Overview & Features
HYDROPHONE H1A
The H1a hydrophone is designed to provide high-quality audio performance in a low-cost device. It is very durable and can interface directly with high-impedance microphone or instrument preamp. It offers very good sensitivity and low noise in the human auditory range. The H1a’s streamlined shape and high specific gravity will help to maintain a low working depth in a moving water column. Its compact size and the easy hand of its cable make it very portable and simple to use.
The H1a offers the following advantages:
- Low cost
- Low self noise
- Good sensitivity
- Robust design handles accidental drops and temperature extremes
- Compact (4.5mm OD) Low-noise cable with tough urethane jacket
- Very high dynamic range
- Connects directly with 1/4" TS plug to High-impedance microphone circuits and musical instrument amps
- User can buy or build preamp to focus on application-specific systems
- High-quality REAN gold output connector
- Compact size and easy hand of cable
- High specific gravity and streamlined shape keeps hydrophone down in currents
- 1-year limited warranty
Recommended devices:
Use with the PA1 buffer or PA6 preamp for the perfect high-fidelity interface with your existing microphone preamp.
Use with the Honeytone amplified speaker for low-cost, portable PA system.
User Manual--includes specifications and warranty statement
Custom cable lengths:
Select the custom hydrophone cable option separately from the accessories menu.
Audio interface notes:
Please note that, though this hydrophone does work with most recorders and audio interfaces that offer a 1/4" microphone or instrument (line-level) input jack, the user should be very careful to ensure that the device offers adequately-high input impedance and gain. Recorders and computer sound interfaces that offer a DI or Instrument input that is compatible with direct connection to an electric guitar can work well, but many of these devices do not offer enough gain, resulting in poor sensitivity from the hydrophone.
If you try to adapt to a 3.5mm or XLR microphone input, you will lose your low frequencies because of improper impedance matching. It is also possible, when connecting to a device with a 1Mohm or higher input impedance, that you will get unwanted acceleration noise which can saturate the preamp. If not using one of the recommended devices noted above, and you are unsure about compatibility with your device, please contact us for technical support with component compatibility.
PA1 Buffer Amplifier
Simple, low-noise hydrophone buffer amp. Use with H1 hydrophones.
Also works great for buffering piezo contact microphones, electric
guitars and other high-impedance audio signals. PIP or phantom-powered, 3
dB gain*.
In an effort to keep hydrophones affordable for any recording
enthusiast, we are offering this simple buffer amp. It uses the same
circuit as built into our popular H2 hydrophones. Available for
consumer-grade devices with Plug-in Power and for professional-grade
devices with phantom power. 20cm cable, gold 3.5mm (stereo mini) or
nickel 3-pin XLR male output, and 6.3mm TS (1/4" mono) locking input
jack.
A buffer amp is required when connecting a passive hydrophone (one
with no built-in amplifier) to any common microphone preamp. This amp
provides the necessary impedance conversion for low-frequency response
and minimum noise.
3.5mm TRS option (PA1-PIP):
This module is designed to provide impedance conversion, making
passive piezo hydrophones compatible with standard consumer-grade
microphone preamplifiers that are built into digital recorders, smart
phones, computers, and other common audio components. It can also adapt
piezo contact mics, electric guitars, and other high-impedance audio
signals to these audio devices.
The PA1-PIP offers a low-cost alternative for underwater recording
enthusiasts. Intended to be an entry-level module among the Aquarian
Audio line, the PA1-PIP uses cost-effective cables and connectors with a
simple and versatile low-noise FET amplifier that will not compromise
the quality of your recording. PIP (plug-in power) is required and may
need to be switched on within the menu settings of your audio device
XLR Male option (PA1-P48):
This module is designed to provide impedance conversion, making passive
piezo hydrophones compatible with professional-grade microphone
preamplifiers. These include preamps that are built into digital
recorders, PA systems, mixing consoles, and high-quality computer sound
interfaces. It can also adapt piezo contact mics, electric guitars and
other high-impedance audio signals to these audio devices. User Manual--includes additional information and specifications.
The PA1-P48 offers a low-cost alternative for underwater recording
enthusiasts. Intended to be an entry-level module among the Aquarian
Audio line, the PA1-P48 uses cost-effective cables and connectors with a
simple and versatile low-noise FET amplifier that will not compromise
the quality of your recording.
PA6 Hydrophone Preamplifier
The PA6 is designed to connect passive piezo sensors, used in most
hydrophones, to professional-grade microphone preamplifiers. These
include preamps that are built into digital recorders, high-quality
computer sound interfaces, PA systems, and mixing consoles. The PA6 will
also be useful for many other sensors, such as geophones,
accelerometers, contact microphones, and any device requiring a
low-noise, high-impedance buffer that works within the human auditory
spectrum and above.
Phantom power is required. 48V is the
standard but the PA6 is designed to work with supplies as low as 24V
with negligible performance difference.
Warranty
Warranty
AFAB Enterprises, LLC is doing business
under the registered trade names of Aquarian Audio and Aquarian
Scientific, which will be abbreviated below as "Aquarian".
