HawkeyeKane
1979 posts
Sep 09, 2013
7:04 AM
|
Apologies if this is old news to some. But I just ran across this on MF and I've never seen it before. It appears Shure now makes an XLR to Switchcraft impedance transformer, complete with screw-on adapter...
Shure A95UF Impedance Matching Transformer
Interesting...
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Silvertone
134 posts
Sep 09, 2013
7:50 AM
|
Check out the comments its supposed to ship w/ a male and a female screw on adapter but apparently only comes w/ the female. I got one off of ebay a long time ago and it came w/ both.
|
HawkeyeKane
1980 posts
Sep 09, 2013
8:49 AM
|
Well, shame on Shure for their inconsistency. But for folks in our trade, just the female adapter would work fine IMO, and that's just if you don't have a screw-on cable. The only other transformers I've seen with a screw-on barrel are Greg's.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
dougharps
430 posts
Sep 09, 2013
8:52 AM
|
This isn't a new item from Shure. In the 90's I bought versions of one of each Shure transformer, both male (A95A made in Evanston) and female (A95UF made in Mexico) XLRs to Switchcraft (although I called them "Amphenol 1" connectors).
I also have Switchcraft to female 1/4" and Switchcraft to male 1/4" connectors, and more unique, a small Switchcraft to Switchcraft adapter that lets you attach a transformer directly to a Switchcraft ended high-z mic. It makes for a long mic, though...
----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 09, 2013 8:53 AM
|
HawkeyeKane
1981 posts
Sep 09, 2013
8:59 AM
|
Yeah....that's my hesitation on a lot of mic configurations Doug. If it gets too long, it could get damaged. ("That's what she said.")
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
dougharps
431 posts
Sep 09, 2013
9:03 AM
|
One other thing... about the MF review complaints of not having a male 1/4" adapter included.
I don't think it is a good idea to plug a transformer directly into your amp's 1/4" jack (or PA's XLR for that matter). If you do this, you leave a rigid assembly sticking out over 4" from your amp or PA, just asking for someone to knock into it, possibly damaging the jack. A short pigtail instrument (or XLR) cable attached to either transformer will help protect your gear from accidental damage.
When I use my transformers at the amp or PA end of a cable I always use a pigtail and don't plug the transformer assembly directly into the amp or PA.
----------
Doug S.
|
HawkeyeKane
1982 posts
Sep 09, 2013
9:25 AM
|
Good point Doug. My transformer is a simple Hosa unit I got on the fly at Best Buy at a time when I was in a bind for a gig.
Hosa Technology - Impedance Transformer
I always plugged my mic into a satisfactory length of XLR cable, then into the transformer, then into a female-female 1/4" barrel on the floor, and ran a short 1/4" cable from the barrel to my amp. Far less risk of jack damage on the amp that way.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
HarpNinja
3438 posts
Sep 09, 2013
9:31 AM
|
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/audix-t-50k-inline-impedance-matching-transformer
I have three Peavey ones like this as they sell them locally. I also have the plug type. I much prefer the flexibility of the rat tail style.
The Peavey hold up pretty well, BUT they get loose and you have to finger tighten them...has led to a couple of issues. The Audix design seems to work better for that.
I tried to go the route of having the tranfsormer at the mic, but it always led to issues and I went back to the Peavey.
----------
Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
|
Rick Davis
2333 posts
Sep 09, 2013
10:12 AM
|
I use the Audix T-50K rat-tailed transformer. Works great.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/audix-t-50k-inline-impedance-matching-transformer
About those Switchcraft adapters everybody uses to convert a screw-on connection to 1/4 inch plug: They wear out and get noisy and there is no way to fix them. It's better to just go with the screw-on connector on your cable.
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
|
dougharps
432 posts
Sep 09, 2013
1:20 PM
|
Rick, I stopped using the screw on connector adapters on mics a long time ago for that reason: they can get noisy when you move the mic and cord, as you do when performing. I usually use my 585SAV mic with a Switchcraft cable (made by Greg H.) to the adapter on the A95A transformer to the PA with a short XLR cable. The connector just sits there and doesn't get moved around. I don't seem to have noise problems when the adapter is used that way. The transformer is lightweight and easily packed in a mic bag, and it sounds good with that mic. I suppose that if the adapter becomes noisy I could buy or build a double ended Switchcraft cable. At times I have used a direct box instead of the A95A transformer.
For a while at times I was using a (Low-Z) Fireball V with XLR Cable to the A95UF with adapter to a short 1/4" patch cord to the amp. No noise there, either, since the transformer assembly was just sitting there and not being subjected to movement. Even though I like a fairly clean signal with a tube amp, the Fireball was too clean when used that way.
I really like the 585 for PA and tube amps, except when I'm singing as much or more than playing at an acoustic gig. Then I usually use my Ultimate 58.
By all accounts known to me, the Audix transformer with female XLR to 1/4" pigtail that Mike and Rick linked above is a good transformer for Low Z mic to High Z amp. I like the attached pigtail due to reasons I mentioned above. But, I already have the Shure transformers and they are working well for me.
Does Audix have a transformer version with a 1/4" to a male XLR to be used for High-Z mic to Low_Z XLR to the PA? Like the Shure A95A?
----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 09, 2013 1:22 PM
|
