Superlux s502

[lutwidge]

A bit of thread necromancy for my first proper post!

Anyone else notice that these have finally apparently disappeared, after a long period of being out of stock, from the Thomann site? Would quite like to get my hands on one, hope they've not been discontinued. Hmph.

[Bibster]

Give it a shot @ feedback in Holland... Though they only (seem to) ship to the Netherlands (duh) and Belgium... Maybe someone o'erthere could relay it for you?

[heva]

Superlux S502 ORTF Stereo 1/2" True Condenser

[pkautzsch]

Originally Posted by lutwidge

A bit of thread necromancy for my first proper post!

Anyone else notice that these have finally apparently disappeared, after a long period of being out of stock, from the Thomann site? Would quite like to get my hands on one, hope they've not been discontinued. Hmph.

They had disappeared about a year ago, and then were back on. Supply issues?

[lutwidge]

Och, well that sounds positive then. Sort of. Will keep my eye on Thomann.

Thanks for the links and suggestions though, if Thomann don't have 'em back soon I might just have to find someone who'd relay... Cheers again, guys!

[heva]

A sample of a french 'Grand jeux' piece, recorded in concert maybe a bit to soft, +8db amplified with audacity.
There were people building lighting and stage gear all over the place, they obviously couldn't wait for this last piece to finish to start their, well , work.

[Bibster]

Een hoop achtergrond-herrie... Jammer

A lot a BG noise, pity...

I'm no organ specialist, but I'm quite sure JMM will kick in anytime soon!

I'll have my S502's 2nd week of august...

[heva]

It is a fragment from a concert, this church is always noisy; all things organised (!) go uncoordinated. Rehearsal for a concert is well combined with rolling in the flightcases, trusses etc..

The recording was pretty much a shot in the dark; put the mics (only 3m up) and go.

My own playing btw., here

[mathieujm]

Yes the church is noisy heva, but here there is also some noise from the mic (or the preamps?).
Then the sound is probably what could be heard in the church but it would have been more gleaming if the mics were higher and nearer.

JMM

[studer58]

For those having trouble locating this item in Europe or USA, you could also try closer to 'the source'...contact Shirley Chan at http://www.avglobal.hk/index.do Even though it's not listed on their Superlux page, they do stock and export it. I ordered one last week, it's priced at $HK 1200 and Air freight delivery to Australia is $HK123 so I think you'll find that compares favourably with the European prices you're familiar with ? Currency exchange rates ? See: XE - Universal Currency Converter

[Matti]

Just what I was looking for, thanks mate!
Prices seem about the same, but if they have access to all products by Superlux I´m willing to contact them

Matti

[studer58]

Hi Matti,

Yes they probably do, even though their website seems sketchy and incomplete, so you could just send a direct enquiry to: shirley@avglobal.hk

[Matti]

Thanks again, just downloaded the Superlux catalogue

Matti

[studer58]

There's a good 2 page overview with pictures here: http://www.superlux.com.tw/upload/fu...502_web_en.pdf

[Matti]

I´m also interested of some other products they make and not available here, that pdf I already have

Cheers

Matti

[Matti]

Ordered from Thomann, expect they have them this week
-I don't really need this but...

Matti

Edit: Just got message of the mic being sent, so curious to hear what it delivers

[studer58]

Originally Posted by studer58

There's a good 2 page overview with pictures here: http://www.superlux.com.tw/upload/fu...502_web_en.pdf

Mine's arrived at the post office, I'll collect it tomorrow and report on it...so there's another reliable source for potential purchasers (seller is based in Hong Kong)

[heva]

Again my S502 had problems with phantom power when preparing for a concert recording; tried various sources and cables, to no avail.
Other mics had no problem at all with same gear, so I'll send it back, let's hope there's something to fix.

BTW. has anyone else used it yet?

[sidfrancis]

Hello Heva...

Sure: I have used it several times in the studio and everything was okay and sounding good. But as always with china goods, the production quality is the crucial point. I work in a very big music store and they confirm that nearly every single china mic sounds a bit different though being same type and product and fail rate is quite high. Thats what you (did not) pay for. Soundwise my version of the mic is really good. Bought at Thomann, Germany.

