Beware of Plastic BM800's

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The TM-80 certainly appears to be the iSK 'Vibrato':
https://www.iskproaudio.com/collections/microphones/products/vibrato

"The Vibrato uses a proprietary, newly designed 14 mm pure aluminum condenser capsule."
According to Tascam, TM-80 has 18 mm capsule.
Just as Marantz and ISK AT100.

Depends how one defines capsule diameter, I guess.
The described in the thread Vibrato has 13 mm active surface and the capsule and the circuit (Mosfet) seem exactly the same as Marantz's and TM-80's.

https://www.isk-audio.com/products_detail/c-_detailId=989917216242225152.html

BTW. I measured my Marantz - 18 mm outside diameter, +/- 13,5 mm diaphragm, edge to edge aluminium or aluminised surface.
 
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The oddest thing about these mics is the placement of those chunky electros right under the front of the capsule, rather than behind it or under the board. If these mics turn out to be worth the effort, the first thing I'm doing is moving those diffraction-producing buggers and cobbling together a semi-sphere in their place.
 
According to Tascam, TM-80 has 18 mm capsule.
Just as Marantz and ISK AT100.

Depends how one defines capsule diameter, I guess.
The described in the thread Vibrato has 13 mm active surface and the capsule and the circuit (Mosfet) seem exactly the same as Marantz's and TM-80's.

https://www.isk-audio.com/products_detail/c-_detailId=989917216242225152.html

BTW. I measured my Marantz - 18 mm outside diameter, +/- 13,5 mm diaphragm, edge to edge aluminium or aluminised surface.
Interesting - so in between the TSB-165 and the 'KK12' capsules.
 
TM-80 just arrived (new from Amazon; factory box). First report:

- My example has output wired out of phase!
- Does sound quite good; very good rear rejection and 180 off axis sounds very un-scooped. Overall, slightly richer, smoother than "KK12" V2, but top-lift quite similar (not over-bright, like V1).
- NO RF caps on the XLR pins, with, of course, loong wires to the board.
- No enamel on the pot, as seen in the other photos.
- The mic is far quieter than stock Takstar CM-60 or '63 (even though the capsule is considerably smaller).
- Touched tip of my tongue to the capsule, and the metal housing was much colder than the diaphragm; so, must be polyester - but that is the most dense sputtering I've ever seen (pretty sure @MicMaven meant opaque, not transparent.).

- As already noted, very solid body; far thicker than BM-x00s. Rings like a bell on it's own, but not with headbasket attached. Basket better made (though more easily dented). Body appears to be merely painted, so may look a bit rough over time.

Overall, (except for no RF caps on the XLR, and the electros just below the capsule, I'd say well done iSK.

From the capsule on down: nothing like the BM-x00 types.

______

Let the body-shortening begin! Wasted space like that just puts my teeth on edge.
 
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I was impressed enough with this TM-80 capsule that I swapped it for the AT825 capsule I had in this little guy (they're the same diameter). Capsule removed from the multi-hole ring, which I've found makes SDC capsules less directional at low frequencies (I assume to imitate the behavior of LDCs), which I don't want.

Got a Marantz coming soon, so I'll have a stereo pair of these. They're also much quieter than the ATs.

______

Since at least some iSK mics use Transound capsules, can iSK be making these capsules themselves?; if not, any guesses who might be? Whoever it is, they have a little value winner on their hands.
 

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