cmv563 heads: anyone see this?

[Lumin One]

Neumann Gefell CMV-563 CMV563 tube mic clone no capsule - eBay (item 110468001043 end time Jan-07-10 20:10:27 PST)

I wonder how good this could be. The description doesnt say much so a lot is left to be wondered about. anyone know the scoop on this?

[Ciozzi]

a lot of the sound (and the dirt) of the CMV 563 is in the original transformer, I'd take an old one and refurbish it rather than buying a clone.

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by Ciozzi

a lot of the sound (and the dirt) of the CMV 563 is in the original transformer, I'd take an old one and refurbish it rather than buying a clone.

Considering the examination many of the vintage transformers are getting,
including the sourcing of: original core material construction/laminations and wire.
I would ask a bit more about the construction of the transformer before schluffing it off as a hack part.
In my experience: custom wound transformers by someone who has done their homework, many times, are far more accurate and useful than off the shelf parts. And even more like the way the original circuit was intended than even the originals become with 30+ years of burn in.

At the end of the day: how does it sound? 1k aint bad for that model of mic considering an original, more than likely, might require that much in servicing alone.

[Ciozzi]

Originally Posted by Stitch333

Considering the examination many of the vintage transformers are getting,
including the sourcing of: original core material construction/laminations and wire.
I would ask a bit more about the construction of the transformer before schluffing it off as a hack part.
In my experience: custom wound transformers by someone who has done their homework, many times, are far more accurate and useful than off the shelf parts. And even more like the way the original circuit was intended than even the originals become with 30+ years of burn in.

At the end of the day: how does it sound? 1k aint bad for that model of mic considering an original, more than likely, might require that much in servicing alone.

I heard the TAB funkenwerk transformer for the CMV563 and to my surprise I prefered the original. It's not that it sounded bad but it was too clean, just not what I want when I reach for a CMV563.

BTW my CMV563's are completely refurbished, internal parts, capsules, new PSU, everything new but the original transformers.

This is from the description of that CMV clone: "I have A/B'd this mic against original CMV-563's and am happy to say it has a slight edge over the originals"
Which is exactly why I would prefer an original one myself.

I'm not saying it's not possible to make a new transformer that matches exactly the original one but it's easier and safer (if you're after that sound) to buy one in good working conditions, because there's plenty on ebay.

As for servicing, replacing some resistors and caps inside the mic body won't cost that much (100-150$ tops?), what makes the thing expensive is reskinning the capsules (which are not included in the auction) and rebuilding the PSU. The one in the auction is an old RTF PSU, it'd be iuseful to know if it has been serviced or not.

[Lumin One]

who refurbished your cmvs? i have no intention of doing that anytime soon with mine since i like how it sounds as is, but just for future reference.

the reason why i posted the link was to see if a newer build would bypass all the worn out 40 year old parts and maybe give an alternative to the hit or miss nature of buying one of the OG mics.

[Ciozzi]

Originally Posted by Luminone

who refurbished your cmvs? i have no intention of doing that anytime soon with mine since i like how it sounds as is, but just for future reference.

the reason why i posted the link was to see if a newer build would bypass all the worn out 40 year old parts and maybe give an alternative to the hit or miss nature of buying one of the OG mics.

I sent capsules and mic bodies to Thiersch Elektroakustik (germany) and bought a new PSU, a tubelife 257.

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by Ciozzi

everything new but the original transformers.

So, the only real question of difference would be as to the nature/age of the transformer build and its coloration of the signal. Unless you rebuilt your CMV with PIO and carbon comp resistors...

Originally Posted by Ciozzi

and rebuilding the PSU. The one in the auction is an old RTF PSU, it'd be iuseful to know if it has been serviced or not.

A quick question to the seller for some inside PS pics can answer that. Tho, from the build of the body, I'd have a hard time thinking that that servicing hadn't been considered and performed.
+ That Tubelife rack, all-be-it a nice piece of kit, is fairly expensive, correct? If its more than 1k usd, its more than the whole new clone.

Originally Posted by Luminone

the reason why i posted the link was to see if a newer build would bypass all the worn out 40 year old parts and maybe give an alternative to the hit or miss nature of buying one of the OG mics.

To me, this is answer would be yes because:
if you have a proper conditioned capsule bayonet (yes, Thiersch is serious top-shelf IMHO too) for this clone body, it will be an apples and oranges, flavor issue on: clone vs. total rebuild except transformer.
Because, ultimately, (and, yes, unless you spend maybe 1k on a brand spanking new PS) the only difference will be the 'new' transformer sound vs. the 'old' transformer sound. But either way, you will have a much more stable and consistently performing microphone. Ask the seller if he'll gurantee the mic, that way you can have a window of time to be able to decide in a working environment, which ultimately, is all that matters...

Good discussion!

[Ciozzi]

The Tubelife 257 costed me 315 euro (excl. VAT) and can power up two microphones. CMV563 bodies can be found on ebay in good working condition at a fair price. If one can wait I'd go for the real deal....

[mkp27]

There was a 14 day return policy on the auction. They both sold for the buy it now price. Any questions could have been easily answered by me if you had asked them by clicking the "ask a question" link on the ebay auction page.

-Milt
( mkp27 on ebay )

[matucha]

It depends on how good is the vintage transformer. For ex. I have UM57 that is completely healthy, but the transformer makes it distorted/narrow/midrangey. That's where you don't want to keep original xformer.

I also prefered sound of the old xformer in comparison to tab-funkenwerk... but my opinion is based on some samples from internet (cough cough) so take it with huge grain of salt. But what I liked on the old was certain color/glue that was absent in the TAB sound. TAB sounded nice, but it was a different mic, way more normal and I don't need that kind of sound . Not from CMV.