Apex 460 capacitor change?

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PhilGood said:
This one had me scratching my head as well! :confused: :confused:

The M7 and K47 are similar in that the drill pattern is a radial design (like attached image). The CEK367 appears to have a grid drill pattern like the K67 and K87. A lot of this attributes the M7 with it's distinctive proximity effect, which is another feature that capsule is known for.

Also, the CEK367 is a 34mm capsule (1.1") and the M7 is a 1".
Click to expand...

Another difference is their pattern response, where K67/87 have more "presise" cardioid.
In fact, even M7 and K47, while having a similar drill pattern have a different response because of the physical size of clamping ring in K47 (remember, MXL990 vs. 991 ;) )
And of course, the PVC diaphragm material in M7 has a major impact on its sound.

Best regards, M
 
PhilGood said:
This one had me scratching my head as well! :confused: :confused:

The M7 and K47 are similar in that the drill pattern is a radial design (like attached image). The CEK367 appears to have a grid drill pattern like the K67 and K87. A lot of this attributes the M7 with it's distinctive proximity effect, which is another feature that capsule is known for.

Also, the CEK367 is a 34mm capsule (1.1") and the M7 is a 1".

So, let's see:

1. two piece capsule instead of one piece.

2. Drilled vent patterns are not the same.

3. Capsule diameters are different.

That's 3 for 3 incorrect on geometry...

...and he says this is his U47ish capsule?? I know it's one he puts in his 2247s. This leaves me with a newly found weird feeling about Peluso. Maybe if I could talk to him he'd be able to put the record straight?
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Phil-- he makes a CEK-347 capsule that isn't listed on the Peluso site. Apparently the CEK-367 was made for a U-67 Peluso clone that never happened.

Incidentally...Pm'ed you :D
 
kojdogg said:
Phil-- he makes a CEK-347 capsule that isn't listed on the Peluso site. Apparently the CEK-367 was made for a U-67 Peluso clone that never happened.

Incidentally...Pm'ed you :D
Click to expand...

Did you get this info straight from him? I sent an email to PML about a week and a half ago asking about this capsule, because I heard about it on another forum, but I never got a reply. John usually replies to any inquiries pretty fast, albeit usually one short sentence.
 
PhilGood said:
Did you get this info straight from him? I sent an email to PML about a week and a half ago asking about this capsule, because I heard about it on another forum, but I never got a reply. John usually replies to any inquiries pretty fast, albeit usually one short sentence.
Click to expand...
First part about the existence of the Peluso 47-type capsule yes; second part no-- I heard that second hand. I wonder if he might be a little reluctant to sell them given that it might hurt his 22 47 (and LE) sales. I guess you could say the same about his CEK-12 capsule, but not about the CEK-367 or CEK-89 capsules.
 
kojdogg,

I talked to John less than a week ago (as I posted above) and he told me that the CEK-367 IS his U47 type capsule. He said that he has a dedicated 67 type that isn't listed that they use that is 34mm and that the 89 was specifically as a replacement for Chinese 32mm capsules.

I talked to him about how the numbers don't match the original mic numbers, but he re-verified to me that the 367 is the 47 type capsule, just that it's 2 piece instead of one, but was designed to sound the same.

Don't shoot the messenger please.

Thanks,

Lucio
 
LDT2 said:
kojdogg,

I talked to John less than a week ago (as I posted above) and he told me that the CEK-367 IS his U47 type capsule. He said that he has a dedicated 67 type that isn't listed that they use that is 34mm and that the 89 was specifically as a replacement for Chinese 32mm capsules.

I talked to him about how the numbers don't match the original mic numbers, but he re-verified to me that the 367 is the 47 type capsule, just that it's 2 piece instead of one, but was designed to sound the same.

Don't shoot the messenger please.

Thanks,

Lucio
Click to expand...
EDIT: Funny thing is that if you check back on page 8, I my understanding was exactly what you're saying. I saw a few mentions of the CEK-347 and maybe that's where I got the idea! :D :o

Lucio,
That's weird-- I called him and asked him about ordering the "347" and he said that it exists, and that when I order it to just order a 367 and write a note in the paypal invoice stating that I wanted a 347. He told me specifically that they have one, but don't list it on that web page with the other capsules. It's very possible, he was just kind of placating me and I'm far from an expert in these things. Either way, it reinforces some of the suspicions and reservations that Marik was talking about. I can understand on some level, that Peluso wants and needs to sell these capsules to people who want to replace damaged capsules in their vintage mics, but on the other hand knows that a lot of people are doing mods like these, which might hurt his sales and that would be a tough bind to be in as there is no real way to tell between the two.
Well, bottom line is that on one hand, I'd be kind of pissed about that kind of snake-oils-manship, on the other hand, I'm very happy about how the capsule sounds.
 
