Robert Jenkins Condenser / Electret Microphone audio PCB

There are several optional ways of assembling these boards.

Decide which options you want to use, then see the appropriate input and output circuit parts descriptions.
All parts IDs reference both the schematic diagram and PCB component ident print.

Resistors can be MFR25, MRS25 or similar, with the leads bent firmly against the body, or a suitable high quality
0.25 or 0.4W type, preferably metal film for lowest noise. The resistor colour codes below are for four-band types.

All values are suggestions and may be changed as appropriate to suit your preferences, or as used in other designs.
The full Schematics are at the end of this document.

1 PCB Robert Jenkins

Input sections, these refer to all parts to the left of C8 & C9 on the schematic

Input section – Condenser capsule: JFET buffer and bipolar phase splitter

2 R10, R16 10K BR-BK-BK-RD

1 R11 47K YL-VI-BK-RD

1 R12 100K BR-BK-BK-OR

2 R13, R14 2K2 RD-RD-BK-BR

2 R18, R19 ** 1G0 1000 Megohm RS 137-2742

1 R17 500K preset. 3362 style, eg. RS 522-1000

1 C7 100nF film 63V or higher RS 174-6324

1 C10 ** 2nF or 2.2nF polystyrene 50V or higher. RS 113-342

1 C12 470nF film, high quality RS 882-9161

2 U1, U2 ** PTFE feedthrough, Keystone 11152 or similar

1 Q3 See notes.
NPN, emitter to R13 side. If a PNP is preferred, exchange
R11 & R12 values and fit Q3 with its emitter to R14 side.

1 Q4 ** JFET, as preferred – 2SK118 etc.

1 Link J1 pins 2-3, using a component lead offcut.

Connect the mic capsule signal lead to U2 pad and capsule body / ground to U4.

Mic board P is required to provide the capsule bias.

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Input section – Condenser capsule: JFET buffer with JFET as phase splitter (classic Schoeps input)

2 R13, R14 2K2 RD-RD-BK-BR

2 R18, R19 ** 1G0 1000 Megohm RS 137-2742

1 R17 500K preset. 3362 style, eg. RS 522-1000

1 C7 100nF film 63V or higher RS 174-6324

1 C10 ** 2nF or 2.2nF polystyrene 50V or higher. RS 113-342

2 Links Short insulated wires; J1 pin1 to Q3 pad at R14 side &

J1 pin 3 pad to Q3 pad at R13 side,

Connect the mic capsule signal lead to U2 pad and capsule body / ground to U4.

Mic board P is required to provide the capsule bias.

Input section – Electret capsule (two terminal): Bipolar phase splitter

1 R10 2K2 RD-RD-BK-BR

Or, if preferred 4K7 YL-VI-BK-BR

1 R11 47K YL-VI-BK-RD

1 R12 100K BR-BK-BK-OR

2 R13, R14 2K2 RD-RD-BK-BR

1 C12 470nF film, high quality RS 882-9161

1 Q3 See notes.
NPN, emitter to R13 side. If a PNP is preferred, exchange
R11 & R12 values and fit Q3 with its emitter to R14 side.

Connect the mic capsule positive to Q4 drain pad & link J1 pins 1 & 2. Capsule negative / ground to U4.

Input section – Electret capsule (Three terminal): Capsule as phase splitter

2 R13, R14 2K2 RD-RD-BK-BR or up to 6.8K as appropriate

Connect capsule drain (positive) to Q3 pad at R14 side, capsule source to Q3 pad at R13 side, and capsule body /
ground to U4.

