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Post by krackle on Nov 2, 2022 15:33:46 GMT -6
Hi..first post here..been reading here quite a bit..nice board.
Im looking at a used AEA R84a (active version) near me and wondering about the stated 'slight difference' (per AEA's website) in sound..
where is the difference? Im meekly guessing that the high end
is more extended?
Also, wondering if the circuit they implemented in the active version does anything to mitigate any noise at higher gain..say, for vocals when a singer is backed off the mic a bit, or softer voices etc..I've read more than once that noise can/does become an issue on this
I've experienced this with other ribbons..had a few but have settled into two ribbons-a Stager Sr2n and a Beyerdynamic m260 (DX-Stephen Sank mod) my two main pres are a box of John Hardy M-1's and a GTQ2.
Anyone have experience with both the passive and active version of this mic?
Thanks all..
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Post by ab101 on Nov 2, 2022 17:01:45 GMT -6
Welcome krackle to this forum!!! You will likely find it to be friendly and informative! With the non-active AEA ribbon mic, you will likely want a preamp that has a high impedence mic input and lots of gain, usually especially made for ribbon mics. And example is the AEA TRP - designed by Fred Forssell. I believe Fred also designed the active component of the AEA active ribbon mics. www.aearibbonmics.com/products/trp2/Note the TRP2 mic pre has an input impedence of 63K. That is great for a non-active ribbon mic. And it has lots of gain - 85db. You do not need 85db of gain with an active ribbon mic and most good preamps will sound good with active ribbon mics. Another side note of an advantage of an active ribbon mic - if you use a preamp with 48V phantom power on it, you can have the phantom power on and the active ribbon mic will not be affected. But if you have an non-active ribbon mic, do not turn on the 48V as it can damage the ribbon. Sorry, I am not as good with the technical stuff as some others on this board. If you contact AEA, they will also be very helpful. Integer also makes a super ribbon mic preamp if you go the non-active route. www.integeraudio.com/ (Samar recommended the Integer and it was a great recommendation!) www.integeraudio.com/rmp2-preamp.html
TWO CHANNELS ARE ONLY $699! (that is pretty good!)
- Optimized for Ribbon Mics - No transformers or capacitors in the signal path, and no phantom power
- Maximum gain is 80 dB , minimum gain 24 dB
- Output impedance is 49.9 ohms x2
- Differential input impedance is 10k ohms fixed
- THD less than 0.005% at 60 db gain
- EIN: less than -129 dBu, 20kHz BW, 60 dB gain, Rs = 150 ohm
- Bandwidth is 1MHz -3dB at 40dB gain, 300kHz at 60dB
- Frequency response (20Hz to 20kHz) is < +/-0.1dB at 60 dB gain
- Enclosure size: 5.5"W x 6.5"L x 1.7"H (optional hardware for 1U 19" rack mount) |
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Post by stratboy on Nov 2, 2022 17:57:36 GMT -6
I own the r84. No experience with the active version, but I do want to say welcome to RGO!
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Post by krackle on Nov 3, 2022 8:55:53 GMT -6
Welcome krackle to this forum!!! You will likely find it to be friendly and informative! With the non-active AEA ribbon mic, you will likely want a preamp that has a high impedence mic input and lots of gain, usually especially made for ribbon mics. And example is the AEA TRP - designed by Fred Forssell. I believe Fred also designed the active component of the AEA active ribbon mics. www.aearibbonmics.com/products/trp2/Note the TRP2 mic pre has an input impedence of 63K. That is great for a non-active ribbon mic. And it has lots of gain - 85db. You do not need 85db of gain with an active ribbon mic and most good preamps will sound good with active ribbon mics. Another side note of an advantage of an active ribbon mic - if you use a preamp with 48V phantom power on it, you can have the phantom power on and the active ribbon mic will not be affected. But if you have an non-active ribbon mic, do not turn on the 48V as it can damage the ribbon. Sorry, I am not as good with the technical stuff as some others on this board. If you contact AEA, they will also be very helpful. Integer also makes a super ribbon mic preamp if you go the non-active route. www.integeraudio.com/ (Samar recommended the Integer and it was a great recommendation!) www.integeraudio.com/rmp2-preamp.html
TWO CHANNELS ARE ONLY $699! (that is pretty good!)
- Optimized for Ribbon Mics - No transformers or capacitors in the signal path, and no phantom power
- Maximum gain is 80 dB , minimum gain 24 dB
- Output impedance is 49.9 ohms x2
- Differential input impedance is 10k ohms fixed
- THD less than 0.005% at 60 db gain
- EIN: less than -129 dBu, 20kHz BW, 60 dB gain, Rs = 150 ohm
- Bandwidth is 1MHz -3dB at 40dB gain, 300kHz at 60dB
- Frequency response (20Hz to 20kHz) is < +/-0.1dB at 60 dB gain
- Enclosure size: 5.5"W x 6.5"L x 1.7"H (optional hardware for 1U 19" rack mount)Thanks AB..excellent post..That pre looks very interesting.. Since the particular mic im looking at is an active version I'll prob stick with what i have for now but Im gonna take a hard look..awesome and thanks.. |
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Post by krackle on Nov 3, 2022 8:56:52 GMT -6
I own the r84. No experience with the active version, but I do want to say welcome to RGO! Strat...thanks for the welcome mat..much appreciated : ) |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Nov 3, 2022 15:40:49 GMT -6
Welcome I prefer passive ribbons for a couple of reasons:
First I want to be able to choose the color any gain brings to the party.
