Audio Technica U853A, U853AW Installation And Operation Manual
U853A & U853AW
Cardioid Condenser Hanging Microphones
Features
• Offers the convenience of battery or phantom power operation
• Uniform cardioid polar pattern with 120° acceptance angle
• Low-prole design with low-reectance nish for minimum
visibility
• Superior off-axis rejection for maximum gain before feedback
• UniGuard® RFI-shielding technology offers outstanding rejection
of radio frequency interference (RFI)
• UniSteep® lter provides a steep low-frequency attenuation to
minimize pickup of undesired ambient noise
• Available interchangeable elements permit angle of acceptance
from 90° to 360°
• Steel hanger positions microphone over choirs, instrumental
groups and theater stages
• Available in two colors: black (U853A) and white (U853AW)
unipoint® microphones
foam windscreen, a 5/8"-27 stand adapter and a battery. The microphone
is enclosed in a rugged housing with a low-reectance black nish. It is
also available with white housing, cable, hanger and windscreen as the
U853AW.
Installation and Operation
The U853A requires 11V to 52V phantom power or a 1.5V AA battery for
operation. A battery need not be in place for phantom power operation.
To install the battery, remove the cap from the top of the power module.
Insert a fresh 1.5V AA battery (“+” end toward the cap release button),
then reassemble the power module. For longest battery life, the switch
should remain off except when the microphone is in use. Alkaline
batteries are recommended for longest life. Remove the battery during
long-term storage.
A uniform 120° angle of acceptance provides well-balanced audio
pickup. The microphone should be located forward of the front-most
source, above the rear-most source, and “aimed” between them
(Fig.1). Increasing the height of the mic above the sources will tend to
equalize sound levels between them, but may also increase background/
reverberant sound pickup. When possible, the distance from the mic to
the rear-most source should be no more than twice the distance to the
front source, to maintain front-to-rear balance (Fig. 1).
Width of pickup is approximately three times the distance to the closest
performer. If additional mics are needed for wide sources, they should
be positioned apart laterally at least three times the distance to the front
source, to avoid phase cancellation (Fig. 2).
To orient the microphone in the proper direction, twist the housing
slightly in its wire holder. (Clockwise rotation moves the microphone to
the right; counterclockwise rotation moves it to the left.)
Description
The U853A is a wide-range miniature condenser microphone with a
cardioid polar pattern. It is designed for quality sound reinforcement,
professional recording, television and other demanding sound pickup
applications. The combination of small size and excellent response makes
the microphone ideal for suspension over choirs, instrumental groups or
theater stages.
The microphone requires 11V to 52V phantom power or a 1.5V AA
battery for operation. A battery need not be in place for phantom power
operation.
The microphone is equipped with UniGuard® RFI-shielding technology,
which offers outstanding rejection of radio frequency interference (RFI).
The microphone's cardioid polar pattern provides a 120° angle of
acceptance. Additional interchangeable elements with omnidirectional
(360°), hypercardioid (100°) and UniLine® (90°) pickup patterns are
available.
The microphone includes a 7.6 m (25') permanently attached miniature
cable. Its free end connects to the provided AT8531 power module via
a special TA3F-type connector designed to optimize RFI immunity. The
output of the power module is a 3-pin XLRM-type connector.
A 3-position switch in the power module permits choice of off, on/at
response, or on/low-roll-off (via integral 80 Hz high-pass UniSteep® lter).
The roll-off position reduces the pickup of low-frequency ambient noise.
The microphone comes equipped with a power module, a vinyl-coated
steel hanger for positioning over a choir/orchestra/stage, a two-stage
Output is low impedance (Lo-Z) balanced. The signal appears across Pins
2 and 3; Pin 1 is ground (shield). Output phase is “Pin 2 hot”— positive
acoustic pressure produces positive voltage at Pin 2.
The provided two-stage foam windscreen simply slips over the head of
the microphone, effectively reducing noise from wind or ventilation air
currents.
A 3-position switch in the power module permits choice of off, on/
at response, or on/low-roll-off (via integral 80 Hz high-pass UniSteep®
lter). The roll-off position reduces the pickup of low-frequency ambient
noise (such as trafc, air-handling systems, etc.), room reverberation and
mechanically coupled vibrations. To engage the UniSteep® lter, slide
the switch toward the “bent” line. To turn the microphone on without
engaging the UniSteep® lter, slide the switch toward the at line.
Avoid leaving the microphone in the open sun or in areas where
temperatures exceed 110° F (43° C) for extended periods. Extremely high
humidity should also be avoided.
LES
S T
H
AN 2
TIMES
“
X
D
IS
120°
ANGLE OF
ACCEPTANCE
T
A
N
CE
“
X
”
”
120°120°
MIC A MIC B
3 TIMES
DISTANCE “X”
Figure 1 Figure 2
12" or more on axis
LEGEND
Frequency in Hertz
Response in dB
10 dB
100
50
200
10k
5k
1k
500
2k
20k
Roll-off
339
U853A & U853AW
Note: Audio-Technica has developed a special RFI-shielding mechanism,
which is an integral part of the connectors in the UniPoint® line. If you
remove or replace the connector, you may adversely affect the unit's
RFI immunity. Audio-Technica offers a crimp tool (ATCT) and RFI shields
that enable you to shorten the cable and correctly reinstall the connector
while maintaining the highest level of RFI immunity.
