AKG SolidTube problem

[Alex Lipnevic]

Hello guys,

I have recently bought a new (not used) AKG SolidTube mic from a local shop.. I've read many bad reviews about this mic, but I really like the way it sounds.
Anyway, there are some problems with it. The first one is the hum and buzz. I thought it was a grounding problem, so i have changed the electric system at my house. This killed the buzz, but the hum is still there. The next problem is a rhytmic noise which appears when my refrigerator starts working (the refrigerator is on the other side of the wall from the mic's pws).
I've read some topic that there was a problem with the first SolidTube's grounding. Might the noise from the refrigerator be also caused by that?

p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/low-end-theory/424858d1413630907-akg-solidtube-problem-test-666.wav

[[email protected]]

Try another mic
Try another preamp
Try another cable

Mark

[Don Pearce[_3_]]

On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 02:00:19 -0700 (PDT), Alex Lipnevic
> wrote:

>Hello guys,
>
>I have recently bought a new (not used) AKG SolidTube mic from a local shop. I've read many bad reviews about this mic, but I really like the way it sounds.
>Anyway, there are some problems with it. The first one is the hum and buzz. I thought it was a grounding problem, so i have changed the electric system at my house. This killed the buzz, but the hum is still there. The next problem is a rhytmic noise which appears when my refrigerator starts working (the refrigerator is on the other side of the wall from the mic's pws).
>I've read some topic that there was a problem with the first SolidTube's grounding. Might the noise from the refrigerator be also caused by that?
>
>p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.
>
>https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/low-end-theory/424858d1413630907-akg-solidtube-problem-test-666.wav

Why is this mic not back at the store for a refund?

d

[Mike Rivers[_2_]]

On 10/19/2014 2:00 AM, Alex Lipnevic wrote:

> I've read some topic that there was a problem with the first
> SolidTube's grounding. Might the noise from the refrigerator be also
> caused by that?

That's more likely a shielding problem than a ground problem. Try the
mic in another room, or another house.

> p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.

That wouldn't help in a situation like this.

A couple of questions -

What does "i have changed the electric system at my house."actually mean?

How much hum do you really have? Is it a "I can hear hum when I turn the
preamp gain and monitor volume up full" hum, or is it "I can't work with
this mic even at normal gain settings" hum? It's rare that a system that
hasn't been carefully and completely engineered to be hum-free.

--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without
a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be
operated without a passing knowledge of audio" - John Watkinson

Drop by http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com now and then

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article >,
Alex Lipnevic > wrote:
> Hello guys,

> I have recently bought a new (not used) AKG SolidTube mic from a local
> shop. I've read many bad reviews about this mic, but I really like the
> way it sounds. Anyway, there are some problems with it. The first one is
> the hum and buzz. I thought it was a grounding problem, so i have
> changed the electric system at my house. This killed the buzz, but the
> hum is still there. The next problem is a rhytmic noise which appears
> when my refrigerator starts working (the refrigerator is on the other
> side of the wall from the mic's pws). I've read some topic that there
> was a problem with the first SolidTube's grounding. Might the noise from
> the refrigerator be also caused by that?

> p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.

> https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/low-end-theory/424858d1413630907-akg-solidtube-problem-test-666.wav

Sounds to me like a power supply problem. Failed caps, etc. Could be the
cause of both the hum and letting interference from the mains supply
through. It's the sort of problem a 'scope would help greatly with.

How do you change the electrical system in your house?

--
*A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

[Scott Dorsey]

Alex Lipnevic > wrote:
>Anyway, there are some problems with it. The first one is the hum and buzz.=
> I thought it was a grounding problem, so i have changed the electric syste=
>m at my house. This killed the buzz, but the hum is still there. The next p=
>roblem is a rhytmic noise which appears when my refrigerator starts working=
> (the refrigerator is on the other side of the wall from the mic's pws).
>I've read some topic that there was a problem with the first SolidTube's gr=
>ounding. Might the noise from the refrigerator be also caused by that?

Yes. The cases were not solidly bonded to ground as I recall. I suspect
sending it back to AKG's repair department will have them fix that.

>p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.

When you hear a hum or a buzz, either something is not tied to reference
ground properly, or it is tied to reference ground in too many places.

Power line noise exists but it's a rare bird indeed and will appear everywhere
in the system at once and not just in one place.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[geoff]

On 19/10/2014 10:00 p.m., Alex Lipnevic wrote:
> Hello guys,
>
> I have recently bought a new (not used) AKG SolidTube mic from a local shop. I've read many bad reviews about this mic, but I really like the way it sounds.
> Anyway, there are some problems with it. The first one is the hum and buzz. I thought it was a grounding problem, so i have changed the electric system at my house. This killed the buzz, but the hum is still there. The next problem is a rhytmic noise which appears when my refrigerator starts working (the refrigerator is on the other side of the wall from the mic's pws).
> I've read some topic that there was a problem with the first SolidTube's grounding. Might the noise from the refrigerator be also caused by that?
>
> p.s. I've tried Furman's power conditioner but it didn't help.
>
> https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/low-end-theory/424858d1413630907-akg-solidtube-problem-test-666.wav
>


Yes there is an acknowledged (and easily fixable) problem with this mic.
Email me for detail (just take off the "nospam").


geoff

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

> Yes there is an acknowledged (and easily fixable) problem with this mic.
> Email me for detail (just take off the "nospam").