Second almost all phantom power systems bring so little current to the party that even doing the old use 2 mic pre amps for gain trick with a Behringer mixer is probably more dynamic.
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Post by ab101 on Nov 3, 2022 15:50:52 GMT -6
Welcome I prefer passive ribbons for a couple of reasons: First I want to be able to choose the color any gain brings to the party. Second almost all phantom power systems bring so little current to the party that even doing the old use 2 mic pre amps for gain trick with a Behringer mixer is probably more dynamic. Agreed. I had a pair of A-440 ribbons. Active mics with Fred Forssell designed active component. Fabulous! Except - I decided I liked the passive 44ce (or cne?) better as I can have more of an effect of the sound with the preamp. I also, saved thousands of dollars by going with the passives. Now this may not be true for the OP who may not want to buy a preamp for a passive ribbon, though many more preamps today can handle them quite well. For instance, I love the 44s on mandolin family instruments. I love driving up a great tube preamp gain with this and somehow I get a super effect that brings out the wood wonderfully (purposeful alliteration  ) than I was able to do so with the actives. |
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Post by Ward on Nov 4, 2022 8:58:23 GMT -6
Hi..first post here..been reading here quite a bit..nice board. Im looking at a used AEA R84a (active version) near me and wondering about the stated 'slight difference' (per AEA's website) in sound.. where is the difference? Im meekly guessing that the high end
Thats my understanding. I have a standard R84 and it is quite the boring un-hyped ribbon mic. It certainly has it's place and I love boring old ribbons on a lot of applications! You know what would be cool? A ribbon mic preamp with variable input impedance - controllable on the front panel to go from 2400 all the way to 33K Then you could REALLY goose the ribbons and find that spot. |
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Post by the other mark williams on Nov 4, 2022 11:26:19 GMT -6
Hi..first post here..been reading here quite a bit..nice board. Im looking at a used AEA R84a (active version) near me and wondering about the stated 'slight difference' (per AEA's website) in sound.. where is the difference? Im meekly guessing that the high end
Thats my understanding. I have a standard R84 and it is quite the boring un-hyped ribbon mic. It certainly has it's place and I love boring old ribbons on a lot of applications! You know what would be cool? A ribbon mic preamp with variable input impedance - controllable on the front panel to go from 2400 all the way to 33K Then you could REALLY goose the ribbons and find that spot. , you don’t happen to know any gear manufacturers to whom you might mention that product idea, do you?? |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107
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Post by ericn on Nov 4, 2022 12:12:30 GMT -6
Thats my understanding. I have a standard R84 and it is quite the boring un-hyped ribbon mic. It certainly has it's place and I love boring old ribbons on a lot of applications! You know what would be cool? A ribbon mic preamp with variable input impedance - controllable on the front panel to go from 2400 all the way to 33K Then you could REALLY goose the ribbons and find that spot. , you don’t happen to know any gear manufacturers to whom you might mention that product idea, do you?? Gee I wonder if He might know anyone in Audio, it eScape's my mind . |
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Post by the other mark williams on Nov 4, 2022 14:18:05 GMT -6
Ward , you don’t happen to know any gear manufacturers to whom you might mention that product idea, do you?? Gee I wonder if He might know anyone in Audio, it eScape's my mind . brilliant, Eric! |
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Post by Ward on Nov 4, 2022 17:54:01 GMT -6
Ward, you don’t happen to know any gear manufacturers to whom you might mention that product idea, do you?? Gee I wonder if He might know anyone in Audio, it eScape's my mind . Oh you guys . . . LOL I've already convinced them to make the 76D and have the 1178 project in the works as well. an audioscape ribbon ore with the simplicity of Integer's RMP2 or maybe . . . something in the vein of an RCA 6? well then Fingers crossed, and let's see what happens! The variable input impedance control would take an AWFUL lot of thinkafying and tinkering and inventoring, and experimenting and testing. Hmmm . . . glad I'm not the only one who wants that! in all fairness, it's an idea Wes Dooley's been bandying about for a long time. |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107
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Post by ericn on Nov 4, 2022 18:04:14 GMT -6
Ward, you don’t happen to know any gear manufacturers to whom you might mention that product idea, do you?? Gee I wonder if He might know anyone in Audio, it eScape's my mind . Oh you guys . . . LOL I've already convinced them to make the 76D and have the 1178 project in the works as well. an audioscape ribbon ore with the simplicity of Integer's RMP2 or maybe . . . something in the vein of an RCA 6? well then Fingers crossed, and let's see what happens! The variable input impedance control would take an AWFUL lot of thinkafying and tinkering and inventoring, and experimenting and testing. Hmmm . . . glad I'm not the only one who wants that! in all fairness, it's an idea Wes Dooley's been bandying about for a long time. I might know of a guy, can’t remember his name, hangs here every once in a while who could consult on a RCA reproduction😎 Now what was that guys name. |
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) than I was able to do so with the actives. 
