Fake TLM103 mods/builds

[tom3245]

Hey, just bought a fake TLM103 mistaking it for a real one. The enclosure is identical to the real one, it’s just the electronics and capsule that aren’t good. I was wondering if anyone knew of any good circuit builds that I could put in the enclosure. Are there any TLM103 circuit schematics on the web, I’ve been having trouble finding one. If not I’d be happy to hear any recommendations for circuits that could fit in the enclosure. I am thinking of getting an Arienne Audio k87 to pair with the circuit I build. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[micolas]

Hey, just bought a fake TLM103 mistaking it for a real one. The enclosure is identical to the real one, it’s just the electronics and capsule that aren’t good. I was wondering if anyone knew of any good circuit builds that I could put in the enclosure. Are there any TLM103 circuit schematics on the web, I’ve been having trouble finding one. If not I’d be happy to hear any recommendations for circuits that could fit in the enclosure. I am thinking of getting an Arienne Audio k87 to pair with the circuit I build. Thanks in advance for your help!

@tom3245
First you could check if there are similarities between the fake 103 circuit and the original scheme.
Here you have the schematic drawn by others, by reverse engineering. In the circuit, some components cannot be measured, but the scheme works very well, I built it myself.

 

[RuudNL]

I modified two of them for a friend of mine.
Classical Schoeps circuit with an oscillator for the capsule bias voltage (60 V.) and a K47 capsule.
Works great!

 

[micolas]

I modified two of them for a friend of mine.
Classical Schoeps circuit with an oscillator for the capsule bias voltage (60 V.) and a K47 capsule.
Works great!

This is exactly what I did for a friend, in an AliExp 103 body

 

[micolas]

@tom3245
If you want a Neumann ish sound, you can build into the TLM103 body which has a similar headbasket to the u87,
an ORS87-nano microphone which is a Cardioid clone of the U87, with the excellent Arienne K87 capsule, as @Wordsushi did.
It can be listened to on YouTube.

https://groupdiy.com/threads/open-source-diy-mic-project-ors-87-stripped-down-u87.86814/post-1151376

 

[tom3245]

@tom3245
If you want a Neumann ish sound, you can build into the TLM103 body which has a similar headbasket to the u87,
an ORS87-nano microphone which is a Cardioid clone of the U87, with the excellent Arienne K87 capsule, as @Wordsushi did.
It can be listened to on YouTube.

https://groupdiy.com/threads/open-source-diy-mic-project-ors-87-stripped-down-u87.86814/post-1151376

Thanks for all the help guys, I think I’ll look into the ORS87 build.

 

[LevinGuitar]

You can try that capsule in a Behringer B1. Seems to use the same circuit, so you'll be sure it's the capsule that you don't like.

 

[micolas]

You can try that capsule in a Behringer B1. Seems to use the same circuit, so you'll be sure it's the capsule that you don't like.

Behringer B1 and Studio Projects B1 copied the circuit of TLM103, with some differences in components, parts and hi-pass, sensitivity pad options.
I have them all, I did reverse engineering, I studied them, I did all kinds of experiments.
But due to the differences including the acoustic ones related to the shape/size/layers and mesh density of the headbaskets, the capsule supports, the position of the capsule, the bodies of the microphones, etc.,
the same capsule will sound different

 

[LevinGuitar]

But the chinese k103 seems to be also different from the original, so who knows if a different headbasket will fit nice with its resonances. Quite cheap to give a try.

 

[micolas]

But the chinese k103 seems to be also different from the original, so who knows if a different headbasket will fit nice with its resonances. Quite cheap to give a try.

Exact. You are perfectly right! This is where inventiveness, enthusiasm, curiosity, pleasure and patience come in to experiment with all kinds of combinations, sometimes apparently insignificant details.
It is interesting how a capsule is sibilant in an 87 style headbasket and in a U47 style it sounds with an attenuation in the mid-high area, reducing resonances, sibilance.
Or, how much the position of the capsule in the head basket affects the sound.
Like others, I also removed the inner fine mesh of the headbasket "for more transparency" and then I regretted it.
But that's the joy of DIY. You alone decide which path you follow. The possibilities are endless, so you have many satisfactions

 

[micolas]

One of the many options:
https://groupdiy.com/threads/taksta...le-from-takstar-themselves.87540/post-1153461

 

[tinn]

This is the best clone I have seen so far

The circuit might be the original Neumann TLM 103 circuit .
The head of the screws suffered a bit during production,
otherwise I am surprised.
Doesn't it perform very well?

cheers, Tinn