Pronomic SCM-1

[Erik2345]

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/Top-quality-Takstar-CM-60-professional-recording-microphone-Aforementioned-Type-Condenser-Microphone-for-musical-instrument/32823205728.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_0_10152_10151_10618_10059_10696_10084_100031_10083_10624_10304_10821_10843_10623_10307_10846_524_10341_10065_10340_10068_10343_10342_10301_10103_10620_10344_10820_10622_10621,searchweb201603_0,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=43972c5a-924d-4b32-85ac-7e14e7a87f2d&algo_expid=43972c5a-924d-4b32-85ac-7e14e7a87f2d-7

http://www.takstar.com/en/product/detail-16-79-7-479

Even cheaper at ali..24,74Euro

 

[RuudNL]

Yes, but (anyway on the picture) this one still has the 'old' capsules!

 

[Icantthinkofaname]

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/Top-quality-Takstar-CM-60-professional-recording-microphone-Aforementioned-Type-Condenser-Microphone-for-musical-instrument/32823205728.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_0_10152_10151_10618_10059_10696_10084_100031_10083_10624_10304_10821_10843_10623_10307_10846_524_10341_10065_10340_10068_10343_10342_10301_10103_10620_10344_10820_10622_10621,searchweb201603_0,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=43972c5a-924d-4b32-85ac-7e14e7a87f2d&algo_expid=43972c5a-924d-4b32-85ac-7e14e7a87f2d-7

http://www.takstar.com/en/product/detail-16-79-7-479

Even cheaper at ali..24,74Euro

If the new SMC-1s have a much better capsule it's worth the extra money. I'd buy one or a pair if I could find English language stores shipping to North America stocking them. On amazon.ca it's $100 CDN (so like $75 USD) for one of them. It's probably only $60 CDN + shipping if I buy a single one. The Amazon price could probably buy me a pair of them.

Sure, you could buy a Takstar and then buy the linked capsule from eBay, but then you're already spending around what you'd spend on the SCM-1. The Takstars cost around $45 USD, and those capsules look to be around $20, so you'd be spending just as much to get the same result. And the SCM-1 specs seem like they'd be more reliable. 30-18,000 Hz seems a lot more realistic than 30-20,000 Hz for a small diaphragm mic like that.

I'm actually surprised how many awesome mics you can find in Europe. In the USA and especially Canada it seems like MXL, Behringer, and a couple  Audio Technica and CAD mics are the only real budget options. Now that's where buying online helps, but it's not always an option if things don't ship to your country.

 

[analogguru]

Sure, you could buy a Takstar and then buy the linked capsule from eBay, but then you're already spending around what you'd spend on the SCM-1.

I can also buy a Takstar and speculate that the picture is outdated.  Who do you think is producing the SCM-1 ?

Pronomic ? is only a brand name, you can also have your name printed on the mics if you buy enough. 

Kirstein ? LOL, they don't even look inside the boxes shipped from China and therefore they don't put another capsule inside....

 

[Khron]

For what it's worth, i know Gear4Music in the UK sells some rebranded Takstar stuff. Can't quite tell if Takstar is a / the OEM, but...

 

[analogguru]

For what it's worth, i know Gear4Music in the UK sells some rebranded Takstar stuff. Can't quite tell if Takstar is a / the OEM, but...

At least they (claim to) have a factory with 1000 employes:
http://www.takstar.com/en/profile/3

and even a R & D team:
http://www.takstar.com/en/profile/4

 

[RuudNL]

Yes, of course "Pronomic" is just a name for the Kirstein products, they will be produced by a known microphone manufacturer somewhere in China. And the "Takstar" CM-60 looks almost the same as the Pronomic SCM-1.
But I have no idea if the Takstar microphones have also updated the capsule.
I wouldn't take the risk!

 

[e.oelberg]

I agree they Are very usable, I just tested my mic,  sounds pretty good, not tons of detail, not spectacular, but also not annoying.

 

[kingkorg]

Damn, i am on a vacation for 5 more weeks, i hope they won't be out of stock.

 

[shot]

So what would be better pick - SubZero or Pronomic?
Considering that both will be modded even before the first use...



Luka

 

[Khron]

I guess the better (or more accurate) question would be, which one has the better capsule?

Since the electronics are all but "expendable"... ;D (ie. going to be modded, if not replaced altogether)

So what would be better pick - SubZero or Pronomic?
Considering that both will be modded even before the first use...



Luka

 

[e.oelberg]

So what would be better pick - SubZero or Pronomic?
Considering that both will be modded even before the first use...



Luka

actually I like them how they are, I won't mod nothing

 

[e.oelberg]

and when I'm bored I might throw in a 6s6b

 

[shot]

actually I like them how they are, I won't mod nothing

You're talking about Pronomic, right?
Not even adjust bias as Ruud suggested?

 

[kingkorg]

Pronomic and Takstar are smd, SubZero is not

SubZero us still a good pick, and front grille that causes 7k peak can be shaved off with an angle grinder. But one has to make some kind of mesh in front of membrane, which usualy leaves you with an ugly mic. 

That 7k peak can be usefull on snare, toms, and other things that benefit from boost in that area.

SubZero has a pad. Not very well implemented one, but it has it.

However i would like to have Pronomic capsule as well.

 

[e.oelberg]

I personally like smd, it needs a little training but it is easier for rework and modding

 

[JuanV]

Received, inside photos.
I'll do better photos later with Nikon.

 

[analogguru]

Many thanks for the pictures !!!
Interesting the unassembled pad-switch and the 1G-SMD-resistors.... they must be cheap - I want some....
No stabilization for the FET ?
Floating/popping low-cut-filter ?
Normal diodes at the output ?

BTW, someone soldered new transistors for Q1/Q3....

 

[Khron]

They're not quite THAT cheap - they added an extra (filter?) inductor (L2) at the input of the DC-DC converter ;D And what might be a small common-mode choke right at the XLR input/output (the thing that has white "gunk" around it)...

 

[RuudNL]

It might be a good idea to remove some flux residue, especially around the high-z input.
(My microphones had lots of flux all over the place.)