Alternative stereo bar/Superlux

[PlugHead]

I figure I should start my own thread as not to pollute the ongoing Grace SpaceBar thread...

I spoke with a fellow at Avlex moments ago - he redirected me to a retailer for the Superlux MA-90 stereo bar:

Superlux Microphones
http://superlux.us/prices/Superlux.US_Web_Prices.pdf

For $80, it's worth a try to see if something like this can be a feasible solution to (IMO) overpriced items offered by the other mic/hardware manufacturers.

I hope to hear back from superlux.us in the coming hrs/days, and hopefully will have one sent to me (xborder to Canada - no Cdn retailers ATM) to put to use.

Any others with 'alternatives' to the pricey units from the 'known' manufacturers are welcome to participate here.

cheers,

[mediabay]

Great find. Here is a pdf with more details:

http://www.avlex.com/pdfs/Superlux%2...ta%20Sheet.pdf

[boojum]

The Grace bar is wonderful. It would be even better if my microphones had eyes, but they do not. So I am looking for a bar that will do the same job for less. Not that the mics do not deserve the most expensive, it is just that I will get the cheapest substitute that does the same job.


L8R

[JonesH]

I'm in the process of ordering one from the Dutch retailer as well and having it shipped to sweden. Will report back if/when I get it. At 40€+15€ shipping it seems a bargain.

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by JonesH

I'm in the process of ordering one from the Dutch retailer as well and having it shipped to sweden. Will report back if/when I get it. At 40€+15€ shipping it seems a bargain.

Please report, I'd love to hear more about it! I'm looking for a better alternative than the cheap K&M stereo bar I use for A-B now.

[PlugHead]

My MA-90 has now shipped from superlux.us. I'll post my impressions once it arrives and gets some hrs on it...

BTW - the fellow at Avlex (US importer) mentioned that he was barraged by emails this past weekend - seems like there is most def. interest in 'cost-effective' options to the other bars currently available!

Are there ANY other alternative stereo bars that are yet 'unknown' to the gen.pop? If so, pls. list them here!

[Nirvana5253]

have seen this tossed around a few places. I know its out of production from Bogen but I know Adorama still has it in stock for a pretty reasonable price. Added benefit of being able to add as many mic holders as you want

Bogen 3110 Tripple Mic Holder

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by Nirvana5253

have seen this tossed around a few places. I know its out of production from Bogen but I know Adorama still has it in stock for a pretty reasonable price. Added benefit of being able to add as many mic holders as you want

Bogen 3110 Tripple Mic Holder

cool - the more options the merrier.

I await the arrival of the MA-90 and will report back...

[Elk]

I have the Manfrotto/Bogen. It works wonderfully well. Easy to adjust. I partiucalrly like that I can tilt the bar forward and back to adjust how far back the mics are pointing.

Keep in mind that it is a light bar and either needs to sit atop a light stand with a pin or a mic stand with an adapter. I use a Manfrotto 1004BAC Master stand.

[sonare]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

For $80, it's worth a try to see if something like this can be a feasible solution to (IMO) overpriced items offered by the other mic/hardware manufacturers.

The downloaded PDF says $104--? Where can you get the $80 price? Also- does this nice-looking bar tilt?

Looking forward to a user report!

Rich

[hughesmr]

Superlux looks like a potentially viable option for A/B ... it looks like the bar will only pivot horizontally (e.g. left down, right up). Also, those cm markings on the bar are certainly suspect (e.g. the location of the 1 cm markings sure don't look like they are 1 cm from the center line!)

[fasma]

+1 on info on how to obtain in Europe. Thanks

[JonesH]

Originally Posted by Mats H

Please report, I'd love to hear more about it! I'm looking for a better alternative than the cheap K&M stereo bar I use for A-B now.

Should've contacted you when I was conducting my group buy of SoundWorxs excellent 80 cm/100 cm stereo bars, sorry!

Anyway, I'm paying the bill for the Superlux as we speak. Be sure to report it back here when I get it and have had opportunity to try it.

Originally Posted by fasma

+1 on info on how to obtain in Europe. Thanks

Feedback sells them and seem to ship within the EU. Webpage is all Dutch though, which makes for some slight impairment... But mail them and ask. Think they've raised the price now though.

[PlugHead]

MA-90 arrived today - briefly looked at it, and took a couple of pics - will be putting up for a gig this weekend and will let y'all know how it works.

First impressions - it's NOT the Grace Spacebar, but at 1/5 the price, it shouldn't be either.

Pics below:

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by sonare

The downloaded PDF says $104--? Where can you get the $80 price? Also- does this nice-looking bar tilt?

Looking forward to a user report!

Rich

Nope - no tilt on the bar - gotta be done from the mic clips or the stand...

Contact Ray Rayburn:

http://www.Superlux.US/

As mentioned earlier, I will put it up and test it out on a couple of sessions this weekend...

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by hughesmr

Superlux looks like a potentially viable option for A/B ... it looks like the bar will only pivot horizontally (e.g. left down, right up). Also, those cm markings on the bar are certainly suspect (e.g. the location of the 1 cm markings sure don't look like they are 1 cm from the center line!)

It's exactly 10cm between the first bar markings "1" on either side (detented slots on tops too!)

