Soliloqueen's k87(k67) and k47 capsules

[bremusound]

Capsules arrived today!! Many thanks @soliloqueen !

 

[soliloqueen]

View attachment 139532Capsules arrived today!! Many thanks @soliloqueen !View attachment 139533

Is that a scratch in the gold or dust? A scratch like that probably happened before rather than after assembly so it shouldn't affect anything though

 

[bremusound]

No scratch, just dust

 

[ElSmurf]

My friend received his K87 yesterday. I'll finally be able to do some comparison recordings.

 

[JeffKall]

My friend received his K87 yesterday. I'll finally be able to do some comparison recordings.

I received my matched k87’s last week (thank you, @soliloqueen) … so I will install one in one of my @poctop D-67’s … and do some A/B comparisons with my Beesneez capsules (which IF I remember correctly are Ben’s “economy” K67’s) which sounded really good BTW …

Also … at the same time … I am hoping to install one of my flat 47’s into one of my @poctop D-EF47’s and A/B it against my 3U M7’s …

I have just been a bit slammed at work … but it was always my intention to upgrade both pairs of 47’s and 67’s with Ari’s capsules when I received my k87’s …

Newb Question … Do I need to change any electronic components in either the D-67 or the D-EF47 to accommodate the k87 or flat 47 ?

Thank you in advance !!!

 

[Khron]

Do I need to change any electronic components in either the D-67 or the D-EF47 to accommodate the k87 or flat 47 ?

Why would that be the case?

Ok, maybe you might need to mess with the pF-range feedback capacitor in the 67 if you wanna tweak the HF-attenuation, but other than that.....

 

[JeffKall]

Why would that be the case?

Ok, maybe you might need to mess with the pF-range feedback capacitor in the 67 if you wanna tweak the HF-attenuation, but other than that.....

Thank you, @Khron
I figured as much …

But as enlightened tweakers … I always expect one of you will have discovered a fine tuning “adjustment” or other specific tweak for various capsule types in the same mic …

I am happy to just swap capsules !

 

[ElSmurf]

Also … at the same time … I am hoping to install one of my flat 47’s into one of my @poctop D-EF47’s and A/B it against my 3U M7’s …

I did exactly that. Pretty sure you're gonna like it, but looking forward to your impressions.

 

[soliloqueen]

Just don't be surprised by a significant drop in level. The k87 is a flat clone of a '60s k67 but with isolated back plates. This version of the Neumann capsule has extremely low capacitance compared to any modern k87 clone, especially the 3u units. Most k67 clones are way, way too loud, so if you swap one of mine in, it's going to seem super quiet

 

[JeffKall]

Just don't be surprised by a significant drop in level. The k87 is a flat clone of a '60s k67 but with isolated back plates. This version of the Neumann capsule has extremely low capacitance compared to any modern k87 clone, especially the 3u units. Most k67 clones are way, way too loud, so if you swap one of mine in, it's going to seem super quiet

Thank you for the heads up, @soliloqueen …
Generally … I am not much of a fan of the contemporary K67 capsules … especially in all those infamous clones that forgot to put in compensation for the tipped up high frequencies …

Even though Ben’s economy K67’s were reasonably hot … they sounded absolutely acceptable in @poctop’s D-67 circuit …

The 3U M7’s also behaved well in @poctop’s D-EF47’s …

But I am excited to have your capsules (particularly the flat 47’s) in my D-EF47’s and D-67’s !

Now I just need to find a moment to make the swap … and do a bit of A/B comparison (for curiosity) … and then finish the swap and do some matched stereo pair recordings !

It should be enlightening and exciting !

Thank you, Ari !!!

 

[JeffKall]

I did exactly that. Pretty sure you're gonna like it, but looking forward to your impressions.

Thank you, @ElSmurf …
I am pretty sure I am going to like it, too …

Plus … I just finished installing my Otari MTR90 16 track with Dolby SR (I also have an Otari MTR12 1/2” 4 track with a 1/2” 2 track stack) … so my transition to the vintage analog/tube side is nearly complete …

And I believe the @soliloqueen capsules will get me much closer to that beloved vintage Neumann 47 and 67 sound I became so accustomed to hearing in my good old LA studio days (but can’t afford) …

Now IF only she would just start producing her version of the CK12 capsule for my Matador Chunger C12’s … and the pair of 251’s I HOPE to build next !

 

[soliloqueen]

still shipping, well into 2024 now. just got a fresh batch of k47f and v too, sadly the first time ever that all 3 units are in stock at once. Not sure how many are left after preorders yet though, still doing QC and sorting.

edit:
AND utm just shipped my next transformer order, so everyone should truly be getting everything lol

 

[ElSmurf]

Just don't be surprised by a significant drop in level. The k87 is a flat clone of a '60s k67 but with isolated back plates. This version of the Neumann capsule has extremely low capacitance compared to any modern k87 clone, especially the 3u units. Most k67 clones are way, way too loud, so if you swap one of mine in, it's going to seem super quiet

I wonder if this is why my D87 has a relatively low output, or if it's due to improper biasing. Or both.... Will do a proper oscilloscope biasing soon.

 

[soliloqueen]

I wonder if this is why my D87 has a relatively low output, or if it's due to improper biasing. Or both.... Will do a proper oscilloscope biasing soon.

the u87i is a very quiet microphone with very high noise tbh. it's not a very performant microphone in terms of specs. it's over 10dB quieter than the Ai and its noise level is, to be blunt, hot garbage by modern standards at 18dbA. this is just what the microphone is like. if it's way too quiet, you've likely built it correctly. it might be tempting to put a louder capsule in to try and fix this, but the u87i already has terrible amplifier headroom, so this is not a good idea. not to say it's a bad microphone by any stretch, it's gorgeous tonally, but not a "specs monster"

 

[Electrobumps]

I received my matched k87’s last week (thank you, @soliloqueen) … so I will install one in one of my @poctop D-67’s … and do some A/B comparisons with my Beesneez capsules (which IF I remember correctly are Ben’s “economy” K67’s) which sounded really good BTW …

Would be great if you can post your thoughts on the swap.

 

[Khron]

I wonder if this is why my D87 has a relatively low output, or if it's due to improper biasing. Or both.... Will do a proper oscilloscope biasing soon.

Have you got a computer, an audio interface and a DAW? If the answer is "yes" to all three questions, you don't need a 'scope.

 

[soliloqueen]

people keep bumping the stand during final FR testing, so if your FR curve looks like this:

that's normal, there's nothing wrong with the capsule and it was already tested previously (the capsules are tested like 3 times), it just means the stand got bumped during the final testing for the online charts. annoying, but not an issue the user needs to worry about. currently trying to figure out exactly when in the process the test mic position is being changed. it only happens every 15 or so units, so i can still match pairs no problem in between bumps.

 

[koki]

 

[koki]

Recieved . Thanks !

 

[soliloqueen]

everything is always happening all the time. slowly getting thru the current order volume. shipped well into this year but got a burst of way more orders in spring/summer i'm chewing through. when things are in stock like now, you can always bug me by email to ship your order early if you need it for a project soon.