Best PZM for the money? at DVinfo.net

Tony Moe · April 1st, 2004, 02:48 PM

This is for small stage dramas. I could them run into my mackie, then to the camera. Any decent sounding mics for under $200? I see *so* many different models, I just don't know how they compare.
Thanks in advance,
Tony

Douglas Spotted Eagle · April 1st, 2004, 02:55 PM

The 'branding' of PZM is owned by Crown, but you can get any number of boundary mics from a variety of manufacturers. I've had limited experience with them until we did the recent "Now Hear This: Superior Sound" DVD. We demo two different AT mics in the DVD, plus a Crown PZM model. The AT 871 sounded good, the 851A was awesome in our testing/demo. Crown PZM's are quite good too, you can mount any of them on a variety of surfaces for maximum level/pickup.

Tony Moe · April 1st, 2004, 03:29 PM

Thanks. I guess I should broaden my question a bit to "Best Boundary mic for the money?". Also, what is the coverage area I should expect? The average stages I'll be using are probably 30'-50' wide. Should I assume I need two?
-Tony

Douglas Spotted Eagle · April 1st, 2004, 03:39 PM

At 50', you're gonna need at least 4. On the show we designed for "My Way" (life of Frank Sinatra) there are 4 players. They wear AT 899's on wireless, but we supplant FOH with the boundary mics, not to mention the footwork we need to hear a little of. Boundary mics are decent but the distance makes anything a little difficult. You'll always be dealing with a little boom due to the distance and house acoustics.
I'm not qualified to answer which boundary is best for the money since I've only worked with a few models. I was really excited years ago about PZM's for choir miking, and used them in that situation on sheets of plex. Years later, my only experience with them is the 2 AT models I mentioned, and my older pair of Crown PZM's. The AT's blew the Crowns away, but they are also newer models. Perhaps Crown's got something newer.

Mike Rehmus · April 1st, 2004, 07:55 PM

You can always make your own if you don't need them very much. A couple of small electret microphones mounted very close to a plate (or wall or floor) makes them act like a 'real' PZM. I've even used a pair of Sony 44B lavs taped to a board with reasonable success.

Once in a while you will run across the old Radio Shack boundary microphones. They were made by one of the big names, forgotten who. They have 1/4" mono plugs on them. But they have a balanced (transformer) output so I bought a pair for $70 each and replaced the plugs with XLR connectors. They sound good to these ears. Best of all, because they say Radio Shack, people will sell them for less. These have a battery compartment for self-power which is even nicer for those who do not have Phantom Power available.

It looks like the Crowns are going for around $100 on ebay. $75 for a Shure.

As Douglas says, they are going to sound a bit boomy.

Bryan Beasleigh · April 3rd, 2004, 01:31 AM

I had heard that the Radio Shack mics were made by Crown

I also own an AT851 and really like it.

Mark Whalen · April 3rd, 2004, 06:11 AM

I have an AT851 unidirectional and AT841 omnidirectional. The 851 has slightly better sound characteristics than the 841 - even with rolloff on. Never tried the 871, but I've been told it's also pretty good.

I use the mics for taping focus groups and depositions. Generally they're conducted at long conference tables. My rule of thumb for coverage area per mic is one every 8-10 feet. That seems to keep adequate levels.

April 1st, 2004, 02:48 PM	#1
Tony Moe New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13	Best PZM for the money? This is for small stage dramas. I could them run into my mackie, then to the camera. Any decent sounding mics for under $200? I see so many different models, I just don't know how they compare. Thanks in advance, Tony

April 1st, 2004, 02:55 PM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	The 'branding' of PZM is owned by Crown, but you can get any number of boundary mics from a variety of manufacturers. I've had limited experience with them until we did the recent "Now Hear This: Superior Sound" DVD. We demo two different AT mics in the DVD, plus a Crown PZM model. The AT 871 sounded good, the 851A was awesome in our testing/demo. Crown PZM's are quite good too, you can mount any of them on a variety of surfaces for maximum level/pickup. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 1st, 2004, 03:39 PM	#4
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	At 50', you're gonna need at least 4. On the show we designed for "My Way" (life of Frank Sinatra) there are 4 players. They wear AT 899's on wireless, but we supplant FOH with the boundary mics, not to mention the footwork we need to hear a little of. Boundary mics are decent but the distance makes anything a little difficult. You'll always be dealing with a little boom due to the distance and house acoustics. I'm not qualified to answer which boundary is best for the money since I've only worked with a few models. I was really excited years ago about PZM's for choir miking, and used them in that situation on sheets of plex. Years later, my only experience with them is the 2 AT models I mentioned, and my older pair of Crown PZM's. The AT's blew the Crowns away, but they are also newer models. Perhaps Crown's got something newer. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 1st, 2004, 07:55 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	You can always make your own if you don't need them very much. A couple of small electret microphones mounted very close to a plate (or wall or floor) makes them act like a 'real' PZM. I've even used a pair of Sony 44B lavs taped to a board with reasonable success. Once in a while you will run across the old Radio Shack boundary microphones. They were made by one of the big names, forgotten who. They have 1/4" mono plugs on them. But they have a balanced (transformer) output so I bought a pair for $70 each and replaced the plugs with XLR connectors. They sound good to these ears. Best of all, because they say Radio Shack, people will sell them for less. These have a battery compartment for self-power which is even nicer for those who do not have Phantom Power available. It looks like the Crowns are going for around $100 on ebay. $75 for a Shure. As Douglas says, they are going to sound a bit boomy. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

April 1st, 2004, 03:29 PM	#3
Tony Moe New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13	Thanks. I guess I should broaden my question a bit to "Best Boundary mic for the money?". Also, what is the coverage area I should expect? The average stages I'll be using are probably 30'-50' wide. Should I assume I need two? -Tony

April 3rd, 2004, 01:31 AM	#6
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I had heard that the Radio Shack mics were made by Crown I also own an AT851 and really like it.

April 3rd, 2004, 06:11 AM	#7
Mark Whalen New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 24	I have an AT851 unidirectional and AT841 omnidirectional. The 851 has slightly better sound characteristics than the 841 - even with rolloff on. Never tried the 871, but I've been told it's also pretty good. I use the mics for taping focus groups and depositions. Generally they're conducted at long conference tables. My rule of thumb for coverage area per mic is one every 8-10 feet. That seems to keep adequate levels.