Soliloqueen's k87(k67) and k47 capsules

[soliloqueen]

Someone potentially deleted the FR charts. No, that's not a lie because it wasn't possible or a way to get out of my promise to deliver them. Someone. Actually. Might have. Deleted. The FR charts. Hopefully there's a backup somewhere. This doesn't affect the quality of the capsule. It's purely a user experience thing and future batches will definitely have them but I'm very upset. All capsules are FR sweep tested of course even if they're not serialized but like with the flat k47 after they get approved through QC the FR charts are usually deleted. Someone might have done it out of habit.

That's sad. I know objectively that I'm still offering a completely custom capsule at a decent price with good build quality and tight QC but I wanted to include the charts. They make me happy. Let me know if any of you guys want to cancel your order.

 

[klem]

ari, you've been very transparent throughout this process, and that inspires a lot of confidence in my book. i hope folks will keep that in mind as well. i've had some experiences with other companies that make me question if the capsules i purchased really did undergo the tests/QC that were claimed. i don't worry about that with you.

 

[soliloqueen]

ari, you've been very transparent throughout this process, and that inspires a lot of confidence in my book. i hope folks will keep that in mind as well. i've had some experiences with other companies that make me question if the capsules i purchased really did undergo the tests/QC that were claimed. i don't worry about that with you.

I appreciate that, it's just frustrating because we went through all the trouble of laser engraving the back plates. Man. I mean, they're FR swept 4 times per capsule. Once for each side when they're apart and then again for each side in the completed capsule for the final QC and serialization, so it's not like I have QC concerns, but it was such a cool selling point.

 

[soapfoot]

Sorry to hear that for you. I don't think it should impact any purchasing decisions whatsoever (it certainly wouldn't impact mine), but I understand the frustration. Hopefully the data was backed up somewhere and it all works out in the end...

 

[Icantthinkofaname]

Oh they have serials too? That's fantastic. I like the idea of being able to have one already available (rather than something less specific like a batch number), I've thought that it would be a really good idea for microphone companies to have measurements for individual mics archived given how much some cost (like the $1000+ boutique clone mics).

 

[soliloqueen]

Oh they have serials too? That's fantastic. I like the idea of being able to have one already available (rather than something less specific like a batch number), I've thought that it would be a really good idea for microphone companies to have measurements for individual mics archived given how much some cost (like the $1000+ boutique clone mics).

they do, each one of them were individually serialized, but someone seems to have misplaced the charts...which is kind of funny with the amount of effort that was put in to engrave them...That's not a batch number on the side, they're numbered individually 1-500

 

[karloff70]

same price, maybe May now. Sorry for the delay.

Awesome, looking forward to it. That's when my birthday is. Might end up giving myself some shiny present then.

 

[Murdock]

Congrats on the release Arianne!
I know you probably want to focus on this initial run first, but do you have any clues about availability of diaphragm material from your manufacturer?

 

[galgogergo]

I appreciate that, it's just frustrating because we went through all the trouble of laser engraving the back plates. Man. I mean, they're FR swept 4 times per capsule. Once for each side when they're apart and then again for each side in the completed capsule for the final QC and serialization, so it's not like I have QC concerns, but it was such a cool selling point.

Sorry to ask, but aren't you afraid that they just want to scam you by not having proof of meeting QC standards?
Do you plan to do any QC checks once they arrive to you in any case...?

Thanks, and good luck for your endeavours!

 

[soliloqueen]

Sorry to ask, but aren't you afraid that they just want to scam you by not having proof of meeting QC standards?
Do you plan to do any QC checks once they arrive to you in any case...?

Thanks, and good luck for your endeavours!

I do test them myself, capacitance each one and spot check FR as well. These are the same people that have made over 200 flat k47s so far and I've had about 16 of those independently tested for FR and they were all within 1dB of each other, Even ones that were like 2 years apart so that's probably not an issue.

All in all I think their trustworthiness is not really a question here. I've been working with them for multiple years and this thread is full of pages of positive experiences with other projects they've assembled for me. Things are hectic, COVID is weird, it's the holidays, slips up like this happen. Like with the flat k47s I'm still going to have several of these independently tested, some of which probably by kingkorg, but I'm not tremendously worried about that.

 

[galgogergo]

Thank you for your thorough response

 

[Icantthinkofaname]

I'm not too interested in building a U87 clone right now, but I gotta say it's gonna be really amusing to see these in shootouts against U87s and U87Ais and having people say the Neumann's have some magic mojo when these are an exact copy.

 

[bremusound]

We don‘t have exact copies of bodies and headgrilles. The headgrilles could make a difference.

 

[kingkorg]

I'm not too interested in building a U87 clone right now, but I gotta say it's gonna be really amusing to see these in shootouts against U87s and U87Ais and having people say the Neumann's have some magic mojo when these are an exact copy.

The only fair way would be to always shoot out at least 3 originals against one clone. This would reveal how much originals vary and how the replica fits in.

 

[soliloqueen]

Everything is all set otherwise now. we're just waiting for our bill from customs and some accessories.

 

[EarthTone]

I hope it's OK to post this stuff here! I am just excited because I bought one of Soliloqueen's flat k47 capsules a couple of weeks ago and finally had some time to try it out and I'm very impressed. I love it.

