RMS Lab Stam Audio SA-800Gmk2 GearGutz

[@camblackofficial]

Nice video. It looks like @ 3:36ish you can see the jumper beside the tube. Hard to see but I think it says 1 -2 Diode, 2 -3 Tube. So you probably just take the jumper and move it over. Ofcourse Stam would know officially. I have the same unit.

[@reddmusiclab]

Cam! Thank you for that info. I’ll wait for Joshua but if he doesn’t get back I’m gonna give that a try.

[@mickeyv8492]

Absolutely amazing ., i own the original sa800g and love it to see the growth is phenomenal i love the tube in the power supply of the new one and im a huge fan of sowter trannys i just purchased the stam sa87t tube now that thing is an adventure well done ,,!

[@reddmusiclab]

Stick around for the shootouts.

[@domonickwilliams33]

fire video I have the original SA-800 and I'm happy with it but I really want to try version 2 because it seems to be more accurate with the tube in the power supply and the heat sink along with the sowter transformer, and you are correct the transformer is what the sound characteristic is based on the tube delivers the saturation so it has to sound different than the original I have to get my hands on one of them Asap!

[@reddmusiclab]

Thank you Domonick! Stay tune as the direct comparison should be posted in the next 2-3 weeks. Guess we will all find out if it’ll be worthwhile keeping the MK1 version. Stay tuned also because I may experiment with the tube in MK2. I found the repair diagram for the original Sony C800G and the mic tube is different than the power supply tubes. According to a Mod Tech, the bigger mic tube has more gain/amplification. So now I’m really curious as to what differences truly are.

[@psycholarge]

Hi! what did you use to open the tube compartment? I want to put an original Sony tube in there.

[@reddmusiclab]

Hey psycholarge, it was all Phillips screws. Only thing is you’ll have to also unscrew the body. Be very careful because you’ll be exposing one of the main capacitors. It was a little stressful for me because it was not straightforward as other mics but once I opened this one, I got the hang of it. Best of luck!

[@axxonthetrack]

Super informative! Would it be possible to swap the stock tubes with the ones used by Sony in the C800g - as in, would it fit since it’s a slightly longer tube?

[@reddmusiclab]

Don’t wanna tease because my teases tend to take 5 years+ to come into fruition but I that’s in the works. Stick around if you’d like to eventually find out 🙄😮‍💨.

[@axxonthetrack]

@@reddmusiclab A yes or no answer would honestly be sufficient. :)

[@reddmusiclab]

Sorry I won’t be able to confirm. I wanna say yes because I did a quick check but I didn’t take a pic to confirm. From what I observed, the regular tube is typical sized tube thus making it short for the tube housing so the Sony tube is a proper fit in the Stam mic.

[@axxonthetrack]

@@reddmusiclabthanks! I’ve reached out to Joshua re this as well!

[@reddmusiclab]

Best of luck!

[@MVergaraQ]

Do you think all mk2 use the sowter transformer? I wonder why Stam still hasn't fixed the website

[@reddmusiclab]

Most likely. Probably a discrepancy when the webpage was updated for the mic.

[@BIRDCAGESTUDIOS]

I own both, I love the mk1 on drum rooms

[@reddmusiclab]

Haha! Story of Stam Audio fans. Can’t quite let go of the classics.

[@thisisliving4261]

Reed, What is the exact name and model number of the tubes Stam uses in the power supply?

[@reddmusiclab]

Hey @thisisliving, it’s the same tube as the mic which is from what I can decipher a Miniatron 6AU6WB, model FSE-8250R. Most likely made by Phillips. I’m going off the GearGutz video and puzzling it together. Hope that helps.

[@TheRealTMajor]

Thank you

[@reddmusiclab]

You’re welcome!

[@bonafrato]

Mate how can I replace that upper mic case ring just under the Stam logo?

[@reddmusiclab]

🤷‍♂️ Beyond my scope of knowledge my friend. Sorry.

[@bonafrato]

@ all good I made it. Now it looks like new again. 🙏🏼

[@reddmusiclab]

Glad you were able to resolve it.

[@ramonfelizjr]

Can you do a shoutout between mk 1 vs mk 2 ? With a pop singer thx

[@reddmusiclab]

I’ll give it a try.

