Superlux S502 MK2 test, teardown and improvements

[jp8]

Did we ever find out if there's a body that fits these capsules?

Maybe someone else did, but as @Emmathom mentioned in a previous post, we are working on an SDC with the S502 Mk2 capsule on a black counterfeit Samson C02 microphone and using my circuit. As we speak, I just received the prototypes assembled by @Emmathom and a friend of his.

We couldn't find a donor body that we could directly screw a Mk2 capsule onto, so opted for modifying an existing 20mm body. We're still searching for a similar solution for the Mk1 capsule.

Jan

 

[SubSpec]

@jp8 & @Emmathom

Perhaps in the interest of clarity on this thread, given you're not doing a community project here and this thread started and has been about the S502 overhaul with the OP creating and providing PCBs to the community, a new thread would be more appropriate for your other project.

It's understandable how we got to this discussion in this thread, but it's also understandable that folks who might have intended to ask about the OPs circuit might mistakenly think the circuit being discussed in your posts is the same the OP is discussing and providing boards for.

 

[jp8]

Sounds like you're holding out on something you plan to make money off of - isn't promoting that disallowed here?

Tell me, what has @MicUlli done since post #58 and beyond?

Jan

 

[bremusound]

Well, MicUlli posted all schematics here, and he is selling kits, not ready-to-use mics.

 

[Emmathom]

@MicUlli has done a great job and thank to him ! At a certain time he proposed his PCBA for a certain amount of money (which is correct to me / and I paid for one). He also posted his circuit which is cool.

Now @jp8 has designed a 100% original circuit on his own using S502 MkII capsules that HE DID NOT proposed for sale nor wanted to show for his reasons : WHAT IS THE ISSUE HERE ?

Is there any RULE that says that since you mention an original circuit (yours 100%) you HAVE TO post the schematic concerned ???
Come'on guys... A community project ?

 

[Emmathom]

We (@jp8 & I) started this project from @MicUlli measurements which showed that the Schoeps and Superlux S502 capsules were very close and that they were even interchangeable.
Then @jp8 & I decided to try to build a SDC with this capsule. @jp8 built different circuits (4 in total and at our expense) to keep only one that we mounted in a body that we had to adapt by a significant mechanical work (at our expense once again).
We have just finished them and the idea was to make measurements that we would share here and to record as soon as possible some live music with a couple of Schoeps in parallel in order to compare the results and post them + the sound samples here in this thread.
That's all. No intend to sell this project has been mentionned here as I gues...

 

[SubSpec]

My point is simply this, the poster above stated:

I`m in for one circuit. (s502, 1st gen.)

Context clues should make it obvious to both of you that the question was in reference to MicUlli's circuit, but instead you just told this person they can't have it. It would be very easy for them to take your message to mean the circuit this thread is actually about is not available to them.

Thus, rather than continuing that kind of confusion why not start another thread.

Also, once you post the schematics here I think it is certainly fair to call it a community project. That's really the whole point here, and whether it's additionally provided in a paid kit or not by making the design open to the community it becomes a community project.

 

[Emmathom]

My point is simply this, the poster above stated:


Context clues should make it obvious to both of you that the question was in reference to MicUlli's circuit, but instead you just told this person they can't have it. It would be very easy for them to take your message to mean the circuit this thread is actually about is not available to them.

Thus, rather than continuing that kind of confusion why not start another thread.

Also, once you post the schematics here I think it is certainly fair to call it a community project. That's really the whole point here, and whether it's additionally provided in a paid kit or not by making the design open to the community it becomes a community project.

Well I don't agree so easily... Please look carefully at post #316 : @inmediasres replies to a post regarding @jp8 work (and he quoted him in his post) so not about @MicUlli's one...
If it's not the case, please admit that the @inmediasres intend to "be in" is a bit confusing, no ? The whole debate starts from post #311...
Regards

 

[SubSpec]

Yes, that is my point. This entire thread was about the S502 then we drifted to talking about your circuit, and the poster replied to a post about your circuit, obviously confused by the context switching. They likely came from an earlier post and naturally replied to a more recent post requesting a PCB.

