Rens Heijnis custom-built audio equipment
Batteries and sound quality of components
It is a well known and documented fact, that battery powered audio equipment (separated from the main voltage)
sounds substantially better. There are several plausible reasons for this. Apart from getting rid of the pollution
on the main power,
also the absence of interfering ground currents adds to the improvement also.
What we found in our testing period, which extended over half a year of recording with prototypes, is:
- a much more relaxed projection of the sound images
- less noise artifacts
- a complete ‘black’ around the phantom images in the stereo and surround images.
In the block diagrams you can clearly see the difference.
To improve the sound quality of all the amplifiers we did various listening tests on different
wiring and passive and active components.
The result is that each component has its own sound.
There are also differences in sound quality for components between different manufacturers.
Few components are good and pleasant to listen to.
In addition, the various components must be well tuned to each other in terms of sound.
A few examples of pre-amplifiers
8 Channel battery powered pre-amplifier with MS circuit, 19"enclosure, 3 pin XLR inputs.,
With modern light weight LI-ION batteries. Operating time: 26 hours.
The latest developments in improved sound quality have been applied.
Portable 2 channel pre-amplifier in black: mains powered, overload led, 48V,
headphone amplifier, suitable for Sonodore LDM-54,
Dimensions: 27cm × 6,5cm × 15,5cm (10.6” x 2.6” x 6.1”) Weight 2,0kg
Picture back
Portable version of the MPB-502:
To meet the requirements for outdoor recordings, this battery powered pre-amplifier has the same
technical specifications as the MPB-502, but much smaller and lighter: 20cm × 15cm × 6,5cm 1,8kg.
And it still has the same sound quality.
The pre-amplifier is especially designed for Sonodore or retrofitted microphones with a 6 pin XLR.
More information: Sonodore MPB-502
24 Channel battery powered pre-amplifier, 19"enclosure, 4 pin XLR active powered inputs.
With the latest developments in improved sound quality. Separated battery power, operating time: 24 hours.
2 channel battery powered pre-amplifier for outdoor recording. With 48V phantom power and high pass filter.
High sound quality by selecting good components and pre-amp with 54V supply voltage.
Gain: 10 to 43 dB in 3dB steps. Batteries: 6 NiMh rechargeable batteries
Recording time about 7 hours with 2 microphones consuming 5mA.
Size 13*11*9cm. Weight 1.1kg. With separated charger.
Suitable microphones: phantom powered microphones.
4 channel pre-amplifier with Lithium ion batteries and the latest developments in improved sound quality.
Light weight: 3,3kg. Dimensions: 28cm × 25cm × 10cm
Input: 6 pin XLR for active powered microphones.
Operating time 30 hours including microphones power.
Sonodore MPB-502
2 Channel pre-amplifier for DPA, B&K4041Tube and all 130V models. For replacement of the HMA4000/5000.
With a special battery stabilized power supply. With the latest developments in improved sound quality.
Special light weight (2,9kg) 3 channel pre-amplifier with Lithium ion batteries and the latest developments in improved
sound quality. With DPA MircoDot (4060serie) and active (6pin) microphone input. With battery power for the microphones.
Recording time 34 hours with active microphones, 43 hours with only DPA MicroDot.
Back view
8 Channel battery powered balanced pre-amplifier, 19"enclosure, MS circuit, phantom 48V power on batteries.
with the latest developments in improved sound quality.
Weight 15kg, operating time: 30 hours.
4 Channel pre-amplifier, on batteries, with the latest developments in improved sound quality.
Phantom 48V and active power +60V on batteries. Weight 15kg, operating time: 24 hours
10 Channel balanced pre-amplifier, on batteries, 19"enclosure, MS circuit
with the latest developments in improved sound quality,
Weight 15kg, operating time: 24 hours.
Back view
2 Channel pre-amplifier, on batteries, 48V phantom power (switch on the back) with the latest developments in
improved sound quality .
2 Channel pre-amplifier, on batteries, with the latest developments in improved sound quality
For technical specifications see: balanced pre-amp .
4 Channel pre-amplifier, on batteries, with the latest developments in improved sound quality.
Uses a separate battery house
For technical specifications see: unbalanced pre-amp
See also the Sonodore battery powered pre-amplifier MPB-502
2 Channel pre-amplifier with MS circuit and direct M out. No phantom power.
2 Channel pre-amplifier with phantom power, low pass filter and 19"enclosure.
2 channel pre-amplifier for outdoor recording.
With power supply for 2 Sonodore RCM-402 microphones. Operating time with 2 LI-ION batteries: 14 hours.
Despite the small housing it still has a high sound quality by selecting good components.
Weight only 700gram. Size: 17,5*13*4,5cm.
Suitable microphones: retrofitted microphones to +-9V with 6 pin XLR.
2 channel pre-amplifier for outdoor recording.
With power supply for the microphones. Operating time with a 9V battery: 18hours
Despite the small housing it still has a high sound quality by selecting good components.
Weight only 600gram. Size: 13*4,5*13,5cm.
Suitable microphones: retrofitted microphones to +9V with 6 pin XLR.
Different pre-amplifiers, only drawing available:
3 Channel pre-amplifier, desktop enclosure 3 channels
4 Channel pre-amplifier, in 19"rack 4 channels 19"
4 Channel pre-amplifier, desktop enclosure 4 channels
14 Channel pre-amplifier, 19"rack 14 channels19"
4 Channel portable mixer with rechargeable batteries 4 channels portable
8 Channel remote controlled pre-amplifier (drawing is the remote control) 8 channels RC