Soliloqueen's k87(k67) and k47 capsules

[kingkorg]

This of course begs the question: How DO they sound just dropped into a circuit? (New thread if anyone actually knows?)

My DC-63 and VIP-60 are wonderful! Surprisingly dark.

Silly me, had one, but never measured the capsule on it's own, or the circuit response. Based on this quote, i guess it's dark as heck.

Here's Jim Williams on this mic over at Gearslutz:

"A great mic. The familiar square metal diaphram casule. It uses an EQ network to lift the tops flat as the capsule has a high end roll-off. The quality of that network is critical for top end clarity and detail. It's a op-amp based circuit, using fet input opamps. I've replaced them with BurrBrown, AD opamps with great results. The coupling caps can be replaced and improved.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades"

The thread is:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/remo...2970-milab-vip-50-general-usage-opinions.html

I guess there's room for improvement in most mics, especially in the amplifiers, until you get to the very highest end pieces.

 

[Mr. Moscode]

"I guess there's room for improvement in most mics, especially in the amplifiers, until you get to the very highest end pieces."

Who says there's no room for improvement in the very highest end pieces?

 

[soapfoot]

I guess it also depends on what you mean by "improvement."

I've heard more than one "improved" microphone that was demonstrably "better" according to some measurable parameter, but that I subjectively liked less than stock trim.

 

[OneRoomStudio]

I guess it also depends on what you mean by "improvement."

I've heard more than one "improved" microphone that was demonstrably "better" according to some measurable parameter, but that I subjectively liked less than stock trim.

Agreed. So often "improved" means chasing some higher slew-rate or lower THD, etc, at the expense of something that already sounded good. Not everything needs to be a straight wire with gain.

 

[tomas.borgstrom]

They use electronics to flatten the response though. Important to know for DIY, they can't be just dropped into a circuit. Great company, and great sounding mics.

They used to do that but their amplifiers have been flat since many years. I’ve built standard tube microphones with their capsule. Sounds great!

 

[tomas.borgstrom]

This of course begs the question: How DO they sound just dropped into a circuit? (New thread if anyone actually knows?)

My DC-63 and VIP-60 are wonderful! Surprisingly dark.

No problem dropping them into a circuit. No treble boost and a bit more low end than most capsules.

 

[kingkorg]

Thank you for this!!! I'll update my post!

 

[soliloqueen]

made some m7s today. people aren't joking, these are way more extended than k47s. i wonder why? what's the mechanism for this?

 

[soliloqueen]

this is the only replica of a 1940s m7 to ever exist, to my knowledge. everyone else copies later ones, and for good reason. the glue ridges are way too small to work with. I might change to a later target capsule tbh, which might make these 3 the only 3 to ever exist, haha.

it's boxed right now (no it's not shipping like this) but here's this unit:


That's 2 glue ridges, barely visible, in less than the space of the single ridge on the early gefells, and an electrode surface almost 1mm wider than any other m7. very cool. very frustrating.

 

[mmelot]

Well, I finished my U47FET yesterday, with the flat K47 from Soliloqueen, I just recorded my dreadnought guitar, that was wonderful, lots of beautiful lows compared to my other mics, love it.

And on tuesday I'll record a bass drum with it, can't wait!

Thank you for the good work Soliloqueen!

 

[soliloqueen]

i use the same backplate factory as every other chinese factory right now, but they can't hold my tolerances. their tool they use on the k47 and m7 is worn out and is drilling unacceptably conical holes. i will yell at them to fix this, which has worked in the past, but even still i think i might switch retail units to a friend's T&D shop over the next few batches at the same price. OEM customers can choose to opt in if they can take the price increase. this makes no difference to the end user, just results in fewer rejects on our end.

 

[cortez07]

this is the only replica of a 1940s m7 to ever exist, to my knowledge. everyone else copies later ones, and for good reason. the glue ridges are way too small to work with. I might change to a later target capsule tbh, which might make these 3 the only 3 to ever exist, haha.

it's boxed right now (no it's not shipping like this) but here's this unit:
View attachment 136651

That's 2 glue ridges, barely visible, in less than the space of the single ridge on the early gefells, and an electrode surface almost 1mm wider than any other m7. very cool. very frustrating.

will there also be a single-sided Ari M7 style capsule option similar to your K47 and K87 models? If so, what would the price point be for the single-sided version if it's produced? Additionally, could you share the expected price for the normal M7 capsule?

 

[EarthTone]

How long before new K87's are shipping again now?

 

[soliloqueen]

How long before new K87's are shipping again now?

We're midway through final assembly so weeks

 

[Roman Beilharz]

made some m7s today. people aren't joking, these are way more extended than k47s. i wonder why? what's the mechanism for this?
View attachment 136650

Looks familiar. Do you know what made the red sample deviate so significantly?

 

[soliloqueen]

Looks familiar. Do you know what made the red sample deviate so significantly?

The red sample is correct, it's the others that are wrong. And yes

 

[Roman Beilharz]

The red sample is correct, it's the others that are wrong. And yes

Oh! My Thiersch M7 as well as Desheng M7 measured more like the other two - at least in a 47ish body. Is this the "vintage M7" vibe then - way more upper mids?

I have a CM7156 with an original Neumann 50s M07 (the mini version of the M7 manufactured for VEB Funkwerk Leipzig) that also has quite a 5k bump...

 

[soliloqueen]

Oh! My Thiersch M7 as well as Desheng M7 measured more like the other two - at least in a 47ish body. Is this the "vintage M7" vibe then - way more upper mids?

I have a CM7156 with an original Neumann 50s M07 (the mini version of the M7 manufactured for VEB Funkwerk Leipzig) that also has quite a 5k bump...

It's only about 2dB up from the base curve, a little bit less even, so it's not a ton more upper mids. Having a slope down and recession like this comes from through hole issues and also messes with the pattern response. The red curve looks upper mid-heavy in comparison but keep in mind that's a little over half as much as many neumann k47s and a third as much as most Chinese ones, at least on my setup, so I wouldn't call it "way more". I still have to decide whether to go with a mid forward tuning or a flat one like the flat k47

 

[OneRoomStudio]

It's only about 2dB up from the base curve, a little bit less even, so it's not a ton more upper mids. Having a slope down and recession like this comes from through hole issues and also messes with the pattern response. The red curve looks upper mid-heavy in comparison but keep in mind that's a little over half as much as many neumann k47s and a third as much as most Chinese ones, at least on my setup, so I wouldn't call it "way more". I still have to decide whether to go with a mid forward tuning or a flat one like the flat k47

I love my Thiersch PVC M7, but it does sound a little “scooped” to me. Sometimes that’s good for certain voices, but it’s definitely not as flat as your Flat K47, and I could see the benefit of a capsule in between those two.

 

[TBP]

It's only about 2dB up from the base curve, a little bit less even, so it's not a ton more upper mids. Having a slope down and recession like this comes from through hole issues and also messes with the pattern response. The red curve looks upper mid-heavy in comparison but keep in mind that's a little over half as much as many neumann k47s and a third as much as most Chinese ones, at least on my setup, so I wouldn't call it "way more". I still have to decide whether to go with a mid forward tuning or a flat one like the flat k47

Flat please !!!!