Aquarian General Warranty Statement:
Aquarian warrants hydrophones and other products sold under the
Aquarian Audio or Aquarian Scientific brand names from electrical
failure or defects in workmanship for a period of one year following the
date of purchase, unless otherwise specified or excluded. Warranty
claims can be made directly through Aquarian. Aquarian limits its
shipping cost liability to one half of the item value during any
warranty claim. Corroded output plugs are not covered under warranty.
Damaged cables and damage caused to hydrophones and accessories by
breach of the cable jacket is not covered under warranty. Major
corrosion resulting from electrolysis, non-neutral PH, or similar
factors under user control is not covered under warranty, nor is
degradation of rubber compounds used in the hydrophone as a result of
use in anything other than clean water or seawater, or from prolonged UV
exposure. Warranty is not transferable.
Hydrophones are
sensitive instruments. We design our products to be as rugged as
possible, but by their nature, they are likely to be damaged by rough
handling. If Aquarian recognizes signs of abuse in any warranty claim,
we will provide evidence of that abuse to the customer and require the
customer to pay costs of repair and return shipping. Evidence of abuse
may include, but is not limited to: cracked or physically-broken
sensors, abrasion or deformation of the hydrophone, arcing or burns to
sensors or preamps, torn or cut cables, unusual degree of corrosion to
metals or chemical attack to rubbers and plastics. We encourage our
customers to experiment with these hydrophones. Regardless of damage, we
do not try and profit from repairs.
Please contact Aquarian
before returning any items under warranty so that we can assist in
troubleshooting issues and avoid needless shipping expenses and delays.
Aquarian tests every product that we make to be sure that we are shipping working units. If you have a problem
immediately out of the box, please contact us for technical assistance.
Special Limitations:
Board or sensor-level components (those not fully assembled
into a finished plug-and-use product) are tested for functionality and
guaranteed to work upon delivery to the customer. Due to the variability
of customer assembly, we can not formally offer any warranty period on
these products. This exclusion is inclusive of amplifiers or signal
conditioners sold as "board only", hydrophones that do not include a
fixed cable and output plug, and any replacement part or accessory not
installed by Aquarian. If one of these components fails, regardless of
cause, Aquarian will offer discounts on replacements when possible.
Resale: Aquarian will honor the sale date to the end user from the reseller as
the beginning of the 1-year warranty period only under the following
conditions: (1) A receipt for the retail sale is provided by the
reseller or end user. (2) Retail sale is made within one year of
original shipment from Aquarian. (3) Resale dealership is authorized by
Aquarian. Warranty claims should be initiated through the reseller.
Aquarian will not pay incoming shipping costs for warranty claims
purchased through other businesses.
Multiple failures:
Certain damage to hydrophones, such as from mechanical shock, excessive
static pressure, input voltage, environmental chemistry and more, is
difficult to diagnose. It is assumed that if any customer experiences
multiple product failures, there is something about their application or
use that is damaging our products. Aquarian Audio may, and typically
will, refuse any warranty claim if we have previously repaired or
replaced the same item under warranty.
Where several hydrophones
are deployed in the same application, environment, network, or as part
of a larger hardware system, Aquarian limits its warranty liability to
20% of the items originally purchased, not to exceed 25 like units.
Examples: If a customer buys ten hydrophones and we end up replacing two
of these under warranty, We will assume complications in the
application environment and will ask the user to pay for repairs on
additional breakage. If a customer buys 500 hydrophones for a specific
application, hardware system, or network, our warranty is limited only
to the first 25 units.
OEM orders: Any product made by Aquarian for exclusive
distribution under alternate brands will carry no additional warranty
unless specified by contractual agreement.
Aquarian strongly recommends that anyone considering our
hydrophones for OEM use or otherwise within part of a larger system or
network thoroughly evaluate samples for effectiveness and reliability in
the proposed application, as the above-noted special conditions apply.Warranty applies only to Aquarian products. Though extremely unlikely that a hydrophone failure could damage
equipment to which it is connected, Aquarian limits its warranty
liability only to equipment manufactured by us.
Specified terms of sale: Any terms or conditions negotiated at the time of sale and denoted in
pre-sale correspondence or on an official quote or invoice supercedes
conditions of warranty denoted above.
Accessories sold by, but not manufactured by, Aquarian:
Aquarian does not provide any additional warranty coverage for
other brands sold. Warranty claims should be made directly though the
product's manufacturer. We will do our best to help our customers
through this process.
Out-of-warranty repairs:
We don't like it when our hydrophones break! Thus, it has been our
policy to repair out-of-warranty items at discounted rates. Aquarian
Audio currently charges a minimum service fee of $35.00. Most repairs
can be done for this minimum fee. Otherwise, if a customer's hydrophone
has no obvious signs of misuse, and is less than five years old, we
charge only the cost of parts plus return shipping for items that are
currently in production. We will offer comparable replacements at
prorated discounts for obsolete items--50% in the first year out of
warranty, 40% the second year, and so on. We will offer this same
discount for replacement of defective current-production items upon
agreement only. Also, upon agreement, we will offer expedited
replacements by selling new hydrophones at full cost, then reimbursing
the customer for the discounted amount at the time the defective part is
returned (30-day limitation on return from time of replacement sale).
Please note: Terms noted above are guidelines only and not guaranteed.
We reserve the right to evaluate each out-of-warranty repair or
replacement case independently.