Need more Mic volume on S975

[RoyceM]

Does anybody know if a Sennheiser E 845S Pro Performance mic would work on the S975?

- Royce

[DonM]

Yes it will.  I have a two more expensive Sennheisers and my friend had this exact model.  All work just fine.

[RoyceM]

Thanks, Don. I found a sale on them at Guitar Center.

- Royce

[DonM]

It's a good mic.  You might check out Samson Q8.  I like it about as well as anything, even much more expensive mics.  Since Q8x came out, the Q8 can be found at great prices.  I have two Q7s and a Q8.  I will probably get a Q8x just to see if there is any difference. 
I just counted and have 14 mics setting around!     And I have donated or sold about 10 in the past year or so.

[RoyceM]

Thanks, Don. I think Gary suggested them too.

- Royce

[DonM]

Thanks, Don. I think Gary suggested them too.

- Royce

Probably, Gary is one of my better pupils. 

[Paul B]

Royce,

As I said earlier in this thread and probably in my emails to you, since you are not a singer,  the Electro Voicew Cobalt mic is a great mic for the price.  $59 at Guitar center.

Here is a link from Guitar Center.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Electro-Voice/Co7-Cobalt-Vocal-Mic.gc

Paul B.

[RoyceM]

Thanks, Paul.

I followed up on all the mic suggestions members gave, but decided to go for a Sennheiser E 845S Pro Performance, which is probably an overkill. I prefer an on/off switch, because of the way I use a mic, which didn't appear to be available on most of the suggestions.

Price wise, a number of sellers have the same reduced price, so I bought from Sweetwater with whom I've done business in the past.

Regarding this entire thread, I feel like I've gone the "long way around the mountain." In the process I've learned so much more than I would have otherwise, and I hope someone else will benefit from it. It has demonstrated the wealth of experience and wisdom available on this forum.

Thank you everybody!!

- Royce

[Jay B.]

Royce, I think you will find you still need an impedance matching adapter or cable. It will make a tremendous difference in the sound, as your new Sennheiser is low impedance. Low impedance mics are superior to high impedance and widely used in all professional applications. That is my opinion, but I did sound for my various bands for years before retiring from the profession. Also do a search on high vs. low impedance to learn more. If you intend to use it with your keyboard, I would invest in a high quality XLR mic cable and the impedance matcher at the link I posted above or a comparable one.

Just my $.02

Jay B.

[RoyceM]

Jay,

I value your $0.02. I was intending to take your earlier information to heart, but my ignorance might be rearing up to bite me in that I was hoping this mic would jump the impedance hurdle without using the impedance matcher.

I tried to sort it out and even talked with people at Guitar Center and Sweetwater who seemed as in the dark as I regarding low vs high impedance of their mic products.

For now, I will have to wait and see how the Sennheiser E 845S compares with the Shure SM58 on my S975.

Thanks,

- Royce

[Jay B.]

Hi Royce,

I don't mean to be a persistent pest at all, but this is important. The difference between a low vs high impedance mic is described here by Audio Technica > https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/site/214c5c52432bc79b/index.html

I found this matcher on Amazon for less $$$ > https://www.amazon.com/Shure-A85F-Transformer-Female-4-Inch/dp/B0006NMUHW/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1528799084&sr=1-2&keywords=impedance+matching+adapter#customerReviews

Read the first review on this product, it sums up my point nicely.

You will find that you have much more headroom to increase volume and better signal to noise ratio using this.

Jay B.

[Paul B]

Royce,

I just read the last couple of posts from Jay B. and a little light went on in my head. (its usually pretty dim up there  )

I bought a balanced mic cable from my local music store to use with my 970 and my mic(s) and it presented the same characteristics you have been describing. I returned it and went to another store (Music Go Round) and purchased an unbalanced cable that has a marking on it that says "Pin 3 Hot". That cable worked perfectly with all my mics. I have since bought several other similar cables and all work fine.
This was 2 years ago when I first bought my 970 and I had forgotten all about it. Your problem may just be your cable and perhaps the device described by Jay B would solve the issue for you cheaper than a new mic.

Good luck,
Paul B.

[travlin-easy]

Paul, glad you brought that up. Over the years I have posted this information so many, many times. You would be amazed at the number of folks that have been sold the wrong adapter cable at both music stores and GC. In every instance, the store clerk had absolutely no idea of the difference in the cables.

