Slightly more complicated mic wiring issue....

[MrChrisos]

Hi again,

I thought I'd start a new thread for this because it's quite a separate issue. I've wired up a pair of MKE2s to PH-Adapt XLR adaptors as supplied by sennheiser. Trouble is, neither seem to work!

On both mics, I'm getting virtually no signal, only the intereference when the preamps are up near full, and I can just about hear when I blow over them. The supplier thinks it might be a dip switch setting, but I can't see any switches of any sort on the PCB.

Any ideas?

Thanks guys.

[Studerfreak]

I suppose you DID switch your phantom power on ?

[MrChrisos]

The Phantom wat-now?

Just kidding. Yep, I'm afraid so, and double checked my phantom power's working OK on another mic.

[Studerfreak]

I assume you have this adapter: MZA900P
If so: Does the phantom power indicator led work ?
Did you switch the -12/0 db switch to 0 ?
Does the roll-off filter work ?

Just a few ideas.....

[MrChrisos]

Thanks for the ideas, and looking it up

It's a different adaptor I'm afraid. looks like this (excuse the sketchy pics)





It's called a PH ADAPT. Doesn't seem to have any switches. No LED to indicate phantom power. Wish I'd been recommended your one first!

[Studerfreak]

Is that an official Sennheiser part ?
Is SENNHEISER and a model number engraved or printed on that adapter ?
What brand is that one and where did you get it ?
It does not really look to me as if Sennheiser made this.......

[MrChrisos]

Yep, it's fully legit, bought through Sennheiser UK's recommended dealer, Custom Cable.

The part reference code was literally PHADAPT, I've got serial numbers for the individual parts on the unstructions.

Nothing on the shell, but the pcb has a few reference numbers:
-57414
-0608
-G070719 32206

The bag packaging has Ko751 written on it too.

The rubber sleeve where the cable comes out says made in Liechtenstein.

PLEASE tell me there's nothing dodgy going on here, I'd be amazed if there was as I got their details from the sennheiser site.

[Studerfreak]

It may very well be fully legit, but probably not Sennheiser.
The dealer may be a Sennheiser dealer, but your adapter may be a "home made" thing made by or for this dealer.
Could be as an attempt to get an adapter for a price lower than the original Sennheiser adapter.
The pc-board looks cheaper than a Sennheiser anyway.

Liechtenstein is where the XLR-connector was made: By Neutrik.
(The way the thin cable is fed into the XLR connector is also not how Sennheiser would do that.)


Again: You may be pointed to the company Custom Cable because this is a Sennheiser dealer, but that does not mean that they sold you an original Sennheiser part.
In my own experience as an engineer and sales man I never have come across a Sennheiser part that did not have the name, logo and modelnumber engraved or printed on it.
Your photographs do not show any sign of a real Sennheiser product and on the Sennheiser site I only get the MZA900P as the adpter for your microphone.

I would suggest going to your supplier and swap the adapter(s) for the real thing and probably pay for the difference.
Or at least give them an opportunity to get their adapters working with your microphones, because that is the least they can do.
Maybe there is something wrong with the circuitboards or some cabling error. Let them fix it ! They sell the adapters to be used with that mic.
A real professional company would try to help you out getting your Sennheiser micophones working properly on 48v phantom power.
And if you do not arrive at an acceptable solution you then may mail Sennheiser Customer Support and tell them your story about this Sennheiser dealer.
They will definitely come with their comments.

[MrChrisos]

Eek, wow, and thanks.

A guy on somewhere else I posted this problem has given me the name of a guy in Sennheiser to speak with, so I'll call him tomorrow and see what he says. He's given me the fear I might've fried the mics with all this.

I did think the components looked pretty basic. The dealer's recommended I speak to Sennheiser for more advice on getting them to work. Dammit, I just want some working mics, such dramas! Lets hope it all ends well.

Thanks again, this is all really helpful.

[Studerfreak]

If your microphone got damaged then the supplier of the adapters is fully responsible for this, as he sold you these.
Also any damage may be blamed to him.

The components look really pretty basic for Sennheiser's standards.
And do speak to the guys that sold you the adapters, not Sennheiser, as Sennheiser would have sold you the right adapters in the first place.

Succes...!

[Studerfreak]

Originally Posted by MrChrisos

The dealer's recommended I speak to Sennheiser for more advice on getting them to work.

