MK219 headbasket mod....really?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steenamaroo
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Steenamaroo

Steenamaroo

...
hi all...


havin read a lot of info around here and elsewhere about the mk219 (big thanks M.Joly and S.Dorsey), i decided to break and the tools and do the 'easy ' mods..

i never had a problem with the mics, as such..and although i love the fact that they aren't hyped at the high end as many condensers are,,,i still always felt they could be ,,IDK,less muddy? more open?....


anyway,,,i did the following.. back and front.

removed the metal framework that covers the mesh..

reduced the mesh to one layer.

removed the resonance discs that cover the capsule

dampened the body with silicone....





now....i kinda pride myself on being able to hear things that maybe others can't,, but.......the pre/post mod mics sound the same!?!??!


OK...so,,,maybe not the same...the high end frequencies seem to be reduced a bit post mod (to do with the resonance discs?),,,and admittedly,,,if you tap the mic post mod,,,it sounds like your tapping a brick rather than a large bell tuned to C sharp,,,but beyond that...i don't hear much of a difference!!


i did brief vocal tests, and brief acoustic guitar tests using ward beck m470a pres...

is it just me?

*edit* i'm aware that the electronics mods are where the big money's at,,but still.....i've heard rave reviews of mechanical mods only.
 
You mean you didn't cut out all of the cross bars on the head basket?




:cool:
 
i did...


i cut away the metal frame.........the black bars on the outside that are part of the casing...
 
Try recording some white noise pre/post right up against your tweeter and plot on FFT--these type of refractions will show up as peaks and nulls in HF response. Depending on the quality of your hearing, playback system, environmental noise, etc., it might be hard to directly detect on a source without a lot of that HF, but in theory the pre mic's HF should look like this:

^^^^^^^

And post:

_________


That's an exaggeration of what you will see, because you'll also be recording the tweeter response, but if you compare the two, the post should look smoother.
 
Oh, you don't have a pre and post mic? Then it will be nearly impossible for you to hear the difference by memory, unless you have quite a lot of experience with the mic. You need a reasonably repeatable method of recording.
 
aye,,,at the time of the first post on here, i had a pre mod and a post mod that i set up together...


but i've since modded the second mic...

in for a penny huh? lol....

maybe that wasn't a smart move, but sure....we live and learn.
 
I won't worry about it, short of messing up the headbasket continuity with the case, or spitting all over the capsule, I don't see a lot of downside to headbasket mods.
 
yeh,,,fair point!

this is the weirdest thing though...

i took a bit of time with the pair there,,,recorded some stereo acoustic guitar, then overdubbed vox,,,,all on the 219s..


i know i said i didn't hear much of a difference,,,but somehow, in proper use.....i'm liking them a lot more....


idk,,,nothing you can put your finger on but that's often the way right?
 

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Steenamaroo said:
yeh,,,fair point!

this is the weirdest thing though...

i took a bit of time with the pair there,,,recorded some stereo acoustic guitar, then overdubbed vox,,,,all on the 219s..


i know i said i didn't hear much of a difference,,,but somehow, in proper use.....i'm liking them a lot more....


idk,,,nothing you can put your finger on but that's often the way right?
Click to expand...

What that a picture of? I can't make it out.
Never mind I can see it now .... man I need new glasses.




:cool:
 
Last edited:
It is all right I've got it. Looks to e a great job on your end! you'll be an expert in no time and charging the big bucks to do this for other people.




:cool:
 
Steenamaroo said:
yeh,,,fair point!

this is the weirdest thing though...

i took a bit of time with the pair there,,,recorded some stereo acoustic guitar, then overdubbed vox,,,,all on the 219s..


i know i said i didn't hear much of a difference,,,but somehow, in proper use.....i'm liking them a lot more....


idk,,,nothing you can put your finger on but that's often the way right?
Click to expand...


I was going to suggest living with them a while and the differences might become more apparent, but it sounds like you're on your way.
 
yeh,,,i definitely made the rookie mistake of expecting everything to sound amazing RIGHT NOW!!!! lol

they're not quite as tidy as they look in the pic,,but i'm happy enough! Cheers!!
 
Dogbreath said:
Obviously a picture of two overly ripe bananas sittin in coffee cups. sheesh... :rolleyes:


:laughings:

(I need new specs too :D )
Click to expand...

Alright ....so there is a coffee cup in the picture correct?
I thought I was going bonkers.




:cool:
 
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