Astatic D104 Ceramic

[Holydvr]

Anyone have any idea when Astatic stopped offering Ceramic (MC-321) as an option with the D104?

 

[Eldorado828]

It's a crystal element that was used in the d104 microphone. As far as I remember but could be wrong, they were sold with that element until the last final edition silver eagle.

 

[Holydvr]

Ceramic was an option, I just do not know for how long They were marked MC-321. The crystal element was MC-320. I was just curious if anyone knew. By the time I became interested in the D104, I never saw any talk about Ceramic being an option. The one original MC-321 that I have bears a date stamp of 1973.

Tony

 

[Eldorado828]

I did not know that was an option, I learned something today.

 

[tramd]

I don't know the dates of these but here are a couple of old ads.

 

[tramd]

Here's a manual showing the different types available.

 

[The20poundhammer]

Thats pretty cool

 

[Holydvr]

I must add that I have a few unmolested 10-C heads and I quite like them!

 

[nomadradio]

MC320 crystal cartridge has higher output than the MC321 ceramic cartridge.

In theory, the ceramic cartridge would be more forgiving of a humid environment.

Can't really vouch for that first hand.

73

 

[Holydvr]

Based on how they were put together, (sadly I had to repair mine, as I dropped it onto its face and physically broke it) I do believe they would do very well in a humid environment. The foil connections are soldered to the outer sides of the ceramic bar as opposed to being held captive or under spring tension like other mic elements. (Example could be an MC-564-1)