Architect’s and Engineer’s Specications
The microphone shall be a xed-charge condenser designed for
permanent installation or portable applications. It shall have a cardioid
polar pattern with a uniform 120° angle of acceptance and a frequency
response of 30 Hz to 20,000 Hz. It shall be capable of accepting optional
interchangeable elements for additional polar patterns. The microphone
shall operate from an external 11V to 52V DC phantom power source or,
alternatively, from a 1.5V AA/UM3 battery. It shall be capable of handling
sound input levels up to 133 dB (phantom) or 123 dB (battery) with a
dynamic range of 109 dB (phantom) or 99 dB (batter y). Nominal opencircuit output voltage shall be 7.9 mV (phantom) or 7.0 mV (battery) at 1 V,
1 Pascal. Output shall be low impedance balanced (200 ohms – phantom,
270 ohms – battery). It shall offer outstanding rejection of radio frequency
interference (RFI).
The microphone shall have a 7.6 m (25') permanently attached miniature
cable terminating in a special TA3F-type output connector designed to
optimize RFI immunity. The output connector shall connect to a TB3Mtype jack on the included power module. The power module shall house
the battery, and shall contain a switch that permits choice of off, on/at
response, or on/low-roll-off (80 Hz). The output of the power module shall
be a 3-pin XLRM-type connector.
An adjustable steel wire hanger shall be provided for suspended
installations. The steel wire hanger shall attach to the microphone body
and allow for the positioning of the microphone without the need for
tools. A two-stage foam windscreen, a 5/8"-27 stand adapter and a battery
shall also be included.
The microphone shall be a hanging design, with an overall length of
34.0 mm (1.34") and a head diameter of 12.2 mm (0.48"). Weight shall
be 14 grams (0.5 oz) without cable. The microphone, cable and steel
hanger shall be black [white].
The Audio-Technica U853A [U853AW] is specied.
0.48"
12.2 mm
0.39"
10.0 mm
Specications
Element
Polar pattern
Frequency response
Low frequency roll-off
Open circuit sensitivity
Impedance
Maximum input sound level
Dynamic range (typical)
Signal-to-noise ratio
Phantom power requirements
Battery type
Battery current / life
Dimensions
Output connector
Optional interchangeable elements
Audio-Technica case style
Accessories furnished U853A
U853AW
In the intere st of standards develo pment, A.T.U.S. offers full
details on it s test methods to othe r industry
1 Pascal = 10 dynes/cm
1
Typical, A-weighted , using Audio Precisio n System One.
Specications are subject to change without notice.
professionals on request.
2
= 10 microba rs = 94 dB SPL
Switch
Weight
Cable
Fixed-charge back plate, permanently
polarized condenser
Cardioid
30-20,000 Hz
80 Hz, 18 dB/octave
Phantom: –42 dB (7.9 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
Battery: –43 dB (7.0 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
Phantom: 200 ohms
Battery: 270 ohms
Phantom: 133 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
Battery: 123 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
Phantom: 109 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Battery: 99 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
1
70 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
11-52V DC, 2 mA typical
1.5V AA/UM3
0.4 mA / 1200 hours typical (alkaline)
Off, on-at, on-roll-off
Microphone: 14 g (0.5 oz)
Power module: 139 g (4.9 oz)
Microphone: 34.0 mm (1.34") long,
12.2 mm (0.48") diameter
Power module: 84.0 mm (3.31") H x
63.0 mm (2.48") W x 22.0 mm (0.87") D
Power module: Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
7.6 m (25.0') long (permanently attached
to microphone), 3.2 mm (0.13") diameter,
2-conductor, shielded cable with TA3Ftype connector
UE-O omnidirectional (360°)
UE-H hypercardioid (100°)
UE-UL UniLine® (90°)
M12
AT8531 power module; AT8451 steel hanger;
AT8153 two-stage foam windscreen; AT8438
5
/8"-27 stand adapter; battery
AT8531 power module; AT8451(WH) steel
hanger; AT8153 (WH) two-stage foam windscreen; AT8438 5/8"-27 stand adapter; battery
0.95"
24.0 mm
frequency response: 30–20,000 Hz
10 dB
200
100
12" or more on axis
Roll-off
500
1k
Frequency in Hertz
5k
2k
10k
50
0.13"
3.2 mm
25'
7.6 m
LEGEND
Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224
Audio-Technica Limited, Old Lane, Leeds LS11 8AG England
©2010 Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. audio-technica.com 0001-0155-01
Response in dB
20k
polar pattern
270˚
240˚
0˚
330˚
300˚
210˚
SCALE IS 5 DECIBELS PER DIVISION
30˚
150˚
180˚
60˚
90˚
120˚
LEGEND
200 Hz
1 kHz
5 kHz
8 kHz
Loading...