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Re: noisy 8020 mics

Subject: Re: noisy 8020 mics
From: "Danny" dannymeltzer
Date: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:12 pm ((PDT))
FWIW, I have a pair of 8020s, and have used them for about 5 months and hav=
en't had any problems [yet].

--- In  Munir kureshi <> w=
rote:
>
> Sounds like Sennheiser MK80_ _ series microphones have some serous proble=
ms. I am glad people are posting their experience. My plan was to get a pai=
r of MK80_ _ for stereo recording. Can somebody suggest other microphones i=
n this category that is comparable to MK80_ _. I have MK70/MK30 pair and it=
 works fine except MK70 which is fairly new has some popping sound issue. I=
 also use Schoeps CMIT 5 with CCM 8 and that works very well when they are =
away from moisture.
>
> Regards,
>
> Munir.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 23, 2011, at 3:30 PM, bruce seifried <> wrote=
:
>
> > Oh, man. I know this issue well. Unfortunately.
> >
> > Rather than trust my sometimes quirky memory, I will copy/paste part =

> > of one of my emails to my dealer:
> >
> > *********
> >
> > "Here's a recap of my MKH8020/8040 adventure:
> >
> > =E2=80=A2 Original order was for one pair each of MKH8020 stereo set, a=
nd
> > MKH8040 stereo set. Order date 5/8/08.
> >
> > =E2=80=A2 One of the 8020 omnis went bad on my first remote job. Interm=
ittent
> > full output noise spikes ruined recording.
> > This pair was replaced by Sennheiser on approximately 7/1/08.
> >
> > =E2=80=A2 New pair of 8020's both went bad before my first job with the=
m. Both
> > initially had low-level crackly noise problems. One of them
> > subsequently improved, but both were returned to Sennheiser for a
> > refund.
> >
> > =E2=80=A2 The 8040 pair were initially fine, and worked in my studio. T=
hey
> > were set up here prior to a remote job in October, and one developed =

> > the same low-level crackles that the second 8020 pair had. This noise =

> > took about a minute to get going before manifesting itself, and was =

> > then continuous. These were returned to Sennheiser for a refund.
> >
> > I returned the 8020/8040 pairs for a refund reluctantly, since I did =

> > very much like their sound, especially the 8020s, but I no longer
> > trust that these microphones are reliable enough for me to use in a =

> > professional situation.
> >
> > As a circuit designer myself, I will hazard a guess as to what might =

> > be the cause of these problems.
> >
> > If it were not for the intermittent full-level noise problem with the =

> > first 8020 pair, I would guess that there was some form of
> > contamination to the high impedance section of the pc boards happening =

> > during manufacture, perhaps due to incomplete removal of flux during =

> > soldering. Another possibility is a bad batch of FETs or transistors =

> > sneaking into production. Less likely but still possible would be bad =

> > capacitors. Obviously, I did not open these to determine for certain =

> > what the problem(s) was/were.
> >
> > However, I did notice that the small circular pc board located between =

> > the two halves of the microphones was not firmly attached in place, =

> > and was not always accurately centered. In fact, in one of the mics as =

> > initially received it was so far out of alignment that there were
> > positions of rotation of the XLR assembly where the pin was barely, if =

> > at all, making contact with the circular pc board trace. This might be =

> > a design decision that should be rethought, at least to improve on the =

> > dimensional tolerances  involved."
> >
> > *********
> >
> > My dealer, Steve Remote at Aura Sonic, was a complete saint during
> > this nightmare, and managed to get Sennheiser to completely refund the =

> > cost of these microphones. I have refrained from going public about =

> > all this, since I had not seen any other mention anywhere of anyone =

> > else having these sorts of problems, and I was beginning to doubt my =

> > own sanity. I tried these mics with different mic cables, two
> > different Sound Devices 702 recorders, the KORG DSD recorder, and the =

> > outcome was always the same. Sennheiser denied that anyone else was =

> > having these problems. Apparently, I'm not insane, as is now apparent. =

> > Yay!
> >
> > I feel your pain!
> >
> >
> > bruce seifried
> > eclair engineering
> >
> >
> > On Sep 22, 2011, at 4:21 AM, vickipowys wrote:
> >
> >> All,
> >>
> >> Does anyone else have problems with periodic loud fizzing noise from
> >> Sennheiser 8020 mics?
> >>
> >> Sennheiser replaced one set of mics ('faulty capsule' they said) but
> >> the noise persists in the replacement mics despite me checking
> >> absolutely everything by way of leads and phantom power voltage and
> >> connectors etc. etc.
> >>
> >> Help please!
> >>
> >> Vicki Powys
> >> Australia
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > "While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
> > sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Kraus=
e.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>








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