Download SUPRE MANUAL-2008

chapter 3 •
about the Supre
Frequently-Asked Questions
If I set the impedance too low, will it hurt the microphone?
No. Even microphones with their own power supplies are protected against a dead
short.
Is there a special setting for ribbon microphones?
Vintage ribbon mics like the RCA 44 were designed in an era when impedances were
supposed to be matched to give maximum power transfer. These mics are particularly
suited for the Supre’s 300-ohm setting. (Note: DO NOT USE PHANTOM POWER
WITH RIBBON MICROPHONES unless the microphone is designed to either make
use of it or is wired to ignore it. SERIOUS DAMAGE CAN RESULT)
But modern ribbon microphones (like those from Beyer and Royer) tend to be
designed for higher impedances, although you can try them at any setting.
Aren’t electronic inputs cleaner than transformer inputs?
Input transformers got a bum rap several decades ago, mostly because of the sound of
the cheap versions used in popular consoles. There are many advantages to using a
good input transformer though. For example, the common-mode noise rejection
furnished by a good transformer, especially at high frequencies, is superior to that of
an electronic circuit.
Supre Reference Manual
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