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continuously variable pattern selectionChameleon Labs TS-2

  Street: $759 / MSRP: $789 Multi-Pattern Condenser Tube Microphone

Chameleon Labs TS-2

Description

The TS-2 is a large-diaphragm multipattern tube mic. Like its SDC brother (Chameleon’s TS-1), the TS-2 was designed by and named for Terry Setter, a faculty member of Evergreen State College and occasional writer for TapeOp.

The mic’s one-inch capsule has two diaphragms; a switch on the power supply allows selection of an infinite number of polar patterns ranging from omni to figure-8. Diaphragm thickness is 3 microns.

Like the TS-1, the TS-2 is manufactured in China, using locally-sourced parts — with the exception of a single “exotic” capacitor, used as the final decoupling cap before the transformer. Chameleon provides this capacitor to the Chinese factory.

Also like the TS-1, the TS-2 includes an over-engineered tube power supply, designed by Terry Setter. It provides a unique feature: the heater voltage is controllable by the user, allowing the mic’s character or warmth to be adjusted to best complement the source — at a cost of potentially overdriving the vacuum tube.

Included:

  • TS-2 Microphone
  • Dedicated power supply
  • 25' 7-pin power cable
  • Suspension shockmount
  • Aluminum case
  • windscreen

The TS-2 can be special ordered with a hand-selected tube (rather than the Chinese 12AT7). Chameleon Labs also offers “circuit changes to enhance [the mic’s] sonic character for discriminating users.”

The Chameleon Labs TS-2 is also known as: TS2.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Omnidirectional (17.8 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
Cardioid (17.8 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
Bidirectional (17.8 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
  • Pad: -10dB (Via Switch)
  • Pad: -20dB (Via Switch)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 26mm
 160 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 126 dB
Self-noise: 18.5 dB(A)
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
1361g (48.01oz) 171mm (6.73'') 76mm (2.99'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Includes tube power supply

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