Crown PCC160 User manual

T

PHASE COHERENT

PCC160

he AKG/Crown PCC160 (Phase
Coherent Cardioid®) is a surface­mounted half - supercardioid

microphone intended for professional
applications on stage floors, lecterns, conference
tables, and news desks—wherever improved gain­before-feedback and articulation are important.

Similar to the Pressure Zone Microphone
(PZM®), the PCC is designed to be used on a
relatively large boundary surface. Unlike the PZM,
the Phase Coherent Cardioid uses a subminiature
supercardioid mic capsule. Its directional polar
pattern improves gain-before-feedback, reduces
unwanted room noise and rejects sounds from the
rear. Surface-mounting creates a “half-supercardi­oid” polar pattern and increases directivity 3 dB.

Since the microphone capsule is placed on a
boundary, direct and reflected sounds arrive at
the diaphragm in-phase. This coherent addition
of direct and reflected waves increases sensitivity
6 dB and prevents phase cancellations. The mic
capsule is small enough to ensure phase coher­ency up to the highest frequencies in the audible
spectrum, resulting in a wide, smooth frequency
response free of phase interference. Clarity and
reach are also enhanced.

Self-contained electronics eliminate the need
for an in-line preamp box. The PCC160 can be
phantom powered directly from the console or
other remote power source providing 12 to 48
volts. If battery power is required, a battery supply
unit can be inserted anywhere in the mic line right
up to the console or mixer. A “bass tilt” switch
allows the user to tailor the low-end response for
particular applications.

Thanks to its low profile and black finish, the
microphone becomes almost invisible in use. A
side-mounted connector complements the form
factor of the PCC160, allowing the unit to be
placed effectively at the stage edge, at the top of a
lectern or in other tight spots. If desired, the cable
can be hard-wired for bottom entry.

The heavy-gauge, all steel body protects the unit
from accidental abuse. Permanent mounting is
enabled by screw holes in the base. Engineering
attention-to-detail has assured years of trouble­free use from this reliable microphone.

Capable of withstanding up to 120 dB SPL with­out distorting, the PCC160 will never overload
in practical use. Its electret condenser capsule
provides a wide, smooth frequency response from
50 Hz to 18 kHz. RFI suppression is included.
Self-noise is low, and sensitivity is very high to
override mixer noise in distant-miking applica­tions. Output impedance is 150 ohms, balanced.

CARDIOID MICROPHONE

Features

Industry-standard stage floor microphone

®

Phase Coherent Cardioid design prevents color­ation from surface sound reflections

High output overrides mixer input noise

Specifications

Type:

Phase Coherent Cardioid.

Element:

Electret condenser.

Frequency response (typical):

30 degrees incidence to surface. See Fig. 1.

Polar pattern:

hemisphere above the primary boundary).
See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

Impedance:

balanced. (Recommended load impedance 1000
ohms or greater.)

Open-circuit sensitivity:

22mV/Pa* (–33 dB re 1 V/Pa*).

Power sensitivity:

EIA rating: - 123 dBm .

Equivalent noise level (self noise):

(0 dB = 0.0002 dyne/cm2), A-weighted.

S/N ratio:
Maximum SPL for 3% THD:
Polarity:

duces positive voltage on pin 2 with respect to pin
3 of output connector.

Cable:

with Switchcraft TA3F connector and A3M con­nector.

Operating voltage:

48 volts DC positive on pins 2 and 3 with respect
to pin 1.

Safe Operating Temperature:

+14° to +122° F.

Current drain:
Materials:
Finish:
Net weight:
Dimensions:
Optional accessories:

power supply (one channel, battery or AC-adapter
powered).

150 ohms nominal (85 ohms actual),

72 dB at 94 dB SPL.

Positive pressure on the diaphragm pro-

15-foot, black, two-conductor shielded cable

All steel body construction.

black.

11.5 oz. (326 g).
See Fig. 5.

*1 pascal = 10 dynes/cm2 = 10 microbars = 94 dB SPL.

