Core-Sound microphones

Mic KEY
Core-Sound offers 5 microphone models. 4 of them they pretty much produce themselves, and one is a customized DPA 406x. Distinguishing between them in this review could get confusing. Please refer to the mic key to know what i'm referring to.

HEB high end binaural
CSB core-sound binaurals
LCB low cost binaurals
CSC core-sound cardioids
LCC low cost cardioids

Core-Sound is a name almost synonymous with "stealth mics". They should be...after all, they were the first kid on the block in this ever so popular microphone market. Take note, all others to follow are not the same, even though the design may be 99% similar. CS is not some rinky-dink company that sits around the kitchen table making these mics in the evening. They are a "for real" microphone manufacturer and they scrutinize their products with all sorts of sonic testing and quality controll before they ever hit the hands of the buyer.

CS offers two models of stealth cardioid mics (a CS cardioid and Low Cost cardioid) and 3 models of miniature omnidirectional microphones which they market as "binaural" mics. It should be mentioned that there are few true binaural microphone systems. The term binaural reffers more to a recording technique, not so much a physical item. These mics are intended to be mounted on your body, specifically clipped to your hat or glasses. This does produce a quasi-binarual recording that is both pleasing to listen to on loudspeakers as well as headphones (the intended playback method of binaural recording). They can be placed inside of your ear canal for true binaural recording, but I wouldn't recomend using the aligator clip for that...OUCH!

The cardioid models offer a more directional focus that will eliminate much of the ambient noise coming from behind the microphone, and can be placed in any stereo configuration (XY, ORTF, DIN..etc) as well as clipped to your person.
The omnidirectional models include the HEB (high end binaurals, reviewed separately here), the CS binaurals, and the low cost binaurals. Both the CS and LC binaurals are based off of the same panasonic omni-directional element and the cardioid version is based of the unidirectional panasonic element. The elements are housed in a rugged little tube (looks like a .22 caliber shell casing) with a beefy pair of fixed alligator clips . All of the components used are of utmost quality. The mic cable, which is custom made for Core-Sound, is durable and very thin. The stereo jacks used (on all CS mics) is the highest quality stereo mini that Switchcraft offers. They come with right angles on the CSB/CSCs, straight on the low cost models. All of them come with various wind screens as well. The (LCBs) are exactly that, "low cost", but not shoddy by any means. The construction of the mics is anything but low cost, and most of the price is wrapped up in these quality components They sound better than you'd think considering what they are made of (the panasonic element is nothing special on its own). If you are looking to make stealthy recordings, I don't think you can go wrong with either pair of these.

Now, the CSBs and CSCs start their life as the same element found in the low cost version. I really pushed Core-Sound to justify the hefty price increase from the low cost versions, which is made up of many of the same components They came back with loads of information for me regarding this. The meat of the difference with these mics is the unknown "customization" that CS does to the panasonic element. Something is done to them that raises their dynamic range and over all detail. What this "something" is, we don't know. It's CS's ancient chinese secrete, and given the competition, I certainly understand the lack of forthcoming construction detail. These mics are also built to be run with the custom CS battery box (available with or without a bass roll off filter). The battery box is metal, super beefy but not a huge brick or anything. It uses a mini 4pin XLR connector that connects to the mics (they end in a Y cable that is stereo mini and XLR to the battery box). It is powered with a single 9v battery that will last a great while and they also have an optional model with a bass roll off filter (via a locking toggle switch).The modifications CS makes require this power supply, and these mics can not be fed "plug in power" from a DAT or MD deck as the LCBs can. The customization is not just the addition of this in-line power supply. The altering of the elements works in conjunction with it (you can not use the CS power supply with the LC mics, where as you could use any generic battery box with them).
The immediate difference you'll notice with these is their massive headroom (compared to the LC versions). They can take A LOT of SPLs before even contemplating clipping. More than you are likely ever to be in front. Brickwalling is just not going to happen easily with these, and that is something every stealth taper has had to endure at some time or another. The modifications made to the element result in an additional 20dB of dynamic range, lowers the overall sensitivity of the microphone, flattens the frequency resonance and, as mentioned, gives you tons of headroom (reducing distortion in the louder passages). This lower sensitivity and increased dynamic range is the *key* to these mics sounding as good as they do. All of the other mics that have copied this design fail to reach this level of performance from the raw element. CS also puts a great deal of time into computer based teasing of these mics and making sure that a stereo pair is matched to within 1dB of each other. The end result, a wonderful sounding pair of microphones that are almost invisible when worn. Now, the big question. Are they worth it over the low cost mics? IMO, definitely. The difference in sound is well worth the investment. To get significantly beyond the sound quality of these microphones, you are then jumping into an entirely different price range (like the $980 HEBs, for example). You can easily spend much more on some other microphones out there that just don't' give you that much of a boost beyond the performance of the Core-Sound models. And as for all of the other spin off companies out there offering a similar product, they just don't offer the level of quality in both components or measured and tested specifications that Core-Sound does. There is much to be said for being the original.

