Derek H

Nice work!

Let us know how it goes. Seems like a good idea but I’m sure there will be some unexpected snags like difficult to cut or solder metals or lots of foil shielding. Trying to buy that kind of specialty cable in small quantities can be difficult to source and expensive so it might make sense to just repurpose a high quality USB-C from Anker or one of the better brands. I did find a perfect cable for Hirose connectors from Alphawire that is super flexible and rubbery and just the right diameter for the cable clamp (the hardest part to get right with these) with two nice conductors and no shield. I could look up the model number if anyone is interested. I ordered just a sample because I think the minimum order quantity was way too much. Re-reading my posts from 2020 I can update that I did try some of the marine electrical wires I was mentioning and found it either too thick in the case of the boat cable or too stiff and prone to kinking in the case of the lighter gauge hook up wire. If you’re looking something heavier for 4-pin or Speakon connectors I can recommend canare quad speaker cable. High stand count, flexible and high quality insulation. Though there are many options for larger diameter power cable.

I’m in Chicago and we’re typically at 450-500 for that kit.

Tim, thanks for posting your test. We need more of this kind of thing here.

This thread is obviously aimed directly at the Sound Devices Nexus and A10/A20 system. I suspect they’ve thought about this scenario and there is something happening behind the scenes with the A20 input stage that allows their gain forward concept to work well even dealing with low levels. If it didn’t work well at low levels then rule out using it on almost any TV show or movie because that’s all we seem to get out of many actors is low levels. Maybe someone who owns one of these systems and has used it on a real scene can comment on how it performs.

Sounds like your approach was to disregard any kind of spatial relationship or specific stereo configuration and just go for a good blended coverage of the audience?

Quit giving them ideas!

It’s time someone do a serious head to head to head with Nexus, Axient, Zaxcom, and maybe Sony. Something similar to the antenna shootout 695 did years ago. Zaxcom is a very polarizing brand for a lot of people but you do have to give credit where credit is due. They really have been making digital wireless for waay longer than anyone else. It’s funny to read people gushing about being able to change frequencies from the receiver. That’s been possible with Zaxcom stuff for over a decade! I’m sure Glenn goes a little nuts every time he reads about It.

Thanks for your field notes. Can you describe your setup briefly? What kind of antenna setup? Try Running remote antennas? Powered or passive? Also were you using Dante or analog connection the recorder? Thanks again!

Good grief, why don’t one of you guys just call or email sound devices and ask them a few questions. So much speculation.

Well that’s okay because people in general seem to love them and have been buying tons of them for years. I don’t though and have been skeptical on them for a long time. I’m all for multichannel receiver units I just think the slot mount form factor and the endless accessories and adapters needed to use them out of the original context is a waste of time and resources. (Good for selling more stuff though) I might be wrong but I can’t help imagining that we’d have overall better equipment in 2023 if such a large amount of time wasn’t spent for the last decade re-engineering older tech to fit inside the arbitrary confines of a camera receiver slot. As soon as the SR was released it was like OK everyone.. this is a compromised design and the older single channel is definitely better performing all around…. but it’s two for the price of one!! And who doesn’t love a deal so we all bought lots and taught the manufacturers that we’re willing to take a hit on quality and reliability for the sake of quantity and a smaller form factor. Ok what were we supposed to be discussing here

They have ovens to stress test stuff in. They should absolutely know when the transmitter breaks. And they should be simulating a transmitter buried in costume for these tests. 38 does seem low if you consider you might need it to work buried under clothes in 100+ temps.

“the maxed out Nexus Go is only US$1K cheaper than the standard 8 channel Nexus” very good observation. Now if they made a half size version (two screens). Capable of 4-6 channels WITH Dante that would have been a good product as well I think. The lack of Dante is troubling but if you only plan to use it in a bag I suppose you wouldn’t miss it. If you’re a cart user I feel like you still need two regular Nexus units and that’s quite the investment. And screw slot receivers I say! I can’t believe they’re still a thing. All the wasted engineering time…

And the Nexus Go seems like basically a regular Nexus without Dante or app control. Though it does have Nexlink, good job sound devices. I don’t know why they limit it to only 8 channels maxed out. That seems like an artificial limitation to me but whatever. Maybe it has less processing power inside but I doubt it. I was really expecting a half sized unit with 4-8 channels but I guess this works for a lower priced option. I still say they need a plug on transmitter in the lineup.

