what's the classic match-up for a DPA 4003?

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hello everyone,

i'm starting to develop an unhealthy-to-the-wallet fascination with the
DPA 4003.

since it uses 130 volts for power, i'm completely ignorant here.

i looked at the DPA website, but it seems like they sell a mic
preamp/power supply combo that goes with the 4003, rather than just a
130 volt supply.

Milllennia Media says you can get an HV mic pre to be modded to 130v to
use with the DPA high-voltage mics.

Is a modded HV-3 + DPA 4003 the "go-to" setup? Or do most 4003 users
hang out with that power supply/preamp thing that DPA sells under its
own brand (HMA4000 and HMA5000). Those HMA things look cheezy, but
maybe they rule despite being small and wimpy looking.

Basically, I love the idea of this mic, but I would want the power
supply and preamp to live up to the quality of this mic. Massenburg is
known for high-transparency preamps, but i saw no mention of high
voltage mic-power options on the Massenburg website.
It seems like the waters flow toward the modded Millennia.

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genericaudioperson@hotmail.com wrote:

> i'm starting to develop an unhealthy-to-the-wallet fascination with the
> DPA 4003.

A superb mic!

>
> since it uses 130 volts for power, i'm completely ignorant here.
>
> i looked at the DPA website, but it seems like they sell a mic
> preamp/power supply combo that goes with the 4003, rather than just a
> 130 volt supply.

Yes, there are two supplies which are also preamps: HMA4000 and HMA5000
(new). Not much differences I assume, the second seems to have higher
output up to +30dB (HMA 4000 up to +20dB, both will give you a
line-output). These preamps are good, without doubt (see specs), but
Millenia is (more) recommended, too. There you have an additional
130v-option.
Don't know about prices... (I had bought used set with matched mics
named 3529, there was the HMA included).
One must remark that the connection between mics and preamps is
unsymmetrical! That means the supply should be as near as possible at
the mics. But I did not have any problems with 11 meters (? feet )
cable (organ-recordings with a high stand) so far.

New is an option: 4006 TL, which is transformerless, too (unlike 4006).
It could be interesting to compare with the 4003. Advantage here is that
they are standard 48v... They should give the same result, although the
4003 should have a slightly higher SPL.
(an passive adapter to use 4003 with 48v does exist, too).
A advantage is that they are 3 sort of grids (nearfield, diffusfield,
and new: close-miking), a nose-cone for true omnidirectional response
and even 4 "acoustic pressure equalizer" available, which make these
mics very adaptable, see website...
Service-policy from dpa is also very good, I had a mic repaired for free
although guaranty-time was expired...

Martin

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

thanks for the tip about unbalanced output on the 4003's. my cable
length is going to be very short, so that's not a problem thankfully!

this brings up two questions:
1) is DPA the only one that sells the 130v mic cables (i'm a mogami
lover)?

2) can you get the Millennia 2 channel preamp to have only one of the
channels modded for 130v (and leave the other channel at 48v phantom)?
i know the classic move is to get a matched pair of the 4003's, but i'm
looking to just get one of them.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<genericaudioperson@hotmail.com> wrote:
>thanks for the tip about unbalanced output on the 4003's. my cable
>length is going to be very short, so that's not a problem thankfully!
>
>this brings up two questions:
>1) is DPA the only one that sells the 130v mic cables (i'm a mogami
>lover)?

No, you can make your own. Probably Markertek would make some for you
if you asked.

>2) can you get the Millennia 2 channel preamp to have only one of the
>channels modded for 130v (and leave the other channel at 48v phantom)?
>i know the classic move is to get a matched pair of the 4003's, but i'm
>looking to just get one of them.

Probably, but it's not a modification, it's a standard design option. I
don't think you will save all that much though.

I have an 8-channel unit around here, with 4 channels set up for the 130V
mikes.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."