Electric condensers Vs transformless

[Mr Blues]

Electric condensers Vs Transformless condensers.

What do folks here prefer?

I know both types of mics have there own character.

For example the Rode NT3 specs are a JFET for the impedance-conversion stage, and a transformerless bipolar output
first time I have heard about this impedence conversion stage ( I am at all technical).

What other well known condensers have this impendence conversion and are transformless? It does create a different sound then the electric condensers i have found and obviously any dynamic.

Someone here mentioned the Shure Beta 57 ,I wonder if that is also transformless condenser or slightly different?


Dave

 

[apratsunrthd]

I'll admit that I'm clueless on the rest but as far as I know, the Beta 57 is a dynamic mic, not a condenser.

Maybe this will give you a bump so you can get your answer.

 

[crazydoc]

What other well known condensers have this impendence conversion and are transformless?

Beaucoups. Probably most of them (especially the cheap ones), as this is the most cost-effective configuration.

As far as input (impedance conversion) they are all either FET (solid state) or vacuum tube (I think even the ones with op amp IC's at the inputs like some of the CAD mics use FET input op amps.). Output stage is either with or without transformer.

So a condenser mic can have any of four configurations regarding the above parameters.

 

[craigmorris74]

Dave,

The SM58 is a dynamic, not a condenser. It has a transformer, as do most dynamic and ribbon microphones.

Transformerless condenser mics were designed to have less effect on the signal than those with transformers, but this isn't always the case. In my estimate, if you're spending <$300-400 on a condenser microphone, then go with a transformerless model. Good transformers are very expensive. About the cheapest transformer balanced condenser I'd recommend is the Audio Technica 4047.

I will add that most of the famous condenser microphones have transformers in their path, but again, you're usually talking easily more than $1000. There are some nice transformerless condenser microphones on the market today.

Craig

 

[pohaku]

And in some cases, it's all a matter of individual taste. I have a Gefell MT711s (transformerless) and a Gefell M71 (prior model with transformer). They sound slightly different with the transformer mic having slightly more presence in the mids and the transformerless mic having a bit more air. Both sound wonderful and it's mostly a matter of trying them on the applicable source and seeing which works best.