[@Leo_Vulkan]

Maybe those are the same french tubes used in the Warm Audio model. A little bit in the thin and harsh sounding side, at least the WA improves a lot with a tube swap according to some videos in this platform. PS: Very nice video btw!!! Subscribed 😉

[@reddmusiclab]

Thank you Leo and welcome! I took a look at one video regarding the mod. Unfortunately, they skimped out on actually comparing pre vs post mod. I am looking into the Sony tube but presently it goes for about $450 and that’s a high gamble in my opinion. There’s a KZbin video regarding tubes producing a sound. From what I’ve noticed, tubes are more of an amplifier circuit rather than a frequency modulator thus not quite making a difference in frequency response but rather in amplification/headroom/saturation. I will wholeheartedly agree with the video regarding the swap of the capsule. This is where sound waves are converted to electricity thus being a crucial signature of the sound. I’m on the fence when it comes to capacitor swaps. I do believe that better capacitors lead to a better products but as to how much is inconclusive. However, the video mentioned the mic sounding more open after the cap swap which like the tube, that sounds like an amplification term of headroom. Where the video fell very short was the transformer! This is where the last point of the electrical signal goes thru and like the capsule will have a crucial role in sound. Warm uses mostly CineMag Transformers but I’m afraid that while CineMag makes high quality transformers, they tend to be generalized rather than specific to the task. Sowter on the other hand will dictate on their website which transformer is made for what. I gave up on Warm Audio a while back ago because they take too many shortcuts for my comfort which in the end leads to their rather underwhelming sound necessitating for heavy mods. I will be looking into my own tube sound test in the future with microphones so hope you stay tuned for that video. Take care!

[@Leo_Vulkan]

@@reddmusiclab I've been swapping tubes in all my equipment (mics, preamps and compressors) and IMO there are clear tonal differences, in fact very high differences. Eg: Telefunken tubes tends to give a large mid-bottom end and tame harshness, and TungSol tubes usually make the sound more upfront. There are a lot to try out there 😊.

[@reddmusiclab]

Look forward to the experimentation process.

[@MrGoldminemusic]

Just ordered this one. How do you like it over the original? Excited to get mines and put it to work

[@reddmusiclab]

Stay tuned to find out.

[@terreldante3224]

How much did it cost to add tubes to the power supply?

[@reddmusiclab]

It was a $100 upgrade.

[@tecno8335]

Or downgrade considering tube replacement 😅

[@Traknomicsmusicgroup]

Jim Jacobsen

[@drillgirl718]

so which sony c800g would u say is the closest?

[@reddmusiclab]

Hey Lewis, sorry I’ve been MIA. Big changes are happening in my studio so it’s taken up a lot of my time. Build wise, SA-800G MK2 is as close to the real deal. Sound wise, I don’t know yet. Because I’ve been out of commission, I haven’t heard MK1 and MK2 back to back. Hopefully I’ll be posting a few videos in the next few weeks which will include a few comparisons featuring the SA-800MK2. So please bare with me as I get things done. Should be exciting. Thank you for hanging in there thus far though, truly appreciate it.

[@Godzillah]

How long take him to ship u I wait two months and he said won’t be until next month 3 or half a year? Unfortunately this will be my first and last order from Stam.

[@reddmusiclab]

Hey Godzillah, welcome to being a Stam customer. Unfortunately this is one of the downsides to being a Stam customer; sometimes, some products arrive quickly while taking advantage of the Pre-Order pricing. And sometimes, we encounter your situation. In my view, the wait has always been worthwhile and so has for many. But that’ll be up to you decide. I wish you all the best and when you do get your mic you too will find it worth the wait.

[@robertsamuel8474]

Which Microphone do u think sound better between the 2?

[@reddmusiclab]

Hi Robert, recording day will be Thursday or Friday of this week. You can follow me on FB and track the progress as I’ll be posting a few pics of the session.

[@drillgirl718]

@@reddmusiclab any update on the answer?

[@TheRealTMajor]

I miss your videos

[@reddmusiclab]

I truly appreciate that RTMajor. No one said I was done but when I do come back, it’ll be bigger & better than ever! It’s just taking time on my end my friend and for that I am truly sorry.

[@carsin977]

Do a sound test 🙂

[@reddmusiclab]

Coming up next!

[@EricRabb]

Put both 800’s to a test

[@reddmusiclab]

Absolutely! Recording day will be Thursday or Friday of this week. Then the time to edit. Trying to get those videos out quickly! Stay tuned.

[@robertsamuel8474]

Which one u think sound better MK1or 2?

[@reddmusiclab]

Don’t know yet and it’s hard to speculate because what’s really coming down to is a transformer difference and circuitry. Should be interesting and exciting.