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kojdogg,

So I guess the safest thing to do is what you did and request a 347 whether it exists or is just a 367 anyway.

Did your capsule look like the 367 picture on his site or were there differences?

I plan on getting a capsule for my 1050 when I get the $$$$, so I guess I'll just ask him for the 47 capsule and let him send what he will. Although....

It wouldn't be in his best interest to sell the "wrong" capsule to people, even if they are building their own mic's, because ultimately people will talk about how the mic's sound and anything negative there would hurt his business. I've yet to hear anyone say that they don't like the way his capsules sound and that is ultimately the goal, to have a great sounding mic, right?

The saga continues....

Lucio
 
It looks like the tubestore.com source for the Ansar caps have dried up. The store is still there, but they're out of stock and "don't plan to offer Ansar caps anymore". Does anyone know of another source? I've tried a few but their overseas.
 
Or if anyone has an extra Ansar cap laying around, and would be willing to sell it...I'll happily give it a home.

Bryan
 
O.K. I just called Peluso to order the capsule for my 1050 and he told me to get their 67 capsule instead of the 367 and when I told him I was going for a U47 sound he said to get their 47 capsule. He said that they haven't put them up on their site yet.

So..... the capsules they have are the CEK 12, 367, 89, 67 and 47, which duplicates the originals. They all have the same price except for the 89. Hopefully this will clear up the confusion. I was simply quoting what was told to me on the phone earlier, so sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

Lucio
 
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Do the Auricaps fit inside the Apex Body???

Rummaging thru the junkbox I found some .47mike Auricap@450v and some of the damn french caps, Solens... 1 mike at 400v...
Has anyone tried to shoehorn them in???

Also has anyone tried using the Black Gate NONpolarized (Yea The red ones) at the cathode?

Also I wonder about the Zeners at the tail end of the PS. Zeners generate a bunch of broardband noise. Put the scope to them and see.

Phil
Santa Fe
 
A tech put one in one of my pimped-out Nady TCM 1050s at C8 (not sure of the value), but the housing is larger than the TCM 1150/Apex 460
 
craigmorris74 said:
Very unscientific comparison of:
1. Apex 460-CEK367 capsule, new C8, C6 and C7 still in place, Cinemag 2480
2. Nady 1050-CEK12 capsule, new C8, no C6 or C7, cathode follower removed, Cinemag 2480
3, Neumann U87 Ai

Samples are recorded through a JLM Baby Animal with a JH 990 opamp and JLM 14 transformer at about 2 feet in unidirectional mode.

apex guitar
apex voice
nady guitar
nady voice
neumann guitar
neumann voice

Very different mics.
Click to expand...
Thanks for those clips!
I am thinking of modding one of my 460's, is that Cinemag 2480 hard to fit?
 
The 2480 fits easily in the existing transformer housing. I used silicone glue to hold mine in.

Since I did those samples, I found that Nady was just way too thin, and put a Black Gate back in at C6 and a metal film at C7 (the clips were made without C6 and C7). Makes the mic much more balanced.

Craig
 
Hi Craig did you use a nonpolarized Black Gate or standard? nt

I have found the "NPs" sound better.

Has anyone done anything to the Power supply?

Phil
Santa Fe
 
I've only used the Standard Black Gates, so I can't comment on the NP's.

Has anyone done anything to the Power supply?
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Do you mean as far as cap upgrades, or the power supply in general.
 
The Power Supply in general...

Starting at the bridge diodes all the way back to the output. All that stuff is part of the signal path. What I cant understand is the use of zeners. A choke / cap supply will sound MUCH better than the cap / resistor supply. (Better= more dynamics, extension and less noise.)
I havent run the "PSU DESIGNER II" on it yet but I will in the next few days. That will tell a better story. Single ended amps are Ruled by their power supplies.

Things to replace in the PS.
Diodes.. replace with low noise schottky types
Heater regulator replace with LT low dropout types
all the caps (Black gates in the front and a high quality film cap (Mundorfs or better) in the last position.
Replace resistors with Mills resistors.
Loose the PC board and go point to point with silver wire.
Snubbers
Mu metal shielding to keep the mike output well away from the PS.
Lose the zeners.

Rebuilding the PS is not really a big deal but it would push the mike into the ultra fi realm.

I am waiting for the delivery of 5 Apex 460...
And will begin remodeling next week.

Phil
Santa Fe
 
Nope, I haven't gone this far yet, but you may have encouraged me to do so!
 
Jeez man,

Is this mic really worth all that work to the power supply?

Seems like you'd get to the point price-wise (if you're going apeshit on the rest of the mic too) that you could probably just buy a Pearlman.
 
i think that if you know what you're doing electronics and soldering-wise, none of the capacitors or other components (other than the capsule and transformer of course), will cost more than $10-- most probably less than half of that.
 
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