Gearheads: DPA Microphones 6000 Series

GEAR HEADS

DPA MICROPHONES 6000 SERIES

DPA Microphones Product Manager René Moerch, discusses the new DPA 6000 Series of Subminiature Microphones.

What were the original goals in the development of the 6000 Series? We wanted to create a microphone platform that delivered the same very high performance results as our established and 4000 series, but in a much smaller form. This required us to shrink the capsule down from 5mm to 3mm, which is tiny and the smallest microphone DPA has ever made.

At the same time we were looking to incorporate this capsule into the ultimate headset microphone – one that met all the requirements of our various users across a number of industry sectors. We spent a lot of time working with customers to identify exactly what they wanted and we knew we needed to deliver a headset that was secure, lightweight, unobtrusive, easy to fit and extremely comfortable to wear. It also had to look sleek and sophisticated and, of course, deliver DPA’s renowned audio quality.

What are the key design elements and how do they benefit the end user? The main design element of the 6000 series is its size. Because the capsule is so small and has such a low profile, it can be hidden much more easily. This means that on-stage performers, broadcasters and people working in film sound now have a microphone that is virtually invisible without sacrificing sound quality at all.

All those attributes of stability, comfort and ease of use that we have designed into the 6000 Series headset has made it the first choice for many performers and presenters. Since launching it at IBC 2018, we have had a

fantastic response from customers – to the point where we have lost count of the number of customers who have told us that, from now on, this is the only headset they will wear.

What are the technical specifications of the DPA 6000 Series? In general the specifications of the 6000 series are on a par with our 4000 series of miniature microphones, which have been serving the audio community very well for many years.

These microphones are so accurate that they set the standard for high performance and high durability from a capsule with a very small footprint. Indeed, our 4000 series is the mainstay of many prestigious theatre productions on Broadway and in London’s West End.

The 6000 Series follows this tradition by offering comparable audio quality. For example, the noisefloor of the 6066 is exactly the same as the 4066. From a purely technical point of view, this shouldn’t be possible because the 6066 is approximately 60% smaller and the diaphragm is only about 30% of the size of the 4066. In theory, this should lead to a higher noisefloor as the diaphragm area plays a significant part of the selfnoise of a microphone – a larger diaphragm equals lower noisefloor and vice versa.

However, our design team has achieved the impossible, and we now have a subminiature capsule with the same noisefloor as our miniature capsules – and with the same ability to withstand high sound pressure levels. We have achieved this by incorporating CORE by DPA preamplifier technology that reduces distortion and increases dynamic range. Indeed, the noisefloor of the 6000 series – and its ability to reach high sound pressure levels without distortion – is better than any other 3mm capsule on the market today.

One final point to note is that all of the microphones in our 6000 Series have IP58 ratings, as do all 4000 Series microphones that incorporate CORE by DPA.

This ensures that they can withstand the toughest conditions, as they have a waterrepellent nano coating as well as hermetic sealing of the sensitive amplifier parts and dual gold plating of the diaphragm.

How does the 6000 Series complement DPA’s d:screet Lavalier and d:fine Headset Microphone ranges? Our customers benefit from smaller-sized capsules that are much less obtrusive, without having to sacrifice the high quality and durability they have come to expect from DPA’s 5mm 4000 Series. They also have access to a headset that is much lighter, more comfortable and more secure.

What the 6000 Series really brings to our Lavalier and headset ranges is choice, because customers can now pick the right microphone for their requirements with the peace of mind that comes from knowing it will sound great – even if it has to be hidden in clothing.

For sound engineers, especially those working in film and broadcast, there is the added advantage of interchangeability because it is virtually impossible to tell whether a 6000 Series or a 4000 Series microphone was used when the audio reaches the mix.

What feedback have you received from users? The customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, both in terms of recognition of the fantastic sound quality and the high build quality. The 6066 Headset, in particular, has had really profound feedback because users recognise that we have taken on board all the insights they gave us when we were initially specifying the design goals of this product. The extremely positive comments they have given us focus on the small form factor of the capsule/boom, the non-reflective surface formed by the PVD treatment and, of course, the stability of the headset with its new three-point grip behind the ear.

They also appreciate the height adjustable boom round the pivot point below the ear and the cable management system that leads the cable the ‘right’ way down the neck so that it can’t be seen. The headset is such an innovative product that it received a Red Dot Design Award this year, which was really pleasing because it was an endorsement from outside our usual industry spheres.

How important was feedback to the development of the product? During the design process of any new DPA product, we always visit our customers and ask them what they want. This was especially true of the 6000 Series, where we had product specialists on the road for many months, talking to customers and bringing their input back to the R&D department. Doing this obviously ensures that we are on the beat in terms of their requirements but, even more importantly, we are looking at what they are doing and how they actually work, so that we can better understand their pains and provide solutions that fit their needs.

Where will we see the 6000 Series this year? Well, that is quite difficult to answer because the whole point of the 6000 Series is that it is too small to be seen! But joking aside, it is already being used on some very prestigious shows. For example, the Les Misérables concert show in London, Hamilton and The Cher Show in New York and Harry Potter and The Cursed Child in Melbourne, Australia.

We also know that the subminiatures mics have been deployed on some prestigious film productions such as Danny Boyle’s Yesterday, as well as various TV shows. Orders are also coming in from rental companies for corporate events, many of whom have bought huge numbers of the 6066 Headsets – more than 150 of them in the case of one company – so I imagine a CEO or two will soon be kitted out with our almost-invisible microphone.

TPi

www.dpamicrophones.com