Sources for LDC Capsules - List

[Whoops]

UPDATE (I will keep updating the list more suggestions are posted)

Hi all,
I've been out of the microphone DIY section for some years. When I was doing this was so long ago that the capsules available were the Dale capsule and the Equinox, they had great reviews but none exist nowadays.

I've been researching on the present sources for LDC capsules and I came up with the following:

- Peluso (CK12, K47, K89, K67, K87)
http://www.pelusomicrophonelab.com/parts/Capsules.html
- Beesneez (CK12, K47, K67, K87, M7)
https://beesneezproaudio.com/capsules/
- Advanced Audio Microphones (CK12, K47, K67)
https://advancedaudio.ca/collections/diy
- Microphone Parts (CK12, K47, K87)
https://microphone-parts.com/collections/capsules
- Thiersch (only M7 type)
https://www.thiersch-mic.de/en/estm_produkte.html
- Tim Campbell (only CK12 type)
http://www.timcampbell.dk/index2b.htm
- Luke Audio (CK12, K47, K67, K87)
https://lukeaudiollc.com/capsules/
- Neumann (K47, K49, K87, K870, K89)
https://sennprospares.co.uk/neumann/neumann-capsules
- Heiserman Audio (CK12, K47, K67, K87)
https://heisermanaudio.com/products/hk-47-capsule
- Flea Microphones (M7, M9, K47)
http://www.flea-microphones.com/parts.html
- Poctop, Dany (M7)
http://vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/Caspsule.html
- 3U Audio (K87,M7,K47, K67)
www.3uaudio.com

- Dachman Audio (K47,K87, CK12, M7)
https://www.dachmanaudio.com/product-category/microphone-capsules/
- WGT Center (K47,K67,CK12)
https://wgtcenter.com/collections/capsules-element
- 797
http://www.797microphone.com/
- Feilo
http://www.feilo-usa.com/condenser_microphones.htm
- Rayking
http://www.raykingtek.com/
- Shuaiyin
http://www.shuaiy.com/
I would like to ask you what other sources for LDC capsules do you know or recommend?
could be high end or cheap, just would like to evaluate and do a list of the possibilities at the moment

Thanks

 

[fsalter]

- Maiku: K87, K47, CK12
- Poctop: M7
-3u: K87,M7,K47, K67
-Transound (JLI): TSC-2 (coming soon, probably K47)
...and a few others

 

[Recording Engineer]

-Luke Audio: A full line
-Samar Audio: Mark’s own cardioid creation
-Flea: M7 (same as Thiersch), M9, K47
-Neumann: Their full line
-OPR: CK12
-Heiserman Audio: A full line

Other than Heiserman, AA, Peluso, and MP, I’ve owned or heard most of them and recommend them all, depending on application.

 

[Whoops]

- Maiku: K87, K47, CK12
- Poctop: M7
-3u: K87,M7,K47, K67
-Transound (JLI): TSC-2 (coming soon, probably K47)
...and a few others

thanks,

Maiku I got the website, seem to be rebranded capsules from China

As for Poctop I can't find a webpage... where can I order it from?

Also for 3U Audio, I dont see any source for capsules made by 3U. where do you guys buy the 3U capsules from?

Transound I could find a website for the TSC-1 page, but no info for any TSC-2.
The TSC-1 looks like a K67 style capsule, am I right?

Thank you so much

 

[Whoops]

-Luke Audio: A full line
-Samar Audio: Mark’s own cardioid creation
-Flea: M7 (same as Thiersch), M9, K47
-Neumann: Their full line
-OPR: CK12
-Heiserman Audio: A full line

Other than Heiserman, AA, Peluso, and MP, I’ve owned or heard most of them and recommend them all, depending on application.

thanks,
Luke Audio also has a good presentation but all the capsules use thin 1u mylar,it's a bit strange since most capsules use 3u or 6u.
https://lukeaudiollc.com/capsules/

Samar audio, I don't see any capsule offering, just microphones and transformers.
Did you see any capsule offering from Samar?

Neumann, I can find the Sennheiser spares site although there's no prices there. But I suppose most capsules cost more them 500€

OPR CK12
https://www.openplanrecording.com/product-page/mck12

Heiserman Audio
https://heisermanaudio.com/products/hk-47-capsule

Flea
http://www.flea-microphones.com/parts.html

 

[Ricardus]

As for Poctop I can't find a webpage... where can I order it from?

http://www.vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/Caspsule.html

 

[Recording Engineer]

Yes, Luke Audio does 1-micron vs. 3 or 6 or otherwise. It’s inspired by Stephen Paul. It’s been a “fight” since 1980 when he Stephen started doing 3-micron. He’s why 3-micron is considered common now. He lost use of his hands at an early age due to crippling arthritis, so his apprentice Tony Merrill were his hands for many years. They were down to 0.3-micron at the time of Stephen’s early death in 2003 after years of being sick.