New mic fresh from the shop: warranty repair only, back to the shop with it,
their problem.

> geoff

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

[Scott Dorsey]

Peter Larsen > wrote:
>
>> Yes there is an acknowledged (and easily fixable) problem with this mic.
>> Email me for detail (just take off the "nospam").
>
>New mic fresh from the shop: warranty repair only, back to the shop with it,
>their problem.

There are only so many times you can take it back before you just throw up
your hands and fix it yourself. Or give up and buy a 414B/ULS...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[geoff]

On 21/10/2014 4:27 a.m., Peter Larsen wrote:
>> Yes there is an acknowledged (and easily fixable) problem with this mic.
>> Email me for detail (just take off the "nospam").
>
> New mic fresh from the shop: warranty repair only, back to the shop with it,
> their problem.
>
>> geoff
>
> Kind regards
>
> Peter Larsen
>
>


5 minute fix. Easier and cheaper that starting the car to go back to the
shop.

geoff

[Alex Lipnevic]

On Monday, October 20, 2014 11:05:58 PM UTC+3, geoff wrote:
> On 21/10/2014 4:27 a.m., Peter Larsen wrote:
>
> >> Yes there is an acknowledged (and easily fixable) problem with this mic.
>
> >> Email me for detail (just take off the "nospam").
>
> >
>
> > New mic fresh from the shop: warranty repair only, back to the shop with it,
>
> > their problem.
>
> >
>
> >> geoff
>
> >
>
> > Kind regards
>
> >
>
> > Peter Larsen
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> 5 minute fix. Easier and cheaper that starting the car to go back to the
>
> shop.
>
>
>
> geoff

hey, Geoff, what is your email address? :) can't find it here :\

[hank alrich]

Alex Lipnevic > wrote:

> hey, Geoff, what is your email address? :) can't find it here :\

Alex, remove the obvious…

geoff >


--
shut up and play your guitar * HankAlrich.Com
HankandShaidriMusic.Com
YouTube.Com/WalkinayMusic

[geoff]

On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote

>
> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.

Alex,

Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged
and "addressed" by AKG).

geoff

[mcp6453[_2_]]

On 10/28/2014 4:17 PM, geoff wrote:
> On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote
>
>>
>> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
>> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
>> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
>> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.
>
> Alex,
>
> Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged and "addressed" by AKG).
>
> geoff
>

What's the fix?

[hank alrich]

Jeff Henig > wrote:

> mcp6453 > wrote:
> > On 10/28/2014 4:17 PM, geoff wrote:
> >> On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
> >>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
> >>> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
> >>> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
> >>> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.
> >>
> >> Alex,
> >>
> >> Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged
> >> and "addressed" by AKG).
> >>
> >> geoff
> >>
> >
> > What's the fix?
>
> An '80's pop band, similar to Duran Duran, but that's not important right
> now.

Ha!

--
shut up and play your guitar * HankAlrich.Com
HankandShaidriMusic.Com
YouTube.Com/WalkinayMusic

[geoff]

On 29/10/2014 11:55 p.m., mcp6453 wrote:
> On 10/28/2014 4:17 PM, geoff wrote:
>> On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
>>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote
>>
>>>
>>> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
>>> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
>>> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
>>> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.
>>
>> Alex,
>>
>> Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged and "addressed" by AKG).
>>
>> geoff
>>
>
> What's the fix?
>

Haven't got the exact details here at the mo', but something to do with
how to ensure/make a good ground connection between the top and bottom
sections.

Whatever you do you still end up with a nasty spitty mic, but as always
YMMV and beauty is in the eye of the behoder ;-)

geoff

[Ralph Barone[_2_]]

Jeff Henig > wrote:
> mcp6453 > wrote:
>> On 10/28/2014 4:17 PM, geoff wrote:
>>> On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
>>>> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
>>>> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
>>>> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.
>>>
>>> Alex,
>>>
>>> Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged
>>> and "addressed" by AKG).
>>>
>>> geoff
>>>
>>
>> What's the fix?
>
> An '80's pop band, similar to Duran Duran, but that's not important right
> now.


Surely you jest.

[Ralph Barone[_2_]]

Jeff Henig > wrote:
> Ralph Barone > wrote:
>> Jeff Henig > wrote:
>>> mcp6453 > wrote:
>>>> On 10/28/2014 4:17 PM, geoff wrote:
>>>>> On 29/10/2014 3:35 a.m., Ty Ford wrote:
>>>>>> On Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:00:19 -0400, Alex Lipnevic wrote
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Clip a wire to the grille and to the shell of the XLR. I reviewed this mic
>>>>>> years ago and brand new it came with a bad connection between the top and
>>>>>> bottom half of the body. The head grille shields the capsule from a lot of
>>>>>> noise. When the grille is not grounded, it's useless.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alex,
>>>>>
>>>>> Did the info I sent you fix the problem ( It is a problem acknowledged
>>>>> and "addressed" by AKG).
>>>>>
>>>>> geoff
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> What's the fix?
>>>
>>> An '80's pop band, similar to Duran Duran, but that's not important right
>>> now.
>>
>>
>> Surely you jest.
>
> Why yes. Yes, I do. Quite often, in fact.
> <grin>


Ah Jeff, you missed it... "I'm not joking. And stop calling me Shirley,"