Rustic River Posted January 23, 2024 Report Posted January 23, 2024 Does anyone know if Sanken COS-11Ds can be wired for Microdot? I have several in my arsenal wired for Sony 3.5mm, but would love to be able to use them on my Tentacle Sync TRACK E's without relying on some off-brand adapter. If I could have my COS-11's re-terminated in Microdot so that I could swap them between systems as needed, that would be great. Quote
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted January 23, 2024 Report Posted January 23, 2024 I looked in to this and couldn't find microdot connectors readily available. In theory, it should be possible if you use a 2-wire configuration, which is less than ideal for Sanken's 3-wire design. Microdot only has two conductors, so it's always going to be a sub-par option in this regard. Quote
DHB Posted January 23, 2024 Report Posted January 23, 2024 I wonder if anyone can tell me: in a Sanken COS-11 lav, does the AA cell in the XLR-connection - called a P-11XBP-PT - does it recharge automatically from Phantom power - if left plugged in? Or - if the AA cell is old and non-functional - how does one replace it? ..The little bolt which holds on the XLR connector? Thanks in anticipation.. - David. Quote
DHB Posted January 24, 2024 Report Posted January 24, 2024 No extant info on the internet, but - luckily - the UK Sanken distributors are just down the road, so I went there: nobody had any idea about this! Luckily (again) they had a new unit in stock, and found, with twisting and fiddling, that the body of the P-11XBP Battery Power unit just unscrews, comes apart, and a normal non-rechargeable AA cell goes in there. So they unscrewed mine, and there was an old, corroding AA cell inside. They had no idea how many hours an AA cell lasts, no idea whether a rechargeable AA cell (e.g; Eneloop) could be recharged in situ by phantom power ..they knew zilch. They say they are "..the second largest distributor of Sanken microphones following the USA". God help us. Still, they struggled till they opened mine, and I hadn't even bought it from them. Detailed knowledge, though, about the products they sell? ..Unfortunately not. Weird. Quote
rich Posted January 24, 2024 Report Posted January 24, 2024 theP-11XBP wont be able to charge a battery in there. phantom power doesnt supply enough current to do much more than power a mic - around 4ma. i charge my NiMh batteries at 300ma. the battery in the barrel is there if what you are plugging the mic into cannot supply phantom power. and if you are using rechargeable batteries, put fresh ones in every day, rather than live with the anxiety that the battery will die whilst you are using it. it has been many many many years since i used a hard wired lav, especially one with the in line XLR adapter, and based on that i dont imagine many others have used them either. if you want to know how long the battery lasts, thats easy enough to test for yourself. my money is on a week. Quote
Rick Reineke Posted January 24, 2024 Report Posted January 24, 2024 Generally, bias current supplied by an XLR Phantom Power adapter/converter/or battery in very low, so a AA cell should last a long, long time. current draw is usually disconnected when it is unplugged. I have TA5 (Lectro) inline XLR power/converter/adapter with a LR44 button cell that lasted for years.. and then some. Quote
DHB Posted January 25, 2024 Report Posted January 25, 2024 Many thanks for the replies, Rich and Rick. I'd thought that maybe phantom could dribble-charge an Eneloop, as I have a couple of (large diaphragm) CAD e300² mics which run off either phantom OR a pair (inside each mic) of rechargeable PP3 9v batts. Instructions for the mics explain that they should be run off the internal batts - to give sufficient current in normal use - but that the mics should be left on phantom when NOT being used, as that will recharge the PP3s ..and that seems to work in practice. "..current draw is usually disconnected when it is unplugged.." ah, OK: I'd thought it really odd that the Sanken has no On/Off switch for the AA cell, but that explains it. Many thanks again for the info. Quote
John Blankenship Posted January 25, 2024 Report Posted January 25, 2024 On 1/23/2024 at 9:31 AM, Rustic River said: Does anyone know if Sanken COS-11Ds can be wired for Microdot? I have several in my arsenal wired for Sony 3.5mm, but would love to be able to use them on my Tentacle Sync TRACK E's without relying on some off-brand adapter. If I could have my COS-11's re-terminated in Microdot so that I could swap them between systems as needed, that would be great. Contact Gene Martin at The Audio Department. Quote
Rustic River Posted February 20, 2024 Author Report Posted February 20, 2024 Got it done at Gotham Sound. Got all 8 of my COS-11D’s microdotted with DPA’s heavy-duty microdot which fits the thicker cable of the COS-11D perfectly. The DPA heavy-duty lavs (4660/4661/4671) have almost the exact same cable size as the COS-11D (2.1mm on the COS-11D vs 2.2mm on the DPA), so the adapter was a great match and is built tough. I have tried these out on both my Sony UWP series transmitters with a DPA microdot adapter as well as on my Tentacle Sync TRACK E’s using a Tentacle Sync microdot adapter and they work great. I love having microdotted COS-11D’s! Quote
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted February 20, 2024 Report Posted February 20, 2024 How do they sound in the 2-wire configuration? Notice any differences? Quote
Rustic River Posted February 20, 2024 Author Report Posted February 20, 2024 48 minutes ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said: How do they sound in the 2-wire configuration? Notice any differences? They explained that to me, but it went a little over my head haha. They sound the exact same though as they did before. Quote
johnpaul215 Posted February 20, 2024 Report Posted February 20, 2024 I got some done at the Audio Department. Quote
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