50 Hz to 18,000 Hz at

Half-supercardioid (supercardioid in the

–31 dB re 1 milliwatt/Pa*

120 dB SPL.

Standard phantom power: 12 to

4 mA nominal.

–10° to +50° C or

AKG/Crown PH 1A phantom

22 dB typical

Half-supercardioid polar pattern rejects the
pit orchestra and offers high gain-before­feedback

Very rugged
Low profile

Fig. 1

Frequency Response

Fig. 2

Vertical Plane Polar Response

Frequency in Hz

1 kHz
200 Hz
4 kHz

Fig. 3

Horizontal Plane Polar Response

1 kHz
200 Hz
4 kHz

AKG ACOUSTICS GMBH

LAXENBURGERSTRASSE 254

1230 VIENNA

AUSTRIA

AKG ACOUSTICS, U.S. SERVICE

24950 GROVE VIEW ROAD

MORENO VALLEY, CA 92551

U.S.A

© 2015 HARMAN International Industries,
Incorporated. All rights reserved. AKG is a

trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in

the United States and/or other countries.

Features, specifications and appearance are

subject to change without notice.

www.akg.com

Operating Instructions
Unbalanced operation:

power supply that does NOT include an isolation
transformer, and you desire an unbalanced output,
use pin 2 as hot and pin 1 as ground. This proce­dure prevents distortion in the PCC circuit.

unbalance the output of the supply by connecting
pin 3 to pin 1.

containing an isolation transformer (such as the
AKG/Crown PH1A AC/Battery Supply), then you
can unbalance the output by connecting pin 3 to
pin 1 in the cable feeding the mixer. This results in
6 dB more sensitivity.

The PCC includes two keyhole slots in its base to
accept mounting screws. To screw the PCC to a
surface, refer to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

Note:

The porous foam liner in the housing must
go toward the front of the microphone; the dense
foam liner goes toward the rear. Otherwise the
frequency response and polar pattern will be
degraded.

BASS TILT SWITCH: On the bottom of the micro­phone is a bass-tilt switch which allows the user to
tailor the low-end response for particular applica-

If you are using a phantom

If you are using a phantom supply

Fig. 5

Dimensions

Fig. 4

Removing the Cover

Do not

tions. In general, use the FLAT position. Use the
CUT position to reduce room rumble and air-han­dler noise. Use the BOOST position to compensate
for low-frequency losses when the PCC is placed
on small boundaries such as lectern shelf-tops.

Architects’ & Engineers’ Specifications

The microphone shall be the AKG/Crown
Model PCC160 . The microphone shall be a
half-supercardioid electret condenser type,
utilizing a subminiature transducer of rugged
construction. A smooth frequency response from
50 Hz to 18,000 Hz shall be obtained, with a
uniform off-axis response, over 20 dB down at the
rear nulls. The microphone will exhibit excellent
off-axis response and gain-before-feedback.

The microphone shall employ the principle of
phase coherency achieved by mounting a small­diameter element very near a boundary, thus
eliminating comb filtering in the audible spectrum.
A 15-foot (4.6-m), two-conductor shielded cable
with TA3F and A3M connectors shall be supplied
with the microphone.

The microphone shall have a sensitivity of 22
mV/Pa*. The microphone shall accept a 120
dB SPL input while providing no greater than 3
percent THD (open-circuit termination). Equivalent
noise shall be 22 dBA typical. The AKG/Crown
Model PCC160 is specified.

PCC160

Warranty

AKG/Crown professional microphone products are
guaranteed against malfunction for a period of three
years from date of original purchase. Please refer to
the enclosed full warranty statement for more detail.

Service

If the microphone does not function properly,
check to verify that it is aimed correctly and is
connected as described in the Operating Instruc­tions. If there is hum or no signal, repair or
replace the cable.

If you determine that the microphone product is
defective, return the complete product in its
original packaging to one of the addresses
below. For further assistance or technical
support call the international helpdesk at

[phone].