BTW - again, I am sorry to have 'hijacked' the SpaceBar thread - pls accept my apologies, I just cannot stand seeing things like this that do NOT affect the signal path become a 'status' thing - hopefully it will help bring affordable bars to the masses...

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by fasma

+1 on info on how to obtain in Europe. Thanks

Great if you're dutch or can read/speak it (need my wife for that!):

Superlux MA 90 B | Feedback Muziek

[9sbean]

Found a picture shown with a MA90 and Superlux microphones:

[sonare]

The fact that the MA90 can precisely and repeatedly give an exact angle (if not tilt angle) gives it an advantage over the Manfrotto-- plus having 5/8" rather than something that requires adapters that come loose and disappear (in spite of Loktite).

I must definitely look further into this!

Rich

[hughesmr]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

BTW - again, I am sorry to have 'hijacked' the SpaceBar thread - pls accept my apologies, I just cannot stand seeing things like this that do NOT affect the signal path become a 'status' thing

No problem ... I started the SpaceBar thread simply because of the new surround positioners I hadn't seen before.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by sonare

-- plus having 5/8" rather than something that requires adapters that come loose and disappear (in spite of Loktite).

That means it *does* require adaptors as 5/8" is pretty useless.

[9sbean]

Originally Posted by John Willett

That means it *does* require adaptors as 5/8" is pretty useless.

Hi John:
To my understanding, EU standard is 3/8" (not sure about UK), and US standard is 5/8". It really depends on the system in use.
Although my zone shall be 5/8", but most of my system is 3/8" because of Schoeps. Even Schoeps H 20 cable hanger use 5/8" between the mic holder and cable clamp.

By the way, you mention at other post that the Nagra VI price is lower than SD 788T, I cannot find where could this be? It seems to me Nagra VI is higher than 788T. (something like EUR6,000 v.s. US$6,000)

[fasma]

so this one will be no good for vertical blumlein?

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by fasma

so this one will be no good for vertical blumlein?

Sure it can, but because the bar has no angle adjust on it's base, the bar would have to be suspended at 90 deg. on the boom arm of the mic stand.

Def. not perfect for weight distribution with heavy mics, esp. if the boom is out a fair ways, but - sandbagging works me me - otherwise you could spend the money you save on something like this:

Welcome to Latch Lake Product - Your Source for quality guitar slides and microphone stands

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by John Willett

That means it *does* require adaptors as 5/8" is pretty useless.

Depends what side of the pond you reside: here, NOTHING is 3/8", so everything with the EU mounting requires an insert/adaptor, which I concur with the other N. Americans, is useless as screen doors on submarines...

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by 9sbean

Hi John:
To my understanding, EU standard is 3/8" (not sure about UK), and US standard is 5/8". It really depends on the system in use.
Although my zone shall be 5/8", but most of my system is 3/8" because of Schoeps. Even Schoeps H 20 cable hanger use 5/8" between the mic holder and cable clamp.

UK is the same as the EU - the 3/8" Whit. thread was originally a UK thread (in fact the world's first standardised thread).

I know most mic. holders use a 5/8" thread with an adaptor to 3/8" - but I really hate the 5/8" thread it's too large and too fine.

Originally Posted by 9sbean

By the way, you mention at other post that the Nagra VI price is lower than SD 788T, I cannot find where could this be? It seems to me Nagra VI is higher than 788T. (something like EUR6,000 v.s. US$6,000)

Probably USA only as the SD is made in the USA and the Nagra is made in Europe.

In the UK the 788T is more expensive than the Nagra. I think about £4,500 for the Nagra and £5,250 for the 788T.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

Depends what side of the pond you reside: here, NOTHING is 3/8", so everything with the EU mounting requires an insert/adaptor, which I concur with the other N. Americans, is useless as screen doors on submarines...

What I was saying actually.

I just wonder why the USA came up with such a horrible standard for mics.

The best is either 3/8" Whit. or 1/2" Whit (Neumann use the 1/2" as do K&M for heavy mic. booms).

The Whitworth thread is technically the best as to pitch, angle and strength it is a very strong thread.

The 5/8" is a very fine thread and not as strong and is also much easier to contaminate with grit.

Ah well - each to his own.....

[Matti]

The Superlux with this or similiar On-Stage | Posi-Lok Clutch | MSA-9501 | B&H Photo Video

Matti

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by MATTI

The Superlux with this or similiar On-Stage | Posi-Lok Clutch | MSA-9501 | B&H Photo Video

Matti

NICE!

The only real difference is no angled markings on the clutch, but - barring that, this + the MA-90 could be THE cost alternative option to the SpaceBar!

Although I will most likely never need accurate angled bar measurements, I can see the benefit for exact repeatable results.

Being practical, all one would need is to mark increments on that clutch using whiteout/nail polish, and - boom - instant repeatability (without knowing EXACT angling)! thumbsupthumbsup

[JSheltonLogic]

does anyone know anything about this .."bar"...

Sabra-Som | ST-4 - Quad Microphone Support | ST4 | B&H Photo

made by Sabra-Som

It looks kinda cheap, I would be interested in buying one for that price and if it would tell me how long it is.

Thank you,