I am looking for a microphone to measure my two-way infinite baffle speakers for the Pass DIY biamp 6-24 crossover. Preferably calibrated, XLR and I'll use dual channel measurement so I followed @Bazabing thread https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...ntuitive-beginners-measurement-set-up.393744/ with interest.
Cross-Spectrum's calibrated Dayton EMM-6 microphone would have fitted the bill nicely at $75, but as they don't ship to the UK where I am based it isn't an option.
That leaves the next two contenders: the Dayton EMM-6 at around £96 ($121) on Amazon, or the Beyerdynamic MM1 at £185 ($233) both with a factory calibration.
The MM1 is quite a lot more expensive for one-off project. Which would you pick, and why?
TIA
John
Cross-Spectrum's calibrated Dayton EMM-6 microphone would have fitted the bill nicely at $75, but as they don't ship to the UK where I am based it isn't an option.
That leaves the next two contenders: the Dayton EMM-6 at around £96 ($121) on Amazon, or the Beyerdynamic MM1 at £185 ($233) both with a factory calibration.
The MM1 is quite a lot more expensive for one-off project. Which would you pick, and why?
TIA
John
Looking at the two options the Beyer seems a better value with the factory calibration. Otherwise they are fully interchangable. The Beyer warranty seems good, The USA price is $199 https://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/mm-1.html The EU price should be lower if its really made in Germany. The capsule is probably from China and could be the same as the Earthworks.
I found the Sonarworks 'calibrated measurement microphone'.
They provide files for 0-degrees and 30-degrees calibration for it and it's around £70 ($85) from Gear4Music and Absolute Music in the UK.
I also found a used Audix TM1 for twice the price, same again for Audix to calibrate it. A better mic but more than I need.
Any reason not to pick the Sonarworks?
They provide files for 0-degrees and 30-degrees calibration for it and it's around £70 ($85) from Gear4Music and Absolute Music in the UK.
I also found a used Audix TM1 for twice the price, same again for Audix to calibrate it. A better mic but more than I need.
Any reason not to pick the Sonarworks?
You can get the Dayton stuff from sound imports who do ship to the uk afaik. https://www.soundimports.eu/en/dayton-audio-emm-6.html
I own a Dayton emm6, used a Behringer at home too for 10 years till he died. Had access to Dpa/B&K, Earthworks at work. The real difference is in the way this mics behave past 94dbspl ( 1PA) and the accuracy... if you need 0,01% accuracy.
Beyer is a great brand. The higher price tag will be justified in 10 years when a Dayton/ Behringer will die and the Beyer will still be ok. There is other brands like Isemcom which are great quality/price ratio imho.
Beyer is a great brand. The higher price tag will be justified in 10 years when a Dayton/ Behringer will die and the Beyer will still be ok. There is other brands like Isemcom which are great quality/price ratio imho.
@Jeffh01 Thanks, however the attraction of the Dayton EMM-6 is that Cross Products calibrate it. Unfortunately they won't sell to UK customers. Without that it seems to be less accurate.
I've looked for UK firms which can calibrate the frequency response of a microphone but so far none of those which I've found are able to do it.
Wondering whether I could use the Swedish Line Audio Omni1 microphone off the shelf, £130, which has been recommended by others for its flat response +-1db.
I've looked for UK firms which can calibrate the frequency response of a microphone but so far none of those which I've found are able to do it.
Wondering whether I could use the Swedish Line Audio Omni1 microphone off the shelf, £130, which has been recommended by others for its flat response +-1db.
Calibration service is commonly availlable in pro world but it'll cost way more than a Dayton mic (hence why those are interesting).
If you want more info about this ask some dedicated highend studio gear shop ( like Funkyjunk London) they might offer the service or know where to do but be ready for a high price tag.
Ask at Gearspace forum you'll have answers where to ask and how it'll cost i'm sure.
Mic are not less accurate without calibration files, they are just... not calibrated!
Calibration files 'compensate' for deviation of capsules. It's 'just' a file to compensate within software used. Very important for accuracy but there is no modification of the capsule/mic by itself.
If you want more info about this ask some dedicated highend studio gear shop ( like Funkyjunk London) they might offer the service or know where to do but be ready for a high price tag.
Ask at Gearspace forum you'll have answers where to ask and how it'll cost i'm sure.
Mic are not less accurate without calibration files, they are just... not calibrated!
Calibration files 'compensate' for deviation of capsules. It's 'just' a file to compensate within software used. Very important for accuracy but there is no modification of the capsule/mic by itself.
