Crown PZM-30D User Manual

®

PZM-30D

PRESSURE
ZONE
MICROPHONE

®

he Crown® PZM®-30D is a Pressure Zone
Microphone

T

recording, sound reinforcement and broad-

®

designed for professional

casting. It has many applications, from miking
full orchestras or individual musical instruments
to security or teleconferencing.

The PZM-30D has a switchable dual frequency
response: rising (R) or flat (F). The “rising”
position adds brilliance. This makes it useful
wherever a crisp attack is desired, such as on
percussion, drums, or piano. The user can get a
bright sound without boosting high frequencies
on the recording console; the result is lower
noise. The “flat” position provides a smooth,
flat, high-frequency response for natural sound
reproduction.

These sturdy microphones are especially reli­able because they can be used with a rugged
detachable cable. The output is a male 3-pin
XLR-type, balanced and low impedance, which
permits long cable runs without hum pickup or
high-frequency loss.

Like other Pressure Zone Microphones, the
PZM-30D

™

utilizes the Pressure Recording Pro­cess in which a miniature condenser micro­phone capsule is positioned very close to a
sound-reflecting plate or boundary. The capsule
is mounted in the “Pressure Zone” just above
the boundary, a region where sound coming
directly from the sound source combines in
phase with sound reflected off the boundary.
The benefits are excellent clarity and "reach," a
hemispherical polar pattern, uncolored off-axis
response, and a wide smooth frequency re­sponse free of phase interference.

Operating Instructions

The PZM-30D features self-contained electron­ics which allows it to plug directly into a stan­dard 12-48 VDC phantom power supply.

Crown makes an AC-powered model PH-4B
supply for powering up to four PZMs. Also
available is a single-channel AC/battery supply,
Crown model PH-1A. For special applications,
you can make your own battery supply as sug­gested in Fig. 3 on the reverse side.

Using two-conductor shielded microphone
cable, plug the microphone into a phantom
power supply. Connect the power supply output
to a mixer mic input, or if your mixer has phan­tom power built in, simply plug the PZM directly
into a mixer mic input.

Specifications

Type: Pressure Zone Microphone.
Transducer: Electret condenser.
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz. See Fig. 1.
Polar pattern: Hemispherical when used on a floor,

wall or ceiling.

Open circuit sensitivity: 7 mV/Pa* (–43 dB re 1 volt/

Pa).

Power sensitivity: –43 dB re 1 mW/Pa. EIA

sensitivity –135 dBm.

Impedance: 240 ohms, balanced. Recommended

minimum load impedance 1000 ohms.

Self-noise: 20 dB equivalent sound pressure level,

A-weighted.

S/N ratio: 74 dB at 94 dB SPL.
Maximum Sound Pressure Level: 150 dB SPL at the

microphone produces 3% THD.

Polarity: Positive pressure on the diaphragm

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

Operating voltage: Phantom power, 12 to 48 volts

DC, positive voltage on pins 2 and 3 with respect to
pin 1 of the output connector.

Current drain: 1.1 mA.
Connector: Male 3-pin XLR-type.
Cable: None supplied; use 2-conductor shielded

microphone cable.

Switch: Frequency-response select switch for rising

or flat response.

Color: Black.
Weight: 6.5 ounces (184 grams).
Dimensions: 6-in. x 5-in. x .75-in. (15.2 cm x 12.7

cm x 1.9 cm). See Fig. 2.

Included accessories: PZM windscreen, carrying

pouch.

Optional accessories: PH-4B phantom power supply

(4 channels, AC powered). PH-1A phantom power
supply (1 channel, battery or AC-adapter powered).

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

Fig. 1

Frequency Response

Legend –––––––––– RISING

Low-frequency response depends on size of surface.

Frequency in Hz

- - - - - - - - - FLAT

Fig. 2

®

PZM-30D

Fig. 3

+

+

+

+

If your mixer or recorder requires an unbalanced
phone plug connector, modify the cable leaving
the power supply as follows: Solder the cable
shield and the pin-3 lead to the phone-plug
ground terminal. Solder the pin-2 lead to the
phone plug “hot” or “tip” terminal.

Placement

PZMs are designed to operate on any stiff non­absorbent boundary (or surface). Typical
boundaries are a floor, wall, ceiling, or table.
This type of mounting improves the low-fre­quency response.

The published response curve is measured on
an “infinite” boundary such as a floor, ceiling or
wall. The microphone’s low-frequency response
depends on the size of the boundary on which it
is placed. Specifically, the response begins to
shelve down at and below the frequency F,
where F= 750/D and D= the boundary dimen­sion in feet. At approximately F=188/D, the out­put of the microphone is down 6 dB, becomes
omnidirectional, and maintains a flat response
down to approximately 30 Hz.

Several placement examples are described in
the Crown Boundary Mic Application Guide.
For specific microphone application guides
please refer to our website at http://
www.crownaudio.com/mic_htm/
mic_pubs.htm.

Architects’ and Engineers’ Specifications

The microphone shall be the Crown PZM-30D
or equivalent. The microphone shall have a
hemispherical pattern (when used on an infinite
boundary). The element shall be a subminiature
electret type of rugged construction. A smooth
frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz shall
be obtained. The response shall be switch­selectable between flat (F) or rising (R).

The microphone shall employ the patented PRP
principle for maintaining phase coherency, thus
eliminating comb filtering in the audible spec­trum.

The PZM-30D shall have a sensitivity of –43
dBV/Pa. The microphone shall accept 150 dB
SPL input while contributing no greater than 3%
THD (open circuit termination). Equivalent noise
shall be typically 20 dBA re .0002 dyne/cm

2

. The
microphone color shall be black. The micro­phone connector shall be a male 3-pin XLR­type. The Crown PZM-30D is specified.

Warranty

Crown professional microphones 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,
replace or repair mic cables and check the
power supply.

If you determine the microphone product(s) is
defective, return the complete product in its
original packaging to: Crown Factory Service,
1718 W. Mishawaka Road, Elkhart, IN 46517.
For further assistance or technical support call
800-342-6939.

Crown Audio, Inc.
P. O. Box 1000
Elkhart, IN 46515-1000
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]FAX
www.crownaudio.com

©

2003 Crown Audio, Inc. Specifications subject to
change without prior notice. Latest information
available at www.crownaudio.com. Crown
and Pressure Zone Microphone® are registered
trademarks of Crown International. Pressure
Recording Process
Associates.

™

is a trademark of E.M. Long

®

, PZM

5/03 125575-5

®