I see a couple of schems in the files area that show the neutrik NTE-4 used in mic circuits.

has anyone got any advice or experience about using that line of tiny neutrik transformers in mics regarding quality or level handling and so on?

I'm planning to try an opamp circuit with a NTE-1? (1:1)? There's also a NTE10/3 which could be good for something.

However they are so small and inexpensive I am sceptical about the likely quality.

These transformers are of very good quality, but due to their small size, power handling is also very small. One has to include that in their expectations.
Studer have made extensive use of these transformers, but the engineers knew how to circumvent the limitations.

You cannot put one of these in comparison with a Jensen or Cinemg and expect similar results.
But remember, the output transformer in a mic carries only a fraction of mW. Same for the input xfmr in a mic preamp.

Le 20/06/2022 à 12:11, thet a écrit?:

I see a couple of schems in the files area that show the neutrik NTE-4 used in mic circuits.

has anyone got any advice or experience about using that line of tiny neutrik transformers in mics regarding quality or level handling and so on?

I'm planning to try an opamp circuit with a NTE-1? (1:1) There's also a NTE10/3 which could be good for something.

However they are so small and inexpensive I am sceptical about the likely quality.

So is it just the power handling that limits the performance compared to larger high-end transformers? Or are there other differences?

Is there anything to watch out for when driving the transformer with an opamp?

I have mic preamps and mics I have made using using Lundahl LL1538 and LL1935 transformers - they sound great and the mic pres get used on 80% of tracks I record - very transparent but adding just a touch of smoothness and heft (subjective assessment obv). Lundahls are horribly expensive though!

I also have mics and mic pres using the large but inexpensive OEP and Vigortronix transformers. These are OK to good, but just a bit meh compared to the Lundahls, and not as detailed as a transformerless circuit.

But I'm going for something different here - pleasant colouration and low cost.

The spec given for the NTE-1 is 1% THD at -3dBu which is about 0.55v rms or 1.5v ptp if I have done the arithmetic correctly.

That's not a lot but should be sufficient for most microphones on most sources.

Considering that the purpose of adding the transformer in this case is to add some colour and make a character mic then a bit of transformer saturation may be entirely acceptable, it really comes down to whether these transformers overload in a sonically pleasing way.

I will try it for sure.

On 20/06/2022 12:17, Jerry Lee Marcel wrote:

These transformers are of very good quality, but due to their small size, power handling is also very small. One has to include that in their expectations.
Studer have made extensive use of these transformers, but the engineers knew how to circumvent the limitations.

You cannot put one of these in comparison with a Jensen or Cinemg and expect similar results.
But remember, the output transformer in a mic carries only a fraction of mW. Same for the input xfmr in a mic preamp.

Le 20/06/2022 à 12:11, thet a écrit?:

I see a couple of schems in the files area that show the neutrik NTE-4 used in mic circuits.

has anyone got any advice or experience about using that line of tiny neutrik transformers in mics regarding quality or level handling and so on?

I'm planning to try an opamp circuit with a NTE-1? (1:1) There's also a NTE10/3 which could be good for something.

However they are so small and inexpensive I am sceptical about the likely quality.

Hi there,

I have used Neutrik NTE10-3. and NTE4 on various recent mic builds.
The ones on the pic below are in a "copy" of the KM-84, from PCB's sold by a member of the GDIY forum.

I have tried the said transfos on other recent builds & have no complains about sound quality etc.
I used some of the mics as Overheads-Ac. Guitar-Piano and even Snare drum (with added capacitor in parallel,acting as a pad).
In live and studio settings, they seem to perform well. If colouration there is, it sounds rather pleasing to my ear.

M

_._,_._,_

@Migou 84?

Heyas, sorry about my english.

I was talking to Migs about the KM84ish he mentioned in this thread and got super interested in it, I love my KM184 and never built a pencil condenser before. He suggested me creating a topic about it since more peeps could also benefit from the information he gathered and are willing to share, but I'm not sure how to create a topic either (argh), could someone shed some light on this?

Cheers!