50 - 16,000 Hz ± 1.5 dB is stated for the Beyerdynamic MM1 at £185, i would want at least ± 0.5 dB and over a wider range.
if you buy a bunch of cheap electret capules one of them may possibly have a response as good
i.e. the green capules bare response is about 1dB off the referance curve upto around 15KHz (blue / red are extremities of the bunch)
if you buy a bunch of cheap electret capules one of them may possibly have a response as good
i.e. the green capules bare response is about 1dB off the referance curve upto around 15KHz (blue / red are extremities of the bunch)
The EMM6 from Cross-Spectrum Labs is great value for the money. I have one. I'm surprised they don't ship to the UK.
I'm happy to order one for you and ship it to you. Just pay the cost of the microphone, any import fees I incur ($10 in brokerage if they ship USPS), shipping to you, and a beer or two for my trouble. I get excellent rates with FedEx and UPS. I doubt I can beat the Amazon pricing though, especially if the GBP 96 includes VAT. If you're interested, PM me with your city and postal code and I'll get a shipping quote to you.
Tom
I'm happy to order one for you and ship it to you. Just pay the cost of the microphone, any import fees I incur ($10 in brokerage if they ship USPS), shipping to you, and a beer or two for my trouble. I get excellent rates with FedEx and UPS. I doubt I can beat the Amazon pricing though, especially if the GBP 96 includes VAT. If you're interested, PM me with your city and postal code and I'll get a shipping quote to you.
Tom
Thanks very much Tom, I might take you up on that!
Roger Jönsson of Line Audio replied to my enquiry about the Omni1:
So it's free field, 10mm capsule, and +-1dB. Looks like a better microphone than the common 6mm condenser models.
Is that good enough for my purposes - setting crossover points and adjusting levels - or should I still get calibration?
Roger Jönsson of Line Audio replied to my enquiry about the Omni1:
It is measured in free field, so the frequency response is calibrated and optimised for sounds arriving on axis.
Frequencies above 100Hz are measured in room at 70cm distance to the sound source (which is calibrated with an Earthwork M30 measurement microphone and its calibration data).
I do not market the Omni1 as a measurement microphone, but if you accept the +-1dB 20Hz-20kHz, then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to use it as measurement microphone. I do not supply individual calibration data. You have to use it without and accept the deviations of +1dB 20Hz-20kHz.So it's free field, 10mm capsule, and +-1dB. Looks like a better microphone than the common 6mm condenser models.
Is that good enough for my purposes - setting crossover points and adjusting levels - or should I still get calibration?
For anyone in the UK, you can get this ready soldered onto a cable with audio jack for £26.40 inc. delivery. Looks like a very flat response up to 7 kHz even though it is not calibrated.
https://micbooster.com/modules-with...m.html#/36-single_2_4_matched_capsules-single
Can anyone confirm or deny whether the Behringer ECM8000, Superlux ECM999 and Sonarworks Xref20 (2015) and Sonarworks SoundID Reference (2021) (but not 2024 model) are one and the same? Perhaps even the same OEM?
Superlux ECM999:
Type Back electret, ̮ 6mm( ̮ 0.24”) Polar Pattern Omni Frequency Response 20-20,000Hz Sensitivity -37dBV/Pa (14mV) Output Impedance 200Ē Min. Load Impedance 1,000Ω S/N Ratio 70dB Equivalent Output Noise 24dB Max.SPL 132dB Dynamic Range 108dB Power Requirements 12-52V DC, 2mA
Reference:
http://www.superlux.com.tw/upload/f...09db2929/resource/20191220-SPEC_ECM999_EN.pdf
Xref20 / SoundID Reference:
References:
https://www.sonarworks.com/legal/so...icrophone-user-manual-2015#frequency-response
https://www.sonarworks.com/legal/so...icrophone-user-manual-2021#frequency-response
Behringer ECM8000:
References:
https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=0506-AAA
https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/PLM/data/docs/P0118/QSG_BE_0506-AAA_ECM8000_WW.pdf
Superlux ECM999:
Type Back electret, ̮ 6mm( ̮ 0.24”) Polar Pattern Omni Frequency Response 20-20,000Hz Sensitivity -37dBV/Pa (14mV) Output Impedance 200Ē Min. Load Impedance 1,000Ω S/N Ratio 70dB Equivalent Output Noise 24dB Max.SPL 132dB Dynamic Range 108dB Power Requirements 12-52V DC, 2mA
Reference:
http://www.superlux.com.tw/upload/f...09db2929/resource/20191220-SPEC_ECM999_EN.pdf
Xref20 / SoundID Reference:
References:
https://www.sonarworks.com/legal/so...icrophone-user-manual-2015#frequency-response
https://www.sonarworks.com/legal/so...icrophone-user-manual-2021#frequency-response
Behringer ECM8000:
References:
https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=0506-AAA
https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/PLM/data/docs/P0118/QSG_BE_0506-AAA_ECM8000_WW.pdf