Gary

[MarkF_48]

Sadly for a major instrument manufacturer Yamaha can't or doesn't want to be bothered giving the specs for the mic input of their arranger keyboards in the user or reference manual. I did download the service manual for the PSR S950 which does show the acceptable microphone input impedance (150  to 600 ohms). I suspect the S975 is the same. No impedance matching transformer or cable is needed. To properly connect an XLR connected low impedance mic, typical of most currently available mics, an XLR to 1/4" TS cable would be the one to use where the XLR pin 3 (low) is tied to XLR pin 1 (ground) and is connected to the 1/4" sleeve. Pin 2 (hot) is connected to the 1/4" tip.
A Hosa-PXF-105-XLR3F is one I've been using.
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-PXF-105-XLR3F-Unbalanced-Interconnect/dp/B000068NYN?th=1

Either of the two ways in the link below will ensure proper polarity/phasing of an XLR to 1/4" TS plug.....
https://www.mediacollege.com/audio/connection/xlr-jack-mono.html



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[RoyceM]

Is my head swimming yet?

However it turns out with my new mic, you folks are providing me a great education...for free!  Jay and MarkF, I appreciate your detailed submissions.

My mic is supposed to arrive tomorrow (the suspense builds...); I'll report back with my opinions.

- Royce

[travlin-easy]

Royce, if you have access to a multi-meter, check out your cable and make sure it is an unbalanced cable, with pin 3 connecting to the tip of the 1/4-inch plug. This is very important - no impedance matching transformer needed.

Good luck,

Gary

[MarkF_48]

Royce, if you have access to a multi-meter, check out your cable and make sure it is an unbalanced cable, with pin 3 connecting to the tip of the 1/4-inch plug. This is very important - no impedance matching transformer needed.

Good luck,

Gary

Gary,
That can work with pin 3 to the tip, but it reverses the polarity/phase of the signal (not a big deal if it's the only mic). The usual convention is pin 2 is considered 'hot' and that would connect to the tip of the 1/4" plug.
While the link below is for an XLR to TRS balanced cable, it still is standard for an XLR to 1/4" TS unbalanced to have the tip 'hot' from pin 2.
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/wiring-xlr-trs-connectors-reversing-polarity-for-pin-3/



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[Jay B.]

...and as an ex-professional sound tech as well as musician, I have to insist that balanced mic cables are superior to unbalanced for microphones. They eliminate noise, cancel out distortion, allow for very long cable runs, etc. Audio professionals do not use unbalanced mic cables. Unbalanced cables can be used for instruments, audio sources, etc. but you still run into noise, and possible distortion if the runs go over 15-20 feet.

To further bolster the point, here are some other sources to review:
Sweetwater > https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/cable-buying-guide/     Read the Balanced vs. Unbalanced section
https://www.epiphan.com/blog/audio-cables-balanced-vs-unbalanced/  > Scroll down to read a nice summation of the pros and cons
https://ask.audio/articles/music-studio-essentials-understanding-balanced-vs-unbalanced-xlr-cables    >   Another article to gain understanding

Bottom line - if your new mic does not work with your current cable, I would recommend using a balanced XLR cable and an impedance matching adapter.

Not trying to offend others here as this forum has some of the nicest folks on the 'net, but teach from professional experience.

Jay B.

[RoyceM]

Royce, if you have access to a multi-meter, check out your cable and make sure it is an unbalanced cable, with pin 3 connecting to the tip of the 1/4-inch plug. This is very important - no impedance matching transformer needed.

Good luck,

Gary

Thanks Gary. I know for a fact that my cable is unbalanced.

- Royce

[RoyceM]

NEW MIC REPORT

First I would like to comment that on Monday I got to use my old Sure SM58 with the new settings we've been discovering and discussing. I was surprised at how well it did outside of my acoustically absorbent living room.

The new Sennheiser e 845S mic arrived today. I set all settings to defaults and gradually increased them. I left those settings in place then alternated mics a couple times. The 845 seemed a little hotter and a little richer in sound. Having done this comparison, I realize I really could have gotten by with the SM58 with the new settings. I can comfortably live with either mic...except my grandson thinks he needs my old SM58.

Question for Jay B.

I don't know whether I will attempt your suggestion, Jay, but I am curious as to the exact cable configuration you suggest with the impedance matching transformer. In my case, I use a short cable (6 ft). The transformers you referenced seem sizable and perhaps could be a bit awkward. Would you please comment. It would help round out all that's been said in this tread.

Thanks,

- Royce

[Jay B.]

...with either the new mic or the old, please feel free to use what you already have. If you ever expand into more sound, or a small PA system, please read the articles at the links I provided. This way you will be able to make an educated purchase decision.

Enjoy, Jay B.

[RoyceM]

Thank you, Jay.

- Royce