I have a pair of Luke’s LA-6 capsules, his stock LA-4, a custom-tuned LA-4 (just arrived), a pair of modded Flea F47s by him, a pair of modded Campbell CT12s by him, and his AL-Y56 mic and 3 cardioid capsules.

poctop, Dany D7:
http://vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/Caspsule.html

I have a pair of Dany’s capsules.

I may have overstepped with Samar’s capsule. Mark offered his capsules prior to his official condenser mic release. I’m not sure if he’s still offering. I purchased 3.

Maiku’s edge-terminated K67 is one of the best. It’s what I’d go with if not choosing the Luke Audio direction or going with one of the more true CK12-style capsules. I’d personally look elsewhere if looking at their other capsules.

3U capsules directly from 3U Audio:
www.3uaudio.com

 

[Whoops]

Thank you so much for your post and info

Yes, Luke Audio does 1-micron vs. 3 or 6 or otherwise. It’s inspired by Stephen Paul. It’s been a “fight” since 1980 when he Stephen started doing 3-micron. He’s why 3-micron is considered common now. He lost use of his hands at an early age due to crippling arthritis, so his apprentice Tony Merrill were his hands for many years. They were down to 0.3-micron at the time of Stephen’s early death in 2003 after years of being sick.

Doesn't Neumann uses 6 micron on their LDC capsules?
I know the M7 was around 10 micron but that was PVC, before Mylar was used

Why going for such a thin membrane?

 

[Whoops]

I updated the list, next I will had the prices so it's easier to compare all the options
if you have more sources let them coming

Any source to buy Beijing 797 capsules?
Do they sell separate capsules from the mics?

 

[kingkorg]

797 Audio, just contact them directly, they do sell the capsules.

797

http://www.797microphone.com/

Feilo

http://www.feilo-usa.com/condenser_microphones.htm

Rayking

http://www.raykingtek.com/

Shuaiyin

http://www.shuaiy.com/

Sony

https://sony.encompass.com/item/1452280/Sony/A-8262-982-A/

 

[Recording Engineer]

You can also buy the C38B and C800 (non G) capsule from Sony. I chose a pair of C38Bs because their response is closer to the C37A capsule. The C800 capsule (non G) is a more modern-version (improved-version?) of the classic Sony capsule.

https://sony.encompass.com/item/1418481/Sony/A-4510-006-A

https://www.servicesplus.sel.sony.com/sony-part-number-A4510006A.aspx

I can’t remember the part number for the C800 (non G). I can find it if I dig deep. Anyone have it off-hand? You have to be perfectly accurate to find it on any Sony site or if you call them. You can’t just say the capsule in this mic or that mic. They’ll have no idea what you’re talking about. All part of Sony’s world-renowned, horrific customer service.

 

[Whoops]

The thing about well known brands spare parts, Sony, Neumann and Geffel included is that the capsules are so expensive that it makes them much less interesting for DIY purposes. Specially when there’s alternatives of the same quality or better for 1/3 of the price.
I’ve seen some sources for spare LDC Neumann capsules for 800€. So I’m not sure if that’s relevant to this list.
But I will had them up

Thanks

 

[Recording Engineer]

Doesn't Neumann uses 6 micron on their LDC capsules?
I know the M7 was around 10 micron but that was PVC, before Mylar was used

Why going for such a thin membrane?

Yes. As a general statement, Neumann says 6-micron Mylar is about the minimum they recommend from a reliability standpoint. Stephen disagreed.

Klaus Heyne, Stephen’s competitor, has always maintained that he simply doesn’t like the sound. I highly-suspect his experience is pretty much mostly limited to simply swapping out capsules on stock Neumanns and AKGs, or a very unmaintained and sick mic that may not even been much of a pilar of Stephen’s work in the first place and instead simply what a customer requested.

I’ve seen plenty of people view Stephen’s work simply as a marketing tactic or just a sign-of-the-times, just as ripping out iron.

I’ve seen many horrified by Stephen’s work. I’ve seen many love his work.

Whatever one’s view, Stephen was an eccentric (exacerbated by pain and medication in the later years), extremely meticulous artist. Many many popular 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000s musicians and engineers loved his work. Given all he contributed, I wish he was more well-known and his Tony Merrill helped better represented his legacy instead what has happened.

In my numerous 4-8 hour conversations with Stephen a few years before is passing, he always emphasized microphones as a system. In those same conversations, we talked his favorite mod to the C12. I’m confident my pair of Stephen Paul modded C12 inspired pair of mics I had Barbaric build me, hold their own... And I love the Klaus Heyne modded 251s I used at 25th Street, Oakland!

 

[emrr]

You can get several AKG 414 capsules, and it appears Pearl will sell their rectangular capsules. 

 

[Recording Engineer]

Good call!

 

[Avgatzeblouz]

There is Braingasm Labs, that does sell his own Neumann-style makings. Should be interesting as well.

 

[Whoops]

There is Braingasm Labs, that does sell his own Neumann-style makings. Should be interesting as well.

I dont see any capsules for sale from them just microphones