Regardless, they very clearly posted s502, 1st gen., which should make it extremely obvious they were not referring to your circuit.

Either way, it is not deeply important to me and I'll not argue the point further. I was simply hoping to provide some help guiding the thread back on track as I think it has been a very interesting thread and I've enjoyed watching it evolve. It just seemed very presumptive to hijack it then shut down someone requesting the board the thread was actually about.

 

[Emmathom]

Sorry if we mixed up things... We really thought this was going in the continuity of @MicUlli's thread...
If needed we'll indeed open a dedicated thread.
Regards

 

[Sebastian Krause]

I have to add a comment: Ulli made a good job and he had a lot of work with the kits. I've builded one, the kit is well documented and all parts are sorted and fixed on a paper, this is a lot of work. For me the price is OK and I'm very happy with the result so I will build a second one whenever Ulli starts a second batch. If anybody find a solution for a single SDC with this capsule, I'm interested but it's depending on price. The ORTF is very nice too

 

[RuudNL]

@Emmathom and @jp8 : What's the point of discussing a 'secret' project here if there is no intention to make further details public? (This could also have been exchanged via private email.)

 

[Emmathom]

@Emmathom and @jp8 : What's the point of discussing a 'secret' project here if there is no intention to make further details public? (This could also have been exchanged via private email.)

It's not about a "secret project" ! (but why is this subject making so much noise???)

It's about, to go on with @MicUlli measurements and tests, to try to build an SDC (and not an ORTF) with the S502MKII capsule and so a dedicated circuitry (from scratch).
We've done that part. 2 pairs are built and 100% functional. There's still some circuitry's adjustements regarding the Fr.
And then we have measurements & real situation audio tests to make so to be able to post them here in a way to share them with the members.

@jp8 measurement gear has broke down so he's waiting for some components to fix it...
About real situation audio tests I don't run a studio so opportunities come as they do. But I have a double-bass duo to record within the next 2 weeks and I will record with our "SDC project's mics pair" AND in // with a Schoeps CMT30 pair with M934C capsules so we'll be able to compare...

This is about a 100% original DIY circuitry and If we had posted the thing without any technical & audio tests everybody would have criticized our lack of information (and rigor...)

However :
- If @jp8 which is "the father" of the circuit decides to sell his work then it will be done on dedicated groupdiy market area. (or thru private messages)
- If he does not want to, we would have shown at least how close a Schoeps SDC to a S502MKII capsule with a certain PCBA can be.

AND for that part (measurements & audio tests of our mic project) we will open a dedicated thread.

Regards

 

[jp8]

@Emmathom and me already apologized and we agreed on taking our project to our own thread, if it ever comes to that. But if people continue to ask us questions or make remarks, then the discussion will never end. Action provokes reaction.

So may we kindly ask you to refrain from making any reference again to this issue from now on? There were several posts here I felt the urge to reply to, but I did not, so as not to fan the flames any further. I hope everyone can exercise the same self-control. Thanks.

Jan

 

[MicUlli]

From my point of view the discussion is completely okay. It is always worth a try to get donor bodies that can carry the capsules of S502 and S502MKII. Regarding the electronics stuff i personally dont believe that a further improvement beyond my circuit is necessary.
The S502 (MKII) capsules dictate the sound, which is very natural and clear. All the stuff with transformers and / or charge amplification produces a vintage mojo mix that doesnt fit to the capsule quality.
BTW i tried to get the capsules into omni pattern as mentioned in the tread "If only two mics.." Perhaps interesting.
So long MicUlli

 

[jean-luc brion]

Ça y est
I did it
and it works
the SuperLuXSuperMicUlliSuper mk1
classy
and of course I thank MicUlli
and Guy Super too who soldered the PCBs for me.

 

[swinglab]

Where can i find PCB & components please ?