I'm a saxophonist & audio engineer, and the thing I've noticed about recording saxophones over the years is that the 3khz range is right where saxophones usually sound really bad. At least on my sound, and my tenor especially, I really don't like it and usually end up cutting there in a mix. But ribbon mics are also not my thing on tenor, at least not by themselves, and if I use one I usually feel like it needs a 47 style condenser mic tracked at the same time to blend with it so it's not too dark and muddy sounding in the mix.

I got a great deal on a used Bock 47 some years ago which is my usual go-to on tenor. I have this other mic I built from a Micparts kit when I first started building stuff called the T-47, it's like a large diaphragm capsule + a km84 style circuit. The kit came with a RK-47, which I guess is an Asian origin K47 style capsule. I always thought this mic sucked and was too bright for my horn.

I just put the flat Soliloqueen capsule in the T-47 and was really floored with how much the sound of the mic changed. For me it became way better and especially on my tenor sax, I would actually use this circuit and capsule combination on a recording! Love it.

For the sake of anyone interested I decided to post the 3 demo files I made for myself to compare the 3 mics and especially the RK-47 capsule vs the Soliloqueen flat k47 capsule. The recording chain is the same on all 3 mics, an AML 1073 500 series preamp into a Mytek Brooklyn ADC. Tried to level match best as possible.

Hope the demos are interesting for people interested in these capsules. The Matrix picture has nothing to do with the test I just needed a placeholder image. I will be buying some more of these capsules for other projects! Very interested to hear the K-87's.

 

[soliloqueen]

Oh wow! thank you so much!

 

[Mworthin]

I hope it's OK to post this stuff here! I am just excited because I bought one of Soliloqueen's flat k47 capsules a couple of weeks ago and finally had some time to try it out and I'm very impressed. I love it.

I'm a saxophonist & audio engineer, and the thing I've noticed about recording saxophones over the years is that the 3khz range is right where saxophones usually sound really bad. At least on my sound, and my tenor especially, I really don't like it and usually end up cutting there in a mix. But ribbon mics are also not my thing on tenor, at least not by themselves, and if I use one I usually feel like it needs a 47 style condenser mic tracked at the same time to blend with it so it's not too dark and muddy sounding in the mix.

I got a great deal on a used Bock 47 some years ago which is my usual go-to on tenor. I have this other mic I built from a Micparts kit when I first started building stuff called the T-47, it's like a large diaphragm capsule + a km84 style circuit. The kit came with a RK-47, which I guess is an Asian origin K47 style capsule. I always thought this mic sucked and was too bright for my horn.

I just put the flat Soliloqueen capsule in the T-47 and was really floored with how much the sound of the mic changed. For me it became way better and especially on my tenor sax, I would actually use this circuit and capsule combination on a recording! Love it.

For the sake of anyone interested I decided to post the 3 demo files I made for myself to compare the 3 mics and especially the RK-47 capsule vs the Soliloqueen flat k47 capsule. The recording chain is the same on all 3 mics, an AML 1073 500 series preamp into a Mytek Brooklyn ADC. Tried to level match best as possible.

Hope the demos are interesting for people interested in these capsules. The Matrix picture has nothing to do with the test I just needed a placeholder image. I will be buying some more of these capsules for other projects! Very interested to hear the K-87's.

Very nice! Love the sound you get with the SQ capsule/T-47 combination.

 

[negaikast]

I hope it's OK to post this stuff here! I am just excited because I bought one of Soliloqueen's flat k47 capsules a couple of weeks ago and finally had some time to try it out and I'm very impressed. I love it.

I'm a saxophonist & audio engineer, and the thing I've noticed about recording saxophones over the years is that the 3khz range is right where saxophones usually sound really bad. At least on my sound, and my tenor especially, I really don't like it and usually end up cutting there in a mix. But ribbon mics are also not my thing on tenor, at least not by themselves, and if I use one I usually feel like it needs a 47 style condenser mic tracked at the same time to blend with it so it's not too dark and muddy sounding in the mix.

I got a great deal on a used Bock 47 some years ago which is my usual go-to on tenor. I have this other mic I built from a Micparts kit when I first started building stuff called the T-47, it's like a large diaphragm capsule + a km84 style circuit. The kit came with a RK-47, which I guess is an Asian origin K47 style capsule. I always thought this mic sucked and was too bright for my horn.

I just put the flat Soliloqueen capsule in the T-47 and was really floored with how much the sound of the mic changed. For me it became way better and especially on my tenor sax, I would actually use this circuit and capsule combination on a recording! Love it.

For the sake of anyone interested I decided to post the 3 demo files I made for myself to compare the 3 mics and especially the RK-47 capsule vs the Soliloqueen flat k47 capsule. The recording chain is the same on all 3 mics, an AML 1073 500 series preamp into a Mytek Brooklyn ADC. Tried to level match best as possible.

Hope the demos are interesting for people interested in these capsules. The Matrix picture has nothing to do with the test I just needed a placeholder image. I will be buying some more of these capsules for other projects! Very interested to hear the K-87's.

Wow. The flat k47 in that circuit sounds amazing! No EQ on any of the tracks, correct?

 

[EarthTone]

Wow. The flat k47 in that circuit sounds amazing! No EQ on any of the tracks, correct?

Thanks! There is no eq on any of the tracks. Same room/recording gear on all. Only the mic or capsule varies and I only added some reverb to the demos so they didn’t sound so dry.