Again, Aliexpress ($8) has a mount that looks very similar to what came with my BeezNeez capsule. Or I might investigate the various options from Chunger.

Let me know how these work out for you. I've got some cheap capsules on order so I'll update this thread in six weeks or whenever they arrive.
 
Ok that ring one didn't came with mine. And I have to go to a hardware store to get new screws, the ones that came with the bodies were pure junk.
 
don't forget the HK12

It's in the back of my mind. It would be nice to hear some HK12 comparisons.

The reason I'm so hung up on the CT12 is because of >12" distance shootouts are dramatically different and I still feel like Tim is the only one truly nailing the sound that I'm hearing in my record collection.

Yeah, when the singer eats the mic, they all basically sound the same, but as soon as she steps back a foot, it all dries up with the other capsules. And I'm old school; I don't put condensers less than a foot away from any singer.
 
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5000
Translation results
你好,我在 diy 論壇上看到你有電容話筒頭出售
看到你有電容話筒頭出售。 它們的規格是什麼,你為它們收取多少費用
您的電子郵件地址不起作用
 
5000
翻译结果
你好,我在diy论坛上看到你有电容话筒头画
有你有电容话筒头说明。自己的规格是什么,你为它们收取多少费用
你的电子邮件地址
The email address is correct because I have received emails from different people, if it is wrong, I will not receive those emails. As for the price, the single-sided one is 140USD and the double-sided one is 200USD. These are all brand new. Maybe you can buy 797 audio directly, the unit price will be much cheaper, but as far as I know, they will not sell in small amount, at least 100 pieces. The most convenient way for me to receive payment is Alipay. If you can use this payment method, you can directly pay me RMB. The prices are 900RMB and 1300RMB. There is another way of payment, which is to remit to me through bank card, but this is quite troublesome, because I don't have a bank card that can receive US dollars, SO I need to open one separately. I'll write down the parameters and some photos below
 

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