MXL 960 tube mic mods

[AV]

Hello
Just purchased a used MXL tube mic. All stock components.
I am planning to change capsule for a new one. Any recomentations?
Maybe 797Audio?

 

[AV]

Anyone?

 

[ZHAOMENG]

如果您需要797音频胶囊，可以联系我。我来自中国，我是中国唯一一家小批量销售797音频胶囊的供应商

 

[ZHAOMENG]

If you need 797 audio capsules, you can contact me. I am from China, and I am the only supplier selling 797 audio capsules in small quantities in China

 

[haysonics]

Hello
Just purchased a used MXL tube mic. All stock components.
I am planning to change capsule for a new one. Any recomentations?
Maybe 797Audio?

Please forgive the question (I am new here) but what don’t you like about the stock capsule ?

 

[mrgrooves666]

Its cheap. Besides 797 audio, also Maiku are very nice capsules, but I would say their K47 would be a best bet for that mic, don't believe it has deemphasis. Or if you want to stick to k67, try 3U audio's dark k67 version with modified backplates.

 

[AV]

Thanks for the replys, guys.
This mic has only cardioid pattern so I thinks that I must purchase a K47 one.
Anyone tried the WTG capsules? Maybe not as good as the Maiku...

 

[Gus]

How much tdo you understand circuit design?
Is it the same circuit as the V69?
V69 Mod | Mark-O-Matic

Filter/EQ between stages is what first comes to mind before changing a capsule or caps
If so you might be able to add a LPF between stages and keep the stock capsule.

I have a V69 and I don't understand the design I started to trace mine and stopped IMO not worth the effort except maybe adding a lowpass filter

It appears to be an anode follower charge amp at about a gain of -1 to a GUESS Schoeps? like circuit output circuit.

I would guess you could remove the tube and go to the input JFET(I would change it to a different JFET if it is a 170 and rebias the JFET)and add a lowpass shelf filter in the circuit.

The input is a big distance from the capsule

I am not going to add any design work in this thread the post is just some things to get people thinking

 

[haysonics]

Thanks for the replys, guys.
This mic has only cardioid pattern so I thinks that I must purchase a K47 one.
Anyone tried the WTG capsules? Maybe not as good as the Maiku...

The 960 is a cardioid only mic. Installing a 2 sided (multi-pattern) capsule will not make it multi-pattern.

BTW and FWIW: My first tube mic was the 960 and if you change the stock tube for another then it becomes a good mic. I recommend you start by opening the mic (screw the bottom bell off) and advise what is written on the tube (as it may have already been changed).

 

[haysonics]

How much tdo you understand circuit design?
Is it the same circuit as the V69?
V69 Mod | Mark-O-Matic

Filter/EQ between stages is what first comes to mind before changing a capsule or caps
If so you might be able to add a LPF between stages and keep the stock capsule.

I have a V69 and I don't understand the design I starter to trace mine and stopped IMO not worth the effort except maybe adding a lowpass filter

It apears to be an anode follower charge amp at about a gain of -1 to a GUESS Schoeps? like circuit output circuit.

I would guess you could remove the tube and go to the input JFET(I would change it to a different JFET if it is a 170 and rebias the JFET)and add a lowpass shelf filter in the circuit.

The input is a big distance from the capsule

I a not going to add any design work in this thread the post is just some things to get people thinking

As far as I am aware no one has ever traced the mic circuit. The board looks like a V69.

 

[Gus]

I find it hard to believe the tube change made the microphone any better. The only changes I noticed with a tube change in a circuilt like that was microphonics and noise differences. The charge amp feedback minimizes the "tube sound"
I gave up tracing because I did not think the microphone was worth the effort.

 

[haysonics]

Yes. I swapped out the stock Chinese 12AT7 for a NOS Mullard CV4024 (military grade 12AT7) and there was a majour reduction in microphonics and noise. Considering that model is over 10 years old now I would expect any existing stock tube to be kaput.

All I will say about "tube sound" and the 960 is that the tube did compress transients (nonlinear amplitude response) which is all I really want a tube to do.

IMO, apart from the stock tube, the mic was fine (considering its price). It garnered a lot of praise over on the purple forum (FWIW). To noticeably improve it you'd need to replace both the capsule and circuit so I appreciate where you are coming from.

 

[Gus]

Something to try with that microphone would be to remove the tube
Install a source follower like in the Schoeps microphones very close to the capsule
Add EQ between the SF and next stage

 

[haysonics]

Apart from the price, the thing that impressed a lot of folk was that the 960 did not sound bright. Assuming the stock capsule is a single sided K67, it would be interesting to know whether the capsule was tuned to be relatively flat or if there is a filter in the circuit. My guess would be the later.

 

[AV]

Thank you guys for all teh info.
Gus, I am a musician. Sadly I do not understand almost anything about electronic.
A technician do the electronic job in my mics.

So, I am considering recapping, change tube or capsule but modding the circuit is difficult.

 

[Metro Man 72]

If you need 797 audio capsules, you can contact me. I am from China, and I am the only supplier selling 797 audio capsules in small quantities in China

Hello Sir,
It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I have recently purchased a Mic Mod Kit. The board and parts seem to be quality, but I am nervous of installing the capsule for fear that is peaky. I would rather purchase and install a quality capsule from a reputable company (797 Audio). I also own the V77, which as you probably know, was actually made by 797 back in 2007 (so I've read). I would like to change that capsule to a more high-neutral tone, than the current stock capsule.
Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks,

Darren J. DeGouff