Soliloqueen's k87(k67) and k47 capsules

[soliloqueen]

+5 reputation!

No, I'm just delivering what people originally paid for, and late. That's not a good thing. At best, I'm breaking even.

 

[oscarhuang]

It has been two weeks since I received Arinne's k87 capsule. I put it on my diy u87, I have been looking for a capsule for vintage u87. This k87 did it. It is about 3db more sensitive than the other k87 I bought before. For the vintage u87 circuit, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The diaphragm sound is detailed but not harsh. I also bought Maiku 3U MP capsules before, but none of them satisfied me. MP's capsule is ok for u87ai, but Arienne's k87 is really good. I am so excited that my vintage u87 is finally done. Many thanks to Arienne for her efforts. Below are some build pictures and versions of the drawings, the sound is raw.
View attachment Arienne k87.wav

 

[Андрій Чубака]

Yes for vintage mic it is sounds good. Maybe even more warm and clear than original vintage Neumann mic.

 

[oscarhuang]

Yes for vintage mic it is sounds good. Maybe even more warm and clear than original vintage Neumann mic.

I don't have a vintage u87, but I really like the sound of this diy microphone.

 

[JW]

Is that another saddle on top of the capsule? What is it supposed to do?

 

[soliloqueen]

Is that another saddle on top of the capsule? What is it supposed to do?

It keeps the ring and screws from hitting the side of the basket if the microphone is dropped

 

[MicMaven]

It keeps the ring and screws from hitting the side of the basket if the microphone is dropped

Apparently it is a bumper cropping up ... um ... sorry (bad pun.) James

 

[Tronfxdx]

It has been two weeks since I received Arinne's k87 capsule. I put it on my diy u87, I have been looking for a capsule for vintage u87. This k87 did it. It is about 3db more sensitive than the other View attachment 111852k87 I bought before. For the vintage u87 circuit, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The diaphragm sound is detailed but not harsh. I also bought Maiku 3U MP capsules before, but none of them satisfied me. MP's capsule is ok for u87ai, but Arienne's k87 is really good. I am so excited that my vintage u87 is finally done. Many thanks to Arienne for her efforts. Below are some build pictures and versions of the drawings, the sound is raw.
View attachment 111858

Very nice sounding mic!

 

[LevinGuitar]

Today I finally tried the Ari flat K47 I ordered months ago. Wow, it sound so good! I put it in a grounded cathode EF86 flat circuit at -1.4v on grid and at 72v on diaphragm. It makes me smile a lot

 

[kingkorg]

Major update:
Here's SQ's "flat" k47 (red) against original Neumann's k47(blue). I honestly believe Ari's capsule is improvement on the design. 180° rejection is even better than the original. The shape is spot on, it's just that flat k47 is gentler in the midrange.

 

[soliloqueen]

Hah! I remember a few months ago you were saying "I am not sure the pattern difference is huge." It IS huge, but it's not huge in a bad way.

 

[Matador]

Here's SQ's "flat" k47 (red) against original Neumann's k47(blue).

Interesting: I didn't expect that might higher frequency lift (2k to 5k) in the original as compared to what I heard amongst some originals.

These are A/B swapped into the exact same.mike?

 

[soliloqueen]

Yep. 2dB in the capsule there, and another 2dB from the basket. that lines up perfectly with the ~4dB at 4k you see in 3rd party u47 measurements, and the 2dB you see in third party M49 measurements.

See recordinghacks M49:

And U47:


Suggesting exactly what @kingkorg has measured here.

 

[kingkorg]

Interesting: I didn't expect that might higher frequency lift (2k to 5k) in the original as compared to what I heard amongst some originals.

These are A/B swapped into the exact same.mike?

Yes, the measurement is taken in acoustically neutral body without headbasket. I take all capsule measurements this way. The measurement also matches published Neumann's k47 response, for example the one of m147.

Edit:
Note the tolerance window in the graph, which is pretty large.

 

[Quantum J Audio]

Major update:
Here's SQ's "flat" k47 (red) against original Neumann's k47(blue). I honestly believe Ari's capsule is improvement on the design. 180° rejection is even better than the original. The shape is spot on, it's just that flat k47 is gentler in the midrange.

Thats great info an thanks for taking the time to provide this. The response is flatter but improvement technically on paper does not always equal improvement.

I hope that Ari can make available her K47 to the original curve. After all a lot of engineers and producers love what the FET47 does to the kick drum and bass cab. That midrange bump is exactly what is special about that mic on those two program materials.

I believe you refer to us as the "monkey see monkey do" but I'm also a "monkey listen and monkey understand" why I like something.

The FET47 is not a versatile mic and a two trick pony. This capsule may well give you more options but it will not give you a classic sound.

Before the age of clone mics and capsules we would just use a U87 as the versatile work horse. That's why most mic cabinets in big studios have a lot more 87's than FET47's.

I guess it comes down to what you want from your mic collection and of course no capsule option is wrong.

 

[soliloqueen]

There will be an accurate K47. It's mostly done, I just have to get everything in line procedurally and finish relaunching with my new business model. Accelerated product development isn't for me, and neither is competing on the basis of price. It's caused me a lot of issues and I'm tired of lowering my standards. My capsules will remain relatively affordable, and I have some interesting other products coming down the pipeline, all made in the US.

 

[Whoops]

Yes, the measurement is taken in acoustically neutral body without headbasket. I take all capsule measurements this way.

How are you able to measure the capsule without headbasket and not have low end hum?

When I do that I always have huge hum in the mics output

Thanks

 

[McIrish]

Kingkorg, thank you for all your work on testing capsules. Really great info.

 

[kingkorg]

How are you able to measure the capsule without headbasket and not have low end hum?

When I do that I always have huge hum in the mics output

Thanks

The whole area where i test mics is emi shielded

 

[kingkorg]

I believe you refer to us as the "monkey see monkey do" but I'm also a "monkey listen and monkey understand" why I like something.

Not sure what you mean by this. What i write is my own opinion, and i explained in detail in my first post of the thread why i like this capsule just the way it is compared to the original. There are many monkeys around that like to listen and share their opinion, this monkey here is the only one that shares measurements taken under controlled conditions so average DIYer can easily see what the difference is. Cheers.