Peluso Capsule Swap?

[Bob's Mods]

Have anyone ever done a capsule swap? I'm thinking of swapping out a capsule in one of my mics with one of those that are sold by Peluso Microphones. I would think that the only issue would be the physical mounting.
My thinikin is if you've already got decent electronics in your mic, then swapping out the existing OK capsule for a high end one might yield a result that is many times more than its actual cost.

What sayith the knaves in the gallery that knowith of such things?

Bob

 

[crazydoc]

I swapped capsules in MXL990 with Oktava 219. I like the 219 capsule in the 990 body/headamp for vocals on my voice. I still need to upgrade the capsule to gate cap and take the HF boost disk off to see if I like it better.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=111505

Michael Joly has also done a lot of these mods with Oktavas - check this thread:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=131639&page=2&pp=25

But I guess you've already seen that one as you posted in it.

Also, go here if you haven't already - it's the best recording audio DIY on the net:
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/
Lots of mic mod info - check in the Lab in the meta-meta thread under microphones.

 

[Bob's Mods]

So Crazydoc, I gather its not an insane thing to contemplate then. I would think most any reasonable capsule can be mixed and matched and the mic will work.

Now the big question is, if I pick up one of those nice Peluso capsules will I see a nice boost in performance? I notice he sells mounts for his capsules too.

This is looking like a cool next project.

Bob

 

[crazydoc]

Bob

Since the capsule is just a capacitor, you're just substituting one for another in the headamp circuit. Of course, the slightly different capacitance values will likely change the circuit's response with regard to frequency response and harmonic distortion to some degree I'd think, for better or worse.

My own personal, ignorant opinion is that the capsule in and of itself (design and construction) has a greater influence on the mic's sound than the rest of the circuit (given a reasonably adequate circuit), so as you suggest, swapping one out for a better one is likely to improve the mic.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[paddyponchero]

Have anyone ever done a capsule swap? I'm thinking of swapping out a capsule in one of my mics with one of those that are sold by Peluso Microphones. I would think that the only issue would be the physical mounting.
My thinikin is if you've already got decent electronics in your mic, then swapping out the existing OK capsule for a high end one might yield a result that is many times more than its actual cost.

What sayith the knaves in the gallery that knowith of such things?

Bob

Hey Bob,

Any progress with that project, I've been eying those capsules too.

Thanks, Paddy

 

[kidvybes]

Not worth the effort/dollars...

In many of the reviews I've read with David Royer, while explaining his mod kits for the Chinese mics, he seemed rather impressed with the quality of the budget capsules ("the Marshall MXL2001/ADK A51 uses a capsule that is copied from the Neumann kk67/87 capsule...the copied capsule works darn well in it's own right, if it is mated with well designed electronics" as per Royer)...enough so to recommend replacing the circuitry and the power source as a more realistic improvement rather than including the capsule as part of the process...my guess would be that it would only be beneficial if the circuitry of the mic to be modded was of very high quality to begin with...Peluso makes his capsules as replacements for vintage high-end mics, not so much mods for lesser quality products...too many dollars for too little improvement...just my two-cents...

 

[paddyponchero]

In many of the reviews I've read with David Royer, while explaining his mod kits for the Chinese mics, he seemed rather impressed with the quality of the budget capsules ("the Marshall MXL2001/ADK A51 uses a capsule that is copied from the Neumann kk67/87 capsule...the copied capsule works darn well in it's own right, if it is mated with well designed electronics" as per Royer)...enough so to recommend replacing the circuitry and the power source as a more realistic improvement rather than including the capsule as part of the process...my guess would be that it would only be beneficial if the circuitry of the mic to be modded was of very high quality to begin with...Peluso makes his capsules as replacements for vintage high-end mics, not so much mods for lesser quality products...too many dollars for too little improvement...just my two-cents...

Thank for those pearls of wisdom, little or nothing is accomplished without experimentation so why discourage I am an electronics engineer and can replace and modify ciruitry all I want but this thread is about capsules ....

 

[Bob's Mods]

I still haven't decided if I want to try this yet. It is my belief that if you've got respectable electronics, then changing the OK capsule for a better one should yield some kind of improvement. The proof is in the pudding (and you can't have any pudding until you eat your meat!)

Bob

 

[kidvybes]

the point is...

Thank for those pearls of wisdom, little or nothing is accomplished without experimentation so why discourage I am an electronics engineer and can replace and modify ciruitry all I want but this thread is about capsules ....

...Royer, who has a lot more expertise than I (and I'll guess a bit more than you, PaddyP) makes it quite clear that the variation in capsules, from the bargain mics to the higher-end product, doesn't have as much bearing on the quality of sound as does the design and component quality of the circuitry and power source...experimentation is fine, as long as the cost ratio is in proportion to the potential gain in performance...the Peluso capsules start at about $100. and go up from there...so, if you got the bucks and feel like "experimenting", please feel free to let the rest of us know how it turns out...I've spent a few bucks on vintage tubes to upgrade some of my tube mics, only to find very minor sonic improvements (if any) for the most part (but the tubes, although of vintage origin/quality, were obtained on Ebay at less than the cost of the new Russian/Chinese versions)...so I understand the value of experimentation...if you see a Peluso capsule going for around $20, let me know and I'll give the swap a try...

...by the way (but not really related), I did buy Mr.Peluso's custom metal "pop screen", and I got to say that for $21. it kills the common fabric-type screens...much more sonically transparent...does that qualify as "experimenting"?...

 

[paddyponchero]

...Royer, who has a lot more expertise than I (and I'll guess a bit more than you, PaddyP) makes it quite clear that the variation in capsules, from the bargain mics to the higher-end product, doesn't have as much bearing on the quality of sound as does the design and component quality of the circuitry and power source...experimentation is fine, as long as the cost ratio is in proportion to the potential gain in performance...the Peluso capsules start at about $100. and go up from there...so, if you got the bucks and feel like "experimenting", please feel free to let the rest of us know how it turns out...I've spent a few bucks on vintage tubes to upgrade some of my tube mics, only to find very minor sonic improvements (if any) for the most part (but the tubes, although of vintage origin/quality, were obtained on Ebay at less than the cost of the new Russian/Chinese versions)...so I understand the value of experimentation...if you see a Peluso capsule going for around $20, let me know and I'll give the swap a try...

...by the way (but not really related), I did buy Mr.Peluso's custom metal "pop screen", and I got to say that for $21. it kills the common fabric-type screens...much more sonically transparent...does that qualify as "experimenting"?...

OK so you dig the tube sound, I don't doubt that the cathode follower circuit proposed by mr royer has a very dramatic effect on the sound of an MXL2001 etc. as does the jensen transformer. I'm not expecting anything that dramatic.

I'm a big believer in good transformers coupled with good solid state electronics, after that I really think that differences in the design of the backplate, choice of membrane material, membrane thickness, uniformity and tensioning are all very important.

 

[Bob's Mods]

There is no one component swap that will turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. It's a combination of design and quality components thoughout. Simply changing a lower grade tube for a better one is easy but I would not expect this to create a gem of a mic in one fell swoop. This is a product which is the sum of individual parts, a good design coupled with quality components will yield a superior product. I have been unimpressed with Chinese capsules so far (I am no expert on them however). They are mass produced. Your high end mics are more of a work of art, made in small quantities by very experienced people who spend more time on each one.

Bob