Core-Sound Binaurals

Specifications: Omni directional micro lovelier style
Bass Roll off filter (where applicable): 120 Hertz at 6 dB/octave
Frequency Response: 20-20
Maximum Input Sound Level: upwards of 140 SPL!

Core-Sound Low cost Binaurals

Specifications: Omni directional micro lovelier style
Bass Roll off filter (where applicable): 120 Hertz at 6 dB/octave
Frequency Response:
Maximum Input Sound Level:

Core-Sound Cardioids

Specifications: Omni directional micro lovelier style
Bass Roll off filter (where applicable): 120 Hertz at 6 dB/octave
Frequency Response:
Maximum Input Sound Level:

Core-Sound Low cost Cardioids

Specifications: Omni directional micro lovelier style
Bass Roll off filter (where applicable): 120 Hertz at 6 dB/octave
Frequency Response:
Maximum Input Sound Level:

Core-Sound HEB binaural mics (DPA 4060)
When Len (owner of Core-Sound) contacted me about reviewing his products, I have to admit that i got excited about playing with his HEB line of binaural microphones. He did ship me his entire product line, as promised...but I foolishly dove into the HEBs first have had a skewed opinion about everything else he sent.
Folks, let me tell ya flat out that this mics are just mind blowing in every regard from ease of use, sound, accuracy, size, durability ..etc. I could gush for pages on the virtues of them for they are, w/o doubt, the finest micro mics on the market.

The secrete here is the DPA 4060 (4061 also available) capsule that comprises the heart of the HEB system. These mics are a standard in the film/theatre world due to their oustanding performance and are rediculously robust. You can actualy rinse them with distilled water ! Core-Sound HEBs are hand matched pairs taken from random DPA stock. They are then customized by adding a stereo mini plug and a min XLR 4pin to attach to the CS battery box, which is like a re-created version of the power supply that DPA sells for these mics. Core-Sound claims that their battery box is actualy better than DPAs as CS uses higher quality electrolytic capaciters and lacks a diode ( which is present in the DPA box) that introduces distotion at higher gain. The construction of CS's HEB box is completely bullet-proof, and he uses this style for his CS-binaurals and CS-cardioids. It also features a bass roll-off switch (locking) that can be set fo "on" or "flat" and a mini-XLR connector to attach the mics to. Take note that this is a feature that is not present on DPA's model. The mics are powered via a single 9v cell that lasts quite some time. Given moderate use, Core-Sound suggests anual replacement.

I don't know much out there that will compare to the performance of these mics. Buying the HEBs from Core-Sound for a small premium over stock 4060's gets you excellent components, sturdy construction, matched mics and roll-off. That is actually not a bad deal considering what you get.
Could they be improved upon? I don't think so, maybe Core-Sound could mark one of the mics so that the user knows which one will be "left" and which will be "right". I did so w/a piece of colored tape (as you can see in the illustration).

Specifications: Omni directional micro lovelier style
Bass Roll off filter: 120 Hertz at 6 dB/octave
Frequency Response: Soft boost grid: 20Hz-20kHz ±2dB, 3dB soft boost at 8-20kHz
Maximum Input Sound Level: 134dB SPL (144dB for 4061) before clipping