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Chameleon Labs TS-1 Mk II

Detachable-Capsule Pencil Tube Condenser Microphone

The TS-1 Mk II is a minor revision of the tube condenser designed by Terry Setter, the TS-1.

The mic uses a plate-loaded tube amplifier circuit based on a “milspec” 5840 tube, and a transformer-balanced output.

It accepts three small-diaphragm capsules from Chameleon Labs, and a new large-diaphragm multipattern capsule (switchable between Cardioid and Omni). Via an optional adapter (p/n ADP-1), most of AKG’s vintage CK-series capsules can be used as well.

What is the difference between the TS-1 and TS-1 Mk II?

The old TS-1 power supply has been replaced with the PSU designed by Terry Setter for the Chameleon Labs TS-2. It is as “overbuilt” as the original TS-1 supply (which used 7-stage filtering), and incorporates a heater voltage control that allows the mic to be over- or under-driven to alter the circuit’s sonic quality (at the possible expense of damaging the tube over long periods).

The TS-1 Mk II microphone is nearly identical to the original TS-1; the only change, aside from the name on the body, is to a resistor inside the circuit to allow the tube’s heater voltage to be controlled remotely.

(This means that the original TS-1 is not compatible with the TS-2 power supply.)

The TS-1 Mk II ships with two small-diameter capsules (Cardioid and Omnidirectional), a foam windscreen, an elastic shockmount, and the tube power supply in a padded, locking suitcase.

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The mic was released in 2010.

Specifications

Compatible Capsules

AKG Acoustics CK-1 Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: 9.5 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-2 Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: 6 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-22 Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: 8 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-26 Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: 1.3 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 30 - 30,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-28 Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: 1.3 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-3 Hypercardioid capsule Sensitivity: 11 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-6 Bidirectional capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: n/a MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-8 Shotgun capsule Sensitivity: 15 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 30 - 18,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued AKG Acoustics CK-9 Shotgun capsule Sensitivity: 11 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 30 - 18,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | discontinued Chameleon Labs TS-1 Cardioid 17mm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 70 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $65 | Still In Production Chameleon Labs TS-1 Hypercardioid 17mm Hypercardioid capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 80 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $65 | Still In Production Chameleon Labs TS-1 LDC 28mm large diaphragm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: n/a mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 20 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $259 | Still In Production Chameleon Labs TS-1 Omni 17mm Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 30 - 20,000 Hz MSRP: $65 | Still In Production

Pads & Filters	Impedance	SPL/Noise
n/a	200 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 130 dB Self-noise: 19.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
n/a	n/a	20mm (0.79'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Includes tube power supply

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