Superlux S502 MK2 test, teardown and improvements

[micro1_de]

Hi,

I can add this film. S502 MK 2 with Schoeps MK 4. capsules:

https://ostfalen-tv.de/2024/01/16/r...lmann-in-der-kirche-st-johannes-in-hondelage/

Sennheiser MKH mics are known to be better in an environment with a lot of moisture because of the RF principle.
NF mics with the high input impedance are sensitive to dust and moisture.

Best wishes Reiner

 

[Barry Hufker]

@bxf: I'm sure you know as much or more than I. All of my recording is on location but St. Louis is pretty variable in its weather, getting all types. It's often humid but not often rainy. My experience with Schoeps is with the M221B and the more modern (1974 and on) capsules, so I can't comment about other models. And I too have a lot to learn!

 

[Emmathom]

Ok, ok guys, you have won ! Hurra for Sennheiser ! (sincerly)

Anyway I've always dreamed of possessing a MKH serie pair, either 8040 or 8020 (why not both ? $$$$)
I guess they are fantastic mics, not only in terms of reliability but also about sounding !
Well, 5000€ for the two pairs is such a budget though... (but the same budget as for 2 pairs of Schoeps or 2 mics + 4 capsules so...)

BTW, and sorry because it's out of topic, Beyer MC930 is very appreciated too : does anyone here own a pair ?

 

[Barry Hufker]

In my experience, Sennheiser's MKH condenser microphones are pretty wonderful.

 

[micro1_de]

Hi,

I have used MKH 416 in rain. No problem! I do not want to test it with any other mic.

Best wishes Reiner

 

[Emmathom]

Hi,

I can add this film. S502 MK 2 with Schoeps MK 4. capsules:

https://ostfalen-tv.de/2024/01/16/r...lmann-in-der-kirche-st-johannes-in-hondelage/

I went on the link and could not find any video + sound (andI don't read or speak deutch so...)
Can you please provide a link going straight to the audio file please ?

Regards

 

[micro1_de]

I went on the link and could not find any video + sound (andI don't read or speak deutch so...)
Can you please provide a link going straight to the audio file please ?

Regards

Sorry, but it is not possible to post a direct link.

Hi to the end of the Page to the second picture and press start button.

 

[jean-luc brion]

Here we are : Line Audio OM1 (omni) vs Schoeps CT30 (I wait for my friend, the owner, to tell me the right model) cardio/omni but set in ORTF cardio.
All 4 mics are on the same line, 4 meters away from the center of the ensemble. 2,5m high. The 2 onmis are separate by ~2 meters. I've drawn a plan attached.
The sound card is a Behringher X Air 18. Recording in 24bit / 48kHz.
Samples are straight from record : no Fx but omnis are a bit panned to center (so not full L & R but (say) 90%) because phase was "moving" if fully CCW & CW

Schoeps

Line Audio OM1

i listened to both recordings and i prefer the schoeps.
i think i especially prefer the ortf pair to the very distant omnis. the placement of the instruments is much better
i allowed myself to have fun mixing the ortf with the left omni (by the way, weren't right and left reversed?) according to Mic Ulli's method. 70hz 6db high-pass filter on the schoeps and a 70hz 12db low-pass on the om1 in phase inversion

 

[jean-luc brion]

Eh bien, apparemment, mon audio ne fonctionne pas...

 

[jean-luc brion]

Je me demandais également si quelqu'un savait quelle capsule se trouvait dans l'Om1 ?

 

[jean-luc brion]

I try to send my wav again, but I can't do it...
Zut alors

 

[Emmathom]

Je me demandais également si quelqu'un savait quelle capsule se trouvait dans l'Om1 ?

Electret for sure, by © I guess (not Primo as we see often)

About your mixing ORTF with omni it would be great to ear that...

For sure from that distance ORTF worls much more better (and + it's about a Schoeps pair, so not garbage)

The omnis are not reversed but because they have been set too far from the musicians (and too spaced between each other) there are phase issues and instruments are sometimes moving from one side to the other. My bad.

Besides that, the Line Audio omnis sound great (could listen to one side center in mono ou double one side and pan it as double mono L & R to check the sound)

 

[Emmathom]

Sorry, but it is not possible to post a direct link.

Hi to the end of the Page to the second picture and press start button.

strange... it's therefore a Vimeo video ! the name of the video perhaps ?

 

[jean-luc brion]

J'essaye encore...

 

[jean-luc brion]

Oui

 

[Emmathom]

Picts of the Schoeps used...

Mic body CMT 30 F / Capsule M 934 C

 

[jeremynothman]

Ok, ok guys, you have won ! Hurra for Sennheiser ! (sincerly)

Anyway I've always dreamed of possessing a MKH serie pair, either 8040 or 8020 (why not both ? $$$$)
I guess they are fantastic mics, not only in terms of reliability but also about sounding !
Well, 5000€ for the two pairs is such a budget though... (but the same budget as for 2 pairs of Schoeps or 2 mics + 4 capsules so...)

BTW, and sorry because it's out of topic, Beyer MC930 is very appreciated too : does anyone here own a pair ?

I have a pair of the Beyers. They are good, solid, clean mics with a polite high-freq lift.
I find Schoeps are usually a bit better for most things, the B&K/DPA 4011s have more transient (not necessarily better), and KM84s are more my taste for a more vintage/midrange-focussed sound.
Realistically, I’d say that KM84, Schoeps MK4, MKH8040, MKH40 might all be better, but these are really very good mics.

On German EBay it’s not uncommon to see single mics go for 200€ each, which is a far cry less than I paid for my pair back in 2009.

 

[jeremynothman]

Picts of the Schoeps used...

Mic body CMT 30 F / Capsule M 934 C

The M934 capsules sound lovely. You should check out an M221 if you ever get the chance!

 

[ccaudle]

I can add this film. S502 MK 2 with Schoeps MK 4. capsules:

So that recording used the Superlux microphone body, but with real Schoeps capsules?

 

[Emmathom]

On German EBay it’s not uncommon to see single mics go for 200€ each, which is a far cry less than I paid for my pair back in 2009.

@jeremynothman if you can find Beyer MCE930 for 200€ each I'm your man for a pair ! Seriously I'm more than interested...