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Mid-level lav options to B3 and COS-11?


Jim Feeley

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I'm looking to buy four to six more lavs for corp and doc work. These will likely be submersed in salt water, subjected to heavy smoke, and possible stolen. Though mostly just used as everyday lavs. Sure, I care about audio quality, but I'm not thinking DPA right now.

 

I own and am familiar with Countryman B3 and Sanken COS-11 lavs (as well as several others). I know of some of the options. But I'm looking for hands-on and ears-on experiences.

 

What others have people here used in the US$150-$300 or so range and been happy...or at least satisfied...with?

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OscarSoundtech

OST 801 and 802 (Tram TR50 clone). The TL-40 is a 4mm lav with a rather flat response.
OST in New Jersey, has been making these for at least 10 years.. probably closer to 15.  I think they still sell for under $150 usd.
I do not know if they would work after being exposed to water. The Trams were somewhat water resistant as I recall. I would expect the same from the 801/822.

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B3 were always my go to for disposable lavs.  They don't sound as good as Sanken, but I have had one submerged in salt water and restored it by soaking it in distilled water for three days.

I used the stock Sennheiser ME-2 with my Sennheiser gear for ages, and they sound fine for the price.  A bit hissy (like the B3s), but the tonality is fine.  They are also on the larger side to hide, but they are cheap.  The MKE-2 is a decent upgrade.

I can't speak for any others ... I'm all DPA these days with a couple B6s for when I need an *extremely* small capsule.  I would try Tram TR-50s, Shure's lineup, and maybe higher-grade Sennheisers, but I have no direct experience with them.

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Just buy some used sankens from a reliable/respected member or source. You should find plenty in your price range and they'll last you a while. And if there's L&D on a project you use them for, voila, new replacements!

 

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12 hours ago, IronFilm said:

Am surprised nobody has mentioned the Deity W.Lav Pro yet, it's only a hundred dollars (plus terminating it yourself, or getting the microdot adapter), is weather proof, and is compatible with the popular COS11 accessories. 

 

https://deitymic.com/products/w-lav-pro-lavalier/ 

I have some and I use the Shure TA5 microdot adapters with them so about $130 total between lav and adapter.  Sound good for most things although I purposely turn the preamp on my lectros down a couple notches as you don't want to blow these out yet the self noise is low so not a problem running them this way.

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Thanks for your responses everyone. Really appreciate it.

 

A couple follow-up questions. I'm not challenging your opinions, just looking for context and more opinions. 🙂

 

@Axel Mishael, what do you not like about the Countryman B3?

 

@Rick Reineke, the OST mics seem a lot like TRAM, Sonotrim, and Countryman EMWs. And the TL-40 seems similar(ish) to the B3. That's all fine, but do you find them superior to those or more as good / almost as good and cheaper? I.e., what about them do you like?

 

 

@OB1, IME the cables on COS-11s get kind of stiff after a while, and the mics sometimes getting a little dull sounding. Happens to various lavs, but makes me not want to buy used/pre-owned lavs. But have I just had bad luck? Have you bought used COS-11s, and/or gotten many years of use without cables becoming temperamental? 

 

@IronFilm, so are you using those Deity lavs? Sonically, to what would you compare them? 

 

@codyman, what other lavs are you regularly using?

 

Thanks everyone!

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I normally use Cos-11 or DPA 4060 on male cast but this past week, we had our most critical scenes of the entire series... I went to the Tram TR-50's..  Wonderful isolation and when pair with the ZMT4, I feel the low end is much more "Controlled" then when I was using them with my Lectro system.. Can't go wrong with a few Trams..

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I bought a couple of the TL-40s. They had a terrible noise floor.  Unusable. I suppose they are ok in situations where there is some  room tone, but for a quiet scene, forget it. Their size is great. I complained to OST and sent them a file. They did not comment on the file I sent and were not helpful. They are in my junk drawer.

 

The OST 801s are fine.

Trams were always great on live broadcast. They had very good isolation of the talent from the other conversations that were going on in the studio.

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2 hours ago, Jim Feeley said:

@IronFilm, so are you using those Deity lavs? Sonically, to what would you compare them? 

I haven't, as I've got COS11 lavs as my main daily usage lavs, with a mix of OST / Trams should I need extras. 

 

However I've boomed for others who are using the Deity lavs, and they seem happy with them. Certainly if I was to buy any more lavs, at a lower price point I'd be going for Deity rather than OST / Trams. (just back when I got mine, Deity lavs didn't exist just yet)

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I may be nuts, but to me the TR-50 sounds almost as good as a dpa 4060. 

 

The front address design often makes them more difficult to position quickly without clothing noise across the capsule --- but for setups that work in your favor and don't require fur for wind (which I've found more difficult to rig for trams), I think they are a great choice. A few years ago I scooped a few up on eBay for around $50 each and roll them out now and again.

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i got some countryman EMWs years ago as i needed something waterproof, but didnt want to spend the money on a B3 or B6.

i may have read somewhere that it used the same capsule as a TRAM, but couldnt tell you where i read that, and it would hve been over 10 years ago, so be very sceptical of that info without anyone else to back it up.

but, its a good sounding mic, and i ended up using them later in a scene where one actor was getting covered in blood, and everyone else was wearing a DPA 4061. the EMW matched very well, which surprised me at the time. and certainly makes them worth keeping as a more disposable / stunt mic.
and worth adding as another choice for your options

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