dialatron
New member
Anyone tried the Triton Audio Fethead inline mic amplifier and if so is this the same as the A95UF SHURE Problem Solvers Transformer ? Any ideas...
mshilarious
Banned
No, the Shure adaptor is a passive transformer, not an amplifier. If you use it for voltage gain, you'll have high output impedance as a tradeoff.
Regarding the Fethead, I haven't tried it, but here are my reactions to their website and spec sheet:
- They have published no real specification. Importantly, we don't know its equivalent input noise, which is a critical spec for any microphone amplifier. We don't know distortion at nominal level, maximum output level, etc.
-Their explanation here is preposterous:
Suggesting that a FET amp will make a dynamic sound like a condenser is . . . um . . . interesting (and there are plenty of FET-input preamps anyway).
Also, suggesting that dynamic microphones are unduly affected by cable capacitance is simply incorrect. A professional dynamic mic has an output impedance as low as most condenser mics. That output impedance is the determining factor on what degree cable capacitance affects the signal (hint: if you're using cables less than 250 feet, you don't need to worry about this) So why the need for an inline amp? None, really. But without a spec, we don't even know this unit's output impedance.
- Finally, they are going to get sued by Neumann for that logo . . .
In summary, and in conclusion, it could be a great product, but they could do themselves a giant favor by publishing real specifications so everyone could know how great it is . . . but again, why the need? Spend the money on a preamp with lower equivalent input noise instead.
Regarding the Fethead, I haven't tried it, but here are my reactions to their website and spec sheet:
- They have published no real specification. Importantly, we don't know its equivalent input noise, which is a critical spec for any microphone amplifier. We don't know distortion at nominal level, maximum output level, etc.
-Their explanation here is preposterous:
fethead manual said:
Suggesting that a FET amp will make a dynamic sound like a condenser is . . . um . . . interesting (and there are plenty of FET-input preamps anyway).
Also, suggesting that dynamic microphones are unduly affected by cable capacitance is simply incorrect. A professional dynamic mic has an output impedance as low as most condenser mics. That output impedance is the determining factor on what degree cable capacitance affects the signal (hint: if you're using cables less than 250 feet, you don't need to worry about this) So why the need for an inline amp? None, really. But without a spec, we don't even know this unit's output impedance.
- Finally, they are going to get sued by Neumann for that logo . . .
In summary, and in conclusion, it could be a great product, but they could do themselves a giant favor by publishing real specifications so everyone could know how great it is . . . but again, why the need? Spend the money on a preamp with lower equivalent input noise instead.
kojdogg
bollocks redux!
It's a pretty new product, but if you Google it you'll find some comments from at least a few folks who have them and have tried them out. It seems that at least a couple have compared it to the similar offering from Rode and find it to be superior (less noisy).
mshilarious
Banned
Yeah, I saw that too, that's a good sign. The Rode I think is -118dBA, which has no business getting anywhere near a ribbon mic.
dialatron
New member
I was looking for something to use with a ribbon mic, I have a Shure
A95FP impedance matching transformer already.My mixing desk is an old analogue Standel which already has low and high gain switches, into an EMU 0202 and into the ibook. I don't want to damage the Reslo mic as its just been re-ribboned. The mic is quiet to say the least,
any ideas ? Its all a learning curve at the moment, sorry if this is a bit basic...
A95FP impedance matching transformer already.My mixing desk is an old analogue Standel which already has low and high gain switches, into an EMU 0202 and into the ibook. I don't want to damage the Reslo mic as its just been re-ribboned. The mic is quiet to say the least,
any ideas ? Its all a learning curve at the moment, sorry if this is a bit basic...
M
mixsit
Well-known member
kojdogg
bollocks redux!
Doesn't the mixing desk have preamps? Is it a problem where phantom power applies to all channels? If not, can't you just use those pres or do they not have enough gain. If the latter, a Rane MS1b might be a good fit, just don't use phantom power.
dialatron
New member
The desk is from 1972, it has lo and hi switches the high are for line, the low for mic's.I am not sure if phantom power existed then ? Just making sure I don't damage the mic. I am looking to boost the signal on the ribbon mic, a stand alone unit or inline one would be good, but not sure what type to use, I have the shure transformer which I have used on my Beyer m400 which sounded good, is this the thing to use on a ribbon...Need to do some research
into....
into....
kojdogg
bollocks redux!
ah, well, the fethead requires phantom power though so you would need a phantom power source or a preamp anyway to power the fethead.
either way it will probably get pretty good results-- either Fethead + phantom power source/preamp to the line input or Preamp (w/o phantom power engaged) to the line input.
either way it will probably get pretty good results-- either Fethead + phantom power source/preamp to the line input or Preamp (w/o phantom power engaged) to the line input.
dgatwood
is out. Leave a message.
Agreed. To put it another way... my Peavey PV8 pres are at -129 dBA (at $25 a channel). They'll handle ribbons acceptably, but even the four dB higher noise floor on a FIREPOD was starting to push the bounds of acceptable noise. I'd hate to think what 11 dB more noise would sound like.
If they really are able to achieve the stated -180 dB(A-weighted ?) EIN, then I'd be really impressed.
mshilarious
Banned
Who said that? That's physically unpossible! At least at room temperature . . .
The thermal noise of a 150 ohm resistor is around -143dBA. The AEA ribbon pre specs -130dBu-A (that's -132dBV-A, or just dBA for short). I doubt anybody is much lower than that, if any.
Well it's rather simple, you can derive the signal-to-noise for any mic/amp combination by taking the difference between the mic's sensitivity and the preamp's equivalent input noise spec. If you have a ribbon mic at -58dBV/Pa, and an amp at -118dBA, then your SNR is a mere 60dB, which would give you the equivalent of a mic with 34dBA self-noise. Dynamics mics have the same problem, but nobody thinks it's a great idea to put an SM58 three feet away from a fingerpicked guitar.
What happens with ribbons is people decide to try and use them like condensers and they get a really quiet signal. Hmm, they think, I need a lot more gain! But when you crank the gain, up comes that very high noise floor.
So people look at the AEA pre and think, hey, +83dB of gain, that's what I need for my ribbon! Not without AEA's noise spec you don't.
M
mixsit
Well-known member
Thanks for that. Somehow I got side tracked thinking -118 as if it was s/n. 
dialatron
New member
Am going to obtain one, could come in useful....
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