Recording - November 2013 - 42

B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

Over the past few years I have used
and reviewed almost the entire current
lineup of microphones from Danish Pro
Audio (DPA). From their d:vote 4099
Series instrument mics (reviewed June

DPA Microphones d:facto II
Handheld Vocal Microphone
New options in sound quality and application flexibility grace this lovely handheld mic
2010) and the d:dicate MMP/2000 modular system of interchangeable amplifier
bodies and capsules (February 2013) to
the d:fine headset models (May 2013),
DPA products are known in the industry
for clarity, purity of sound and realism.
In 2012 DPA Microphones decided to
add a vocal-specific hand-held model to its
line, known as the d:facto. DPA was quick
to follow it up with an improved model in
2013 called the d:facto II, and it was this
version that I got to work with on stage and
in the studio for several months. From what
I can tell, between 2012’s NAMM press
conference and 2013, DPA made some
refinements, most notably how the microphone system assembles and disassembles.
d:ssassembly
Disassemble? The d:facto II follows in
the footsteps of the company’s d:dicate
line and is a completely modular design
that can even make use of the company’s
2000 and 4000 series capsules.
Further adding to the modularity, the
microphone is available as a standard
wired handheld microphone, or as a
head-style unit with various terminations
for use with pretty much all the popular
wireless systems (see below).
While not a new idea, since many
companies offer wireless variants of their
handheld models, the d:facto II is different. Usually you must choose which format you want to buy a microphone in, be
it wired or wireless, and then you have to
purchase a second version of the same
mic should you need a differing format.
The d:facto II is a flexible all-in-one solution where you buy a capsule and windscreen assembly along with an initial
choice of four different wireless adaptors
or the wired body. You can then add
other wireless adaptors or the wired body
as your needs grow or change.
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RECORDING November 2013

Since, as I mentioned above, the
d:facto II body and stock capsule are
cross-compatible with the bodies and capsules of the d:dicate line, the possibilities
are vast, but before we go there we will
just focus on the stock d:facto II system.
d:facts
Each package, wired or wireless,
comes in a DPA hard nylon zipper case.
The windscreen/capsule assembly is the
same for each variation, and from the
outside looks like your standard black
metal mesh head found on 99% of handheld fare.
Inside, however, it uses a triple-layer
screening that includes a tight rigid cylindrical mesh that fits snugly around the
capsule. This layered mesh design is
closer in nature to what you’d find inside
a large-diaphragm studio mic than your
average foam lined metal grille, and as
such it does not have a pinched or pillowy sound like many handheld vocal
mics. Also, since it does not use foam or
nylon webbing, it is easier to wash and
dry—important for a heavily used handheld mic!
d:build
The wired version is roughly 8" by 2"
at its widest point and features a slightly
textured matte black finish. This makes it
easy to grip and helps lessen handling
noise. The wireless head-assembly version measures 31/2" x 2", with a small
metal ring whose finish matches the handheld version.
Inside the wind screen is a newly
designed 4018V supercardioid capsule,
developed for this system. It screws onto
a brass assembly with a thick rubber
internal shock mounting ring to further
reduce handling noise from dancing
vocalists and stage vibrations alike.

d:options
Each wireless capsule assembly is the
same, but makes use of different terminations.
The currently available adaptors are:
~ SL1 which works with Shure, Sony and
Lectrosonics v1 systems including Line 6.
~ SE2-ew for Sennheiser 2000, 9000
and evolution wireless systems
~ SE5 for the Sennheiser 5000 series
~ WI2 for Wisycom v2 systems
d:specs
The 4018V capsule is a pressure gradient, pre-polarized electret condenser with
the following factory-supplied specs: 20 Hz
to 20 kHz frequency response (more specifically, DPA quotes 100 Hz to 16 kHz ±2 dB
at 12 cm distance with a 3 dB soft boost at
12 kHz), 75 dB signal to noise ratio, 5
mV/Pa; –46 dB ref. 1 V/Pa Sensitivity (±2
dB at 1 kHz), and 160 db Max SPL level
for even the most over-the-top screamer.
Like most DPA capsules the mic is flat from
20 Hz to 6 kHz, where it has what DPA
calls a “soft rise” up to 12 kHz, beyond
which it then tapers back down. Also inherent in this mic’s sound is a built in –3 dB @
80 Hz highpass filter to get rid of low rumble. The d:dicate MMP-B amplifier body
also offers this feature, but it is switchable.
d:phantom
The specs of the mic are the same,
whether wired or wireless, which highlights another of the d:facto II’s engineering feats. Since this is a condenser mic,
the handheld version uses 48V phantom
power. In a wireless system most bodies
are powered by 9V batteries, of which
about 5V goes to the capsule. The d:facto
II wireless bodies use a step-up transformer to give the capsule the full voltage
it wants to see. DPA uses similar technology in its d:vote mics, which make use of
the company’s microdot adaptors that

Recording - November 2013

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