That NEVER would be the recommendation of a real Sennheiser dealer and I would mention this when you speak to Sennheiser.
The dealer sold you the adapter(s) after you asked for adapters for your microphone.
So let them finish the job properly.
The dealer is your supplier, not Sennheiser and if there is a problem then the dealer should get in touch with Sennheiser. Not you.

[MrChrisos]

Originally Posted by Studerfreak

That NEVER would be the recommendation of a real Sennheiser dealer and I would mention this when you speak to Sennheiser.
The dealer sold you the adapter(s) after you asked for adapters for your microphone.
So let them finish the job properly.
The dealer is your supplier, not Sennheiser and if there is a problem then the dealer should get in touch with Sennheiser. Not you.

He said he'll get in touch with them too, they've actually been really helpful, but admitted that it's beyond their expertise what's wrong. I'm waiting on a call back from Sennheiser to see what they say, if they can't suggest anything I'll send it back to Custom Cable.

I bought the mics themselves second hand, so not from the same supplier, hence the need to change the output.

[Studerfreak]

If the adapters appear to be NON SENNHEISER I assume Sennheiser cannot give any support.
Does Custom Cable really say it is a Sennheiser adapter ?
Do you have that in writing ?
And if things are beyond their expertise, why do they sell these adapters ?
Again: Sennheiser is not a party in this case ! You have to sort things out with Custom Cable and when they cannot help you or have the lack of expertise (professional company ??) they should reinburse your money.
Do not forget to give them notice in advance that you will hold them responsible for any damage that may have occurred when connecting these adapters to your microphones..And let Sennheiser know that Custom Cable sell things that go beyond their expertise.
Really funny for an official Sennheiser dealer.......

[MrChrisos]

A little ray of light in this:

I spoke to sennheiser UK, really nice people and happy to help. The guy knew the part pretty well straight away, knew the pins and confirmed it may not work because there have been several different versions. He's given me two other wiring options, told me the mic's probably fine, lets hope it all checks out on the soldering bench this afternoon :idk:

[Studerfreak]

The Sennheiser guy knew the adapter: Does that mean that it is a real genuine Sennheiser part ?
Or does Sennheiser know about custom built adapters from other companies ?
If it is a Sennheiser part: Which partnumber ?

[MrChrisos]

Originally Posted by Studerfreak

The Sennheiser guy knew the adapter: Does that mean that it is a real genuine Sennheiser part ?
Or does Sennheiser know about custom built adapters from other companies ?
If it is a Sennheiser part: Which partnumber ?

It's all good man. I got them working

There are a few part numbers for the bits on the little instruction square of paper that came with it, the PCB's 57424.

Once he told me the Mics would be ok and to try different connections, I was confident enough to try a few until I got them working. SUCH a relief.

Thanks so much man, I really appreciate the input on this, I've never dealt with phantom power circuits before.

[Studerfreak]

That's a relief for you...!
But: WERE these Sennheiser made or not ? What did the Sennheiser guy tell you ?
I do not believe it is Sennheiser, because real Sennheiser stuff comes with engraved or silkprinted Sennheiser logo and model number on the adapter and the paperwork is also professional and will not be on a little instruction square.
Also on instruction leaflets the brand Sennheiser will be printed, as well as the model number.
So: Was it or was it not Sennheiser and IF it was; what is the model number.
I assume several readers of this post will love to know this.

[MrChrisos]

I've called back Sennheiser to make sure, the guy was on another call but I'll post up what he says after he rings back.

Least I could do

[MrChrisos]

OK, just to put this to bed once and for all:

The engineers I just spoke to at Sennheiser said he very much doubts custom cable would sell a copy.

The reason there's no logo on the casing is because the PH-ADAPT is a Service Part, rather than a full commercial product. It's supplied if needed when modifications are being made, but otherwise they are built to be made as part of another product (the MKE2 with XLR), so instructions are brief and logos deemed unnecessary.

Thanks again for help in all of this, another mystery solved.

[Studerfreak]

I did not say Custom Cable sold you a copy.
Because of the lack of any Sennheiser signs (cleared now...) I assumed Custom Cable might have made their own "custom made" adapter.
It stays a bit odd to me that Custom Cable are not familiar with stuff they sell and could not help you.
They should have contacted Sennheiser and cleared the matter instead of leaving it to you to call Sennheiser.
But: All is well that ends well ! Your mic's work !