Voltage regulator & power filtering section

1 D1 9.1V Zener; BZX79C5V1, 1N5239 etc.

2 R9, R15 1K BR-BK-BK-BR

3 C1, C2, C9 47uF 16V Max. 6.5mm diameter. RS 116-818

3 C3, C4, C8 100nF film RS 174-6324

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 Output sections – this refers to all parts located above C2, C4 & R9 on the schematic

Output section – Schoeps style, PNP emitter followers:

2 R1, R2 47R YL-VI-BK-GD (or wire links)

2 R3, R4 150K – 330K to give somewhere around 10V collector-emitter voltage

2 R5, R6 Not used, or eg. 47K.

2 R7, R8 47R YL-VI-BK-GD (or ferrite beads or wire links)

2 C5, C6 10uF 50V Max. 6.5mm diameter. RS 117-035

2 Q1, Q2 PNP, emitters to R7 & R8; see notes.

Output section – Robert Jenkins version, NPN modulated current sinks:

2 R1, R2 1K BR-BK-BK-BR

2 R3, R4 100K BR-BK-BK-OR

2 R5, R6 330K OR-OR-BK-OR

2 R7, R8 47R YL-VI-BK-GD (or ferrite beads or wire links)

2 C5, C6 10uF 50V Max. 6.5mm diameter. RS 117-035

2 Q1, Q2 NPN, emitters to R1 & R2; see notes.

Component notes:

All resistors should be low noise metal film types.

Transistor types: The PCBs do not have explicit transistor orientation marked, as different types have different
orientations for the same connections. See the diagrams below for various types.

Suitable devices:

NPN: ZTX851, BC547, BC550 etc.

PNP: ZTX951, BC557, BC560 etc.

Or, for both these and the JFET, whichever type you prefer or is recommended for a design you wish to duplicate.

Likewise for capacitor and resistor values – by cross referencing with the schematic, you can assemble the PCB to
match numerous design variations, with resistors etc. used, linked or omitted and appropriate.

** PTFE Standoffs, 1G resistors, C10 & JFET installation, when used:

The PTFE standoffs should be installed before any other tall components. If using the Keystone 11152 parts,
chamfer the holes by gently turning an oversize drill bit (eg. 3mm – 4mm range) by hand in them, to provide a
slight tapered lead-in for the PTFE body. The body is quite soft and may be damaged by excess force.

Rest the part in the hole and press it down using eg. small pliers or the tips of side cutters, whilst rocking it slightly
from side to side. If it will not press in place, open the hole slightly by broaching and try again.

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(Broaching - use a small screw driver, drill bit shank or similar that just fits through the hole and twist it sideways
slightly while working it gently around the hole).

If you do not use the Keystone part, cut a couple of pieces of 2mm OD PTFE sleeve to around 5 – 6mm length, fit
them in the PCB holes with equal amount either side and fit component lead offcuts through them, preferably ones
with a tight fit. Add a trace of cyanoacrylate to the PCB hole to steady them if they are too loose.
Cut the wire to around 5mm past the sleeve at each end, to start with, it can be trimmed later if needed.

The 1G resistors fit directly to the PCB at the outer ends and to the PTFE insulated pins at the inner end – wrap the
resistor lead one turn around the pin, cut the excess then solder.

C10 fits across the insulated pins on the rear of the PCB – again, wrap the leads one turn around each pin, trim and
solder. Try to position it so it has some clearance from the back of the PCB. Fit this after soldering the JFET to the
PCB, but before attaching the JFET gate lead.

The JFET gate lead should be bent up past its body before fitting the source and drain leads to the PCB.
The gate lead is then formed to connect to the top of U1 insulated pin, soldered and trimmed.

See the photos below for more details of the PTFE pin or sleeve insulator plus the 1G resistor and polystyrene
capacitor positioning.

The cap could also be fitted to the end of the pins, or beyond the end of the PCB if there is adequate space within
the mic chassis.

Example built to suit an electret capsule Example built for a condenser capsule

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 Typical transistor orientations, for reference:
TO-92 NPN, such as BC54x TO-92 PNP, such as BC55x

E-Line NPN, such as ZTX851 E-Line PNP, such as ZTX951

Resistor colour code abbreviations:

BK Black
BR Brown
RD Red
OR Orange
YL Yellow
GN Green
BL Blue
VI Violet
SL Grey (Slate)
WH White
SI Silver
GD Gold

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 Generic, adaptable circuit

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Example PNP output build, for such as Shoeps based designs

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Example NPN output build, for my current sink output design

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