Is it possible to order just the control pack receiver without the earphones?

what is all-day for you? 10 hours? 12? 14?

I’ve been reading this thread with interest as a tube amp owner but I have a late 90s Mesa Rectoverb combo 50W with 6L6 so seems a little off-topic compared to what’s being discussed here lol. I’m pretty happy with it though after many years of being without an electric setup. As far as load boxes go I use a Two Notes torpedo box between the output and the speaker just to attenuate the volume a bit for home use. Works pretty well.

Yup. Did you see my suggestion about trying to use one of the line outputs on Monday?

OK, did some digging for you and figured it out.. Read pages 109 and 110 from the 664 manual. https://cdn.sounddevices.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/664-ug1.10.20.pdf Look at the second paragraph here: So this explains it. The difference is expected and due to impedance shift. You say the Master knob on the 552 has no effect? That's too bad. Perhaps you could have a custom cable made that takes the outputs of the 552 from either the Hirose 10-pin or from the two XLR or TA3 mix outs (wouldn't matter which just an output that can give you the full line level) and then take that into the 664's link input following the wiring diagram in the manual. The Master knob would then work to make any trim adjustments between the two machines. I would still check with Sound Devices to make sure this would work or if you need that 10K resistor in the TA5 to enable the connection or something. Good luck! I think the best solution, that I'm sure you've considered, would be to buy a used CL-6 for the 664. Or a CL-12 if you can find it and you're working in a stationary mode. Of course that will add more bulk to the setup. What you're trying to do was not originally part of the plan for any of these machines. The link IO port is a nice addition but that was made without consideration for the fact that you might want to do what you're doing with the direct outs.

Sounds like the person you talked to had no idea what you're trying to do. I've found Sound Devices phone support to be a little hit or miss depending on who you get. Years ago you would call and basically talk to one of the engineers who made the thing. Now you get people who have to look stuff up or go ask someone else. They'll be able to help you but you may need to call again and dig a little deeper or email.

I get it seems like the same cable in terms of connectors but I’m saying you should check that it’s constructed the same way. Maybe there’s resistors or something inside the cable and the values need to be adjusted for the 664. You should just call sound devices for this one.

I assume you checked the output level setting? The wiring needed to mate a 552 to a 664 could be different than what the off the shelf cable has. That cable was originally for linking 442s together.

That’s great. Wish I could do this in my basement but the windows open in and don’t slide up

Hi Phil, great looking cart! I’m wondering after spending some time at this cart how do you like not having the recorder right in front of your eyes? From an install perspective having the recorder down in the rack works beautifully but I’m not sure I’d like not having it in front of me while recording. I understand between the Cantaress and Souriwuette or whatever it is you can control just about anything remotely but still I’m curious how you like it. thanks!

Hey Jim, Maybe reach out to Kester for a recommendation for hand soldering? I know they have a large amount of variants and it’s hard to know as a non-engineer what’s best or what you definitely don’t want to use without an industrial fume system. I hear you about lead solder. I still use it, and might just use it the rest of my life since I have a couple spools of it and don’t solder frequently but I go between indifference to moderate concern regularly. I just have a charcoal filter fan to attempt to suck the fumes away. I’ve read confusing advice on solder… that solder fumes are not that dangerous, don’t contain aerosolized lead and the risk is mostly irritation from the flux fumes kind of like a wood fire would irritate as well. But then I’ve read other material that seems to indicate all sorts of horrible stuff in the fumes. When they say the fumes are ok maybe that’s assuming you’re wearing an N95 and have an industrial fume sucker on your bench (no affordable version exists that I’ve found). They’re probably not saying it’s fine for Joe Blow sound guy to be soldering in his basement with a computer fan blowing the smoke around. (Basically my setup) Sorry to hijack your thread with my rant… Side question for the populace here… have any of you who have been soldering a long time with lead ever go and get a blood test?