Before you get too committed to the B&K here is a B&K compared to the microphone Kim Girardin used to build. its essentially a Panasonic mike in a tube plus a calibration file. I have it superimposed on the B&K 4135. He used to sell them for around $100 i think, maybe less. It was years ago.
In any case a new 1/4" free field mike is around $1100. A preamp around $1100 and then a power supply is another $2k. This stuff is really pricey. The adapter to mount a 1/4" mike on a 1/2" preamp is $800?
I would get a decent commercial ECM base mike, even a Beherenger and have it calibrated. Find or make a calibrator for that specific mike so you can be reasonably sure of its calibration over time. I'm not sure where you can get a good calibration but everything else could be less than $200.
However the easiest and most straightforward starting point for speakers may be the current Omnimike. Dayton Audio Dayton Audio OmniMic V2 for around $300.
In any case a new 1/4" free field mike is around $1100. A preamp around $1100 and then a power supply is another $2k. This stuff is really pricey. The adapter to mount a 1/4" mike on a 1/2" preamp is $800?
I would get a decent commercial ECM base mike, even a Beherenger and have it calibrated. Find or make a calibrator for that specific mike so you can be reasonably sure of its calibration over time. I'm not sure where you can get a good calibration but everything else could be less than $200.
However the easiest and most straightforward starting point for speakers may be the current Omnimike. Dayton Audio Dayton Audio OmniMic V2 for around $300.
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I've had some bad experience with the ECM Behringer and the likes. With a proper calibration, they are ok in the beginning (but sill rather noisy, and with high distortion). However, the frequency response did not stay the same for long. One or two years is all it took to make them essentially useless for accurate speaker testing. I currently use two different mikes (a Behringer and a Beyerdynamic) and compare their response every once in a while so I know if/when one of them starts changing. I also got myself an Isemcon EMX 7150, having high hopes with thisone (not as pricey as the B&K and the likes, but reportedly still very good).
$500 will get you a power supply and preamp on eBay. Older models but still working. Then you need only buy a capsule.
G.R.A.S. is a B&K spinoff and ACO is the lower cost quality source usually used as an alternate. But pretty much anyone making a nickel capsule that requires 200 VDC will be of first line quality.
But I am comfortable buying a used capsule still in the original box from a real surplus outlet with return privileges.
Now for what I call "eBay calibration."
You buy three of the same piece. Then measure them against each other. Return any that seem bad. Once you have three that match you can be reasonably confident they are still good. You then sell two of them as tested good for what you paid for all three.
G.R.A.S. is a B&K spinoff and ACO is the lower cost quality source usually used as an alternate. But pretty much anyone making a nickel capsule that requires 200 VDC will be of first line quality.
But I am comfortable buying a used capsule still in the original box from a real surplus outlet with return privileges.
Now for what I call "eBay calibration."
You buy three of the same piece. Then measure them against each other. Return any that seem bad. Once you have three that match you can be reasonably confident they are still good. You then sell two of them as tested good for what you paid for all three.
The example I posted was on the same Primo electret capsule 20yr. apart. The absolute sensitivity was also still 10mV/PA within as far as I can tell 1-2%. I suspect Jan's DPA capsules would be of equal quality.
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I bought a dozen or so of the Primo E-21/23 capsules and tested them all for noise. I opened one of the bad ones, and the diaphragm was obviously a different material, I suspect there was a DA or sheet Rho problem that they fixed and just started selling the new ones as the same thing. I hate the hassle of selling/shipping stuff so I just eat the rejects. This is just a hobby for me I can't justify buying serious test equipment i.e. I would never buy an AP unless it was stupid cheap.
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