OPEN SOURCE DIY Mic Project - ORS 87 - Stripped Down u87

[AdamFrisen]

That's the one!!

Ok thanks. The vamisound capsule looks different from Takstar CTS-2. I don't see nr 2 in the plastic ring on the capsule from vamisound.

So you got confirmation in other way it is a Takstar CTS-2?

 

[AdamFrisen]

Interesting, now the product URLs are gone.

https://en.takstar.com/product/type/75.html

Coincidence?

 

[Papa Tango Charly]

Strait out from Taskar CTS-2/01 taxes and shipment are very expensive unfortunately. you have to pay with a Bank account. Its a great capsule. To complicated to order from Taskar unfortunately, if you are not a pro.... That is my experience anyway.
Ningbo and Xingdeaudio is the same pain in the neck.

​

You can buy 797 good capsule K87 from Alibaba

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...offerlist.normal_offer.d_title.3fb31d62t23zqQ

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...offerlist.normal_offer.d_image.3fb31d62t23zqQ

Arienne Audio are fantastic!

Great deals

Best​

 

[GhostlyStudio]

Anyone tested the K87 style capsules that JLI are currently sending out and have an opinion on them? I grabbed a couple as thought they were the Takstar CTS-2's.

Thankfully, I ordered these on a bit of a whim and then decided to grab some Arienne Audio capsules as well based on some recommendations here, so not feeling particularly hard done by. Will get round to trying these at some point and working out if I like the sound.

 

[AdamFrisen]

Now the product URLs are back again for Takstar CTS-1 and CTS-2.

https://en.takstar.com/product/type/75.html
https://en.takstar.com/product/type/76.html

 

[eso]

Now the product URLs are back again for Takstar CTS-1 and CTS-2.

https://en.takstar.com/product/type/75.html
https://en.takstar.com/product/type/76.html

Yes, but still no purchasing info. Their "How to Buy" link leads to various Amazon storefronts offering complete mics but not cartridges.

eso

 

[AdamFrisen]

Schematic updated

Could FD and BP be reversed? Looking at the other 3 schematics FD goes to the gate.

 

[Khron]

Could FD and BP be reversed? Looking at the other 3 schematics FD goes to the gate.

View attachment 132562

It's cardioid only, so I'm not 1000000% sure it matters, but don't quote me on that That's one of the things that will require testing, once i get the first boards (package finally departed from HK yesterday)...

 

[pasarski]

It will work both ways. But it's probably better to polarize the backplate rather than the membrane (other way than in the schematic you posted) because the polarized membrane could attract more dust. Also, there could be a slight sound difference because of the possible asymmetry of parasitic capacitance of the capsule but I doubt I could hear it.

 

[Khron]

possible asymmetry of parasitic capacitance of the capsule

How is that even a thing (especially if we assume a single-diaphragm capsule)? Two plates suddenly have a different capacitance depending on the direction of the bias voltage?

 

[pasarski]

It's a mystery to me also. Maby abbey who recently made me aware of the intrinsic capacitance of the backplate can eloborate?

https://groupdiy.com/threads/connecting-a-capsule.87916/post-1157164

I don't know if it's a thing in a LDC, maybe in SDC where the backplate could have a parasitic capacitance with the enclosure?

But also, I have heard on other forums that it can make a difference in sound in LDC's. Can't hear it myself though.

 

[joulupukki]

Looks like the HL-95 mic body from aliexpress isn’t available anymore? Is there a good alternative somewhere?

 

[soliloqueen]

capsule factories sell their parts, so you could theoretically buy a capsule that looks completely identical to an AYM or takstar capsule but isn't

 

[AdamFrisen]

Looks like the HL-95 mic body from aliexpress isn’t available anymore? Is there a good alternative somewhere?

I am thinking for ORS, the smaller body @micolas suggested could be a good alternative?

https://groupdiy.com/threads/open-source-diy-mic-project-ors-87-stripped-down-u87.86814/page-40

https://a.aliexpress.com/_Eyt30d9

It was less than half the cost of HL-95 and body itself is all metal and you get the XLR male connector, screws omitted in HL-95.

It is a smaller grill/body but ORS circuit boards fit inside and the holes in the metal rail align better to secure them with screws.

Page 3, pictures of the alt. body.
Page 20, micolas also suggests increasing values of some capacitors for smaller bodies.

If there is interest, I can post picture of the grills.

The big capacitors C6 (axial polystyrene) and C9 might need to be place on the bottom side of the board.

 

[eso]

These are the smaller body. One has the H.Leal PCB installed, and those are Khron's boards in the foreground.

There's plenty of room for this build. Khron's board has more mounting options but either fit different transformers.

 

[peterc]

I bought this body from Temu mainly because of the Courier shipping, it arrived in 5 days. Our Post Office is pathetic so I do not order goods taht come through them (from Aliexpress, Banggood etc)
The body is the smaller version (maybe 5% smaller?) but is nice and solid. I will apply some damping material to the body and headshell as they ring when tapped, but overall I am pleasantly surprised.

https://www.temu.com/goods.html?_bg..._1721131493661_o51kf26cbt&refer_page_sn=10045

 

[AdamFrisen]

Left the smaller grill/body: https://a.aliexpress.com/_Eyt30d9
Right HL-95
1 Euro coin in front





The smaller grill/body lit from under:









The bigger grill/body HL-95 lit from under:

 

[AdamFrisen]

U87 mesh looks different. Who might make grill being similar to U87?

 

[eso]

Having gone down the rabbit hole quite a way on this one I thought I'd do a quick report the bodies I've come up with thus far.

L-R

These have been posted in this thread already. They are a heavy solid full-size U87ai body and they're a good price for the quality. They're nice enough I decided to try to build a pair of U67 clones with them:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...t_main.40.64911802PjhlBJ&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Probably about as inexpensive as one can get in an all-metal body are these 3/4 Neumann style bodies. Not particularly heavy, but all metal. And these are a complete microphone. This one has the H.Leal V1.1 board in it and the T-13 x-former. The Cinemag 13113 transformers I ordered are almost ready to ship:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...t_main.51.64911802PjhlBJ&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

These just arrived and I'm really impressed with the build on these too. Solid and heavy with nice plating too. It doesn't really show too well in the listing, but it's a like a black chrome plating. It does show the plating better in my photo. Khron's board is shown with this one as an example. Transformers could be a tight fit in these, but do-able:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...t_main.23.64911802PjhlBJ&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

:

eso

 

[AdamFrisen]

Is there any 2N3819 where the pin layout for TO-92 case is different from this?



Not 1,2,3 - SGD but 123 - DGS instead.