Double Bass DPA 4099 vs AMT SP25B

[Ric Vice]

Hello,
Have any of you "early" adopters compared you're new DPA 4099 to your old AMT SP25B's. Here are the polar patterns just to start the discussion. Go at it. The AMT is on the right. I realize that this stuff is pretty subjective, but I had to ask.

Ric

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Anecdotally, Rufus Reid told me this summer that he much prefers the 4099 (which he is now using for FOH) to the S25B (which he had been using for FOH up until this year).

 

[James Hart]

FOH, Chris?

front of house.... to the PA
(unless it means different for db)

 

[SAlcott]

FOH-Front of house, ie, the signal going to the main (house) speakers as opposed to the monitors. I like to send a mic signal to FOH and use pickup/amp for monitor.

 

[larry]

They are fundamentally different in that the DPA is a miniature shotgun mic. That is supposed to help it have higher rejection of unwanted sound. In practice, I can't say because I have not used it. I'm thinking about getting one though. If I continue to read good reviews...it's mine.

 

[Ric Vice]

They are fundamentally different in that the DPA is a miniature shotgun mic. That is supposed to help it have higher rejection of unwanted sound. In practice, I can't say because I have not used it. I'm thinking about getting one though. If I continue to read good reviews...it's mine.

I'm not technically inclined or versed in reading these graphs, but they do look very different. The DPA 4099 is to the left of the AMT.

Ric

 

[larry]

I'm not technically inclined or versed in reading these graphs, but they do look very different. The DPA 4099 is to the left of the AMT.

Ric

Typically, a cardioid mic would lose more bottom end as you went off-axis. The DPA (being an interference-tube design aka "shotgun") seems the opposite of that and loses more high end - which I think would be good. Point it away from the drummer and there should be very little cymbal bleed. Normally, interference-tube mics can have some seriously wonky sound - where sound quality is second to off-axis rejection. The reviews of the DPA suggest that is not the case - but who knows for sure.

The AMT seems like it has the high frequencies rolled off to accomplish the same task, but I'm not sure what happens off-axis.

I'm tempted by the DPA just because the miniature shotgun is a new way to do it, and DPA is among the best mic makers. A cardioid mic is a cardioid mic to a large extent. A shotgun mic can really offer great rejection of unwanted sound. If DPA really nailed a good design, it MAY, in fact, be a substantial improvement over anything else.

 

[Barcza]

I tired the DPA 4099 last week in a mic only gig and immediately order one. This is a fantastic mic, very natural sound, very high gain before feedback ( I vas very close to the monitor ) and not too much bleed.
I never tired the AMT myself but one of my friend using it. Sounds nice but he has feedback and bleed problems.

 

[Vunz]

I tired the DPA 4099 last week in a mic only gig and immediately order one. This is a fantastic mic, very natural sound, very high gain before feedback ( I vas very close to the monitor ) and not too much bleed.
I never tired the AMT myself but one of my friend using it. Sounds nice but he has feedback and bleed problems.

Hi Barcza,

could you please tell me which 4099 you used (guitar version, or the violin one) and how you attached the mic to your bass? Many thanks!

Cheers,
Vincent

 

[Earl]

So if using this mic through an amp without phantom power would you need a phantom power preamp or does it come with one?

 

[Roger Davis]

But how does it sound. Anyone?

 

[thejumpcat]

I tired the DPA 4099 last week in a mic only gig and immediately order one. This is a fantastic mic, very natural sound, very high gain before feedback ( I vas very close to the monitor ) and not too much bleed.
I never tired the AMT myself but one of my friend using it. Sounds nice but he has feedback and bleed problems.

Did you go direct into the PA or into a bass amp?

 

[juuzek]

So if using this mic through an amp without phantom power would you need a phantom power preamp or does it come with one?

It does not come with the mic standard, but can be added.

 

[Ric Vice]

It does not come with the mic standard, but can be added.

In looking at all the DPA literature and You Tube demos it looks as if you have to use a 48 volt Phantom Power device it you are running into an amplifier. Now for those of us who own Acoustic Image or Euphonic Audio amps that certainly isn't an issue. What I'm trying to find out is what second party boxes have 48 volt Phantoms. The Headway EDB-1 dose not. It's set at 18 volts.

Ric

 

[larry]

Well, I placed an order for the 4099. I paid to get it here before the weekend. If it does, I will have a chance to gig with it and report back.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Let us know, Larry. I'm interested in how this turns out. Where will your phantom power come from?

 

[Ric Vice]

Let us know, Larry. I'm interested in how this turns out. Where will your phantom power come from?

I talked with John from Headway. The EDB-1 will power the DPA 4099. That's very good news for those of us who don't have phantom power available from our amplifiers.


Ric

 

[shwashwa]

Hi Barcza,

could you please tell me which 4099 you used (guitar version, or the violin one) and how you attached the mic to your bass? Many thanks!

Cheers,
Vincent

yes, this ^^^^

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I can't wait to see how it compares to an ATM 35. If it sounds as good but with better rejection----count me in

 

[larry]

Let us know, Larry. I'm interested in how this turns out. Where will your phantom power come from?

Um...yeah well...I'm still working on that.

Actually I have a few mic preamps from my recording gear to choose from. Nothing I would normally want to schlepp - but I'll figure it out soon enough.