The big question about the i-mic has always been which mic element or cartridge to use. Over the years, I received many queries regarding this issue, and all I can say is: Michel Triste explained to me that cheap cartridges generated a potentially great sound because they distorted easily. Unfortunately, they are fickle and the output level can vary a lot from one to the next. Here are the details of one specific cartridge used by Paul Anderson when designing his own i-mic:
25LM026 KOBITONE
Dynamic Microphone CartridgeSpecifications:
- Impedance: 500 ohms @ 1KHz (tolerance ±30%)
- Sensitivity: 76dB ±3dB @ 1KHz (0dB=1V/microbar)
- Frequency response: 100Hz~5KHz
- Operating temperature: -10°C~ +55°C
- Maximum sound pressure level: 105dB
- Potentiometer range: 50dB
- Lower lim frequency: 100Hz
- Rectifier: BMS
- Wr speed: 25mm per second
His source (mail order) was through: http://www.mouser.com.
This is all Chinese to me but it may help some of you locate at least some potential cartridges for your own mics.
Mouser's site indicates that they aren't carrying this element, and a search on the part number at the KOBITONE site comes up empty. Are there other suggestions for a dynamic mic element?
Posted by: Mike McNett | December 30, 2005 at 07:16 PM