Electrovoice 664 microphone adapters

[SamuelBLupowitz]

Hi friends,

 

I picked up a pair of EV 664 dynamic mics off of a local studio owner some months back. Well, he advertised them as 665s, not 664s, which is why my research hadn't turned up that they don't take a regular XLR cable, just this weird four-pin situation:

 

https://www.coutant.org/ev664/index.html

 

But I knew the guy and we have a lot of mutual friends and collaborators, so I didn't think twice about it when he said he "knew he had the adapters around somewhere," and that he'd ship me new ones if he couldn't find them. Then he went to rehab. Then he stopped returning my messages. Lesson learned.

 

But I'd still really like to use the mics...

 

Here's an adapter that is no longer available:

 

https://www.ebay.com/p/1883769407?iid=303029395419

 

I haven't been able to find much else. Anyone know what my easiest path forward is for getting an XLR out of these? I know it is apparently not a difficult solder job to make an adapter cable but... that's not really a can of worms I want to open up. Any advice would be appreciated!

[Anderton]

Here's what Bing's AI Chat found:

 

The pinout for the Electro-voice EV 664 microphone should be as follows, by the pin numbering on the microphone:

 

Pin 1: unknown/capsule ground

Pin 2: Cold (-)

Pin 3: Lo-z Hot (+)

Pin 4: Hi-Z Hot (+)

Shield: Body Ground

 

For the Shure 545 microphone, the Shure website provides the pinout for the 4-pin Amphenol connector. Pins 1 and 2 of this connector are the high impedance output. Pin 2 is the hot. To wire this output for a quarter inch connector, connect pin 1 to the sleeve (ground or shield) and pin 2 to the tip of the connector.

[Notes_Norton]

For years, on the road, I used an EV664. It handled the higher SPL levels of my sax well, and when singing, had almost no proximity effect. It was a real, rugged workhorse. IMO it was better than the Shure mics of the day for my purposes.

 

Eventually it died and I replaced it with a Sennheiser MD421. Another rugged workhorse with no proximity effect.

 

Good find, but I can't help you with a cable.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Notes ♫

[BluesB3]

These old amphenol MC4M-385  used to be very common. Apparently now they are pretty rare. My old band in the 60's used 664's and can testify that they are an effective defensive weapon in 3am load outs in an alley behind a club.

 

This seems to be what you're looking for but I have no idea of the quality. I imagine it would either work or not as soon as you try it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305199213201?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=305199213201&targetid=1531876743358&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9026054&poi=&campaignid=20385089669&mkgroupid=151067932066&rlsatarget=pla-1531876743358&abcId=9316496&merchantid=114836957&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI17zK5Pq-ggMVvjHUAR2s3gREEAQYBSABEgI99_D_BwE

 

Failing purchasing the above and going with making your own 91MC4M to  XLR3, look around your local area for a company that has been in business for a long time installing PA systems in auditoriums and public facilities like courtrooms. Go in person with your mic in hand and try to talk to an old tech and see if they have some MCM's somewhere in a dusty box or maybe an old cable you can salvage. If you're hooked up as muso with an established church, paw thru storage closets and backrooms and see if you can turn something up useful.

 

Here's some more pricey Ebay options:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266268053270?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOooQfyLMiIrb_sEkdfjpi58BVtNBx4EhSQ1APa7G-RThH4QCgvwDfGY

https://www.ebay.com/p/1301541840

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305247247673?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=305247247673&targetid=1529493971742&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9026054&poi=&campaignid=20385089669&mkgroupid=151067932066&rlsatarget=pla-1529493971742&abcId=9316496&merchantid=114836957&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI17zK5Pq-ggMVvjHUAR2s3gREEAQYBiABEgJFm_D_BwE

 

I would very carefully remove the spline screw on the 664 windscreen and shake out all the deteriorated foam. I did this on my 666 and refoamed it with EV foam from a more modern mic. There used to be a bespoke wrench to remove the screw but they are long gone. I think I carefully used a pair of needlenoses with an appropriate width to grab the screw head.

 

Good luck!!