[studer58]

Mine sounds fine, not approaching Schoeps quality, but then at the price I didn't expect it to. The 5 pin to 2 x 3 pin XLR tail had the left and right channels labelled opposite to the convention, but that's the only downside so far.

[Ozpeter]

The 5 pin to 2 x 3 pin XLR tail had the left and right channels labelled opposite to the convention, but that's the only downside so far.

I'm glad it's not just me thinking that.

Of course if the mic is suspended (and it's pretty suitable for that) then the cable markings are correct!

I've not used mine for real yet but a little crude comparative testing in a quiet room indicated that it's in the Oktava MK012 league, in terms of noise, but not in the league of a Sennheiser MKH MS pair - which is fair enough at the price. In a couple of weeks or so I have a young people's orchestral concert to record for love, so I'm planning to give it a try there. If I thought it was going to be any kind of disaster I wouldn't risk it even if it's not a paid gig.

Having also bought another one in the same shipping just for backup, I have every confidence that the one I'll be using won't fail, on the same basis as it never rains when you've carried an umbrella around all day.

Panatrope of these forums has the third one of my batch and I suspect he'll be able to give some account of a real recording with it soon.

[Rolo 46]

Im not in favour of Sino duplicate microphones
The build is shoddy and the noise levels are poor
And its piracy.
There are plenty of excellent old microphones from Broadcast in the market
I 'm thinking T powered MKH of the 60's and 70's
MKH 105 omni and MKH 405 cards are excellent RF condensers,low noise and high output.Very compact. They also are in P48.
All the great microphones come from RnD, not something those duplicators seem to cherish.

Roger

[Matti]

Piracy it is not , ORTF isn't patented by Schoeps or ORTF themselves

Matti

[Rolo 46]

Matti
Im not referring to placement dear boy.......
Reverse engineering is rampant in China.
Not sure Rode is innocent either...
AT is a very inventive company and to be admired, however their fine mics are a tad noisy.
Roger

[Matti]

AT is Japanese, but yes I agree mostly -not going to details

Matti

[Rolo 46]

Yes they are Nippon and the largest supplier of condensor capsules in the world.
However they are now manufacturing in Sino.

[panatrope]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

Panatrope of these forums has the third one of my batch and I suspect he'll be able to give some account of a real recording with it soon.

Indeed, I do have the possibility this weekend. I was hoping my new BG2 would arrive which would allow fair comparison with a co-located pair of CMC54 in ORTF. However, it appears it will not arrive until Monday. The option is to use the 4 channels of a QuadMic, with gains carefully calibrated.

So far the quality of construction is better than expected. My cable tester confirms that based on the RCA colour standard (white = L, red = R), the 5-pin to 2 x 3-pin cable is wired perversely. (But is half correct if you accept the BBC colour standards of L=port=red, R=starboard=green.) Also noted that my existing 5-pin cables with 20-yo Neutrik connectors are a bit too big for the 5-pin connector, as are some newer Cannons. Whether this is a dimensioning problem on the mic connector or the cable connector, I don't know. The shock mount leaves something to be desired, and we hope to devise something better.

The Holberg Suite is on the program on Sunday (in a church near a busy intersection), so we will see what transpires ...

[9sbean]

Originally Posted by Rolo 46

Im not in favour of Sino duplicate microphones
The build is shoddy and the noise levels are poor
And its piracy.
There are plenty of excellent old microphones from Broadcast in the market
I 'm thinking T powered MKH of the 60's and 70's
MKH 105 omni and MKH 405 cards are excellent RF condensers,low noise and high output.Very compact. They also are in P48.
All the great microphones come from RnD, not something those duplicators seem to cherish.

Roger

According to the microphones I own, I can tell you the only same thing between S502 and MSTC64 is the ORTF setting. Not the electronics, not the capsules. So it is no surprise the sound is different. It looks to me is a trimmed down electronics from their S241 that got 2 low cut filter plus 2 steps pad, and put 2 mic in one body.

However, S502 sound terrific compared to any price range mic. Especially those less than $1,000. Noise is apparently higher compared with Schoeps for sure.

[Ozpeter]

I've now heard from Panatrope that he's got crackle in one capsule - time to test the spare one. And time for the defective one to make the long slow journey back from Australia to Europe. This is the downside of making international purchases of items where quality control may be an issue.

[Matti]

Mine is OK

Matti