The AEA KU4 Passive Ribbon Microphone with Supercardioid Pattern will capture the detail in your high-frequency range that you crave with modern durability that you deserve. Play around with its broad sweet spot for delicate vocals or pair it with your guitar amp and it will handle the high pressure and amaze you with its smooth sound. This mic is based on the classic RCA KU3A of which fewer than 600 were ever produced dating to the 1940’s and originally designed for Hollywood film production.
Historically, ribbon microphones were expensive and delicate, but AEA makes use of incredible improvements in materials and production to put this microphone in reach and plenty durable to use on stage and handle the power of rock!
For the uninitiated, ribbon microphones get their name because they use a light metal ribbon suspended between the poles of a magnet and can handle your range better than a condenser mic.
There are several design features which distinguish this smooth sounding ribbon mic from all others. Its ribbon is ultra low mass and lightly-tensioned giving it a frequency response beyond 20 kHz. It is the only ribbon mic in commercial production with a supercardioid polar pattern, with most others having a figure-eight which makes them more susceptible to ambient noise. This model has a shorter and narrower ribbon than all our others which provides for a unique upper midrange which is best suited to vocals and acoustic strings.
With precious few of the highly coveted original RCA KU3A’s still in use in studios around the world, AEA is proud to replicate them in a much more durable package with much greater production consistency.
SPECIFICATIONS ::
Operating Principle: Pressure gradient microphone
Directional Pattern: Supercardioid
Frequency Range: Below 30 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum SPL: 140+ dB SPL (1% third harmonic > 1 kHz)
Output Sensitivity: 2.8 mV/Pa (-51 dBV) into unloaded circuit
Output Impedance: 300 Ohms nominal
Recommended Load Impedance: 1.2 kOhms or greater
Polarity: Pin 2 high for positive pressure at the front of the microphone
Connector: XLR-3M wired to a 1.5 meter captive cable
Off Axis Response:
Vertical: Level changes with angle, reduced HF response above and below 0° / 180° axis
Transducer element:
Ribbon Thickness: 1.8 microns ( .0000018 meter ) of pure aluminum
Ribbon Width: 0.082” (2.1 mm)
Ribbon Length: 1.25” (28.6 mm)
Accessories:
Included: Custom storage/shipping case, stand adapter, manual and
attached 1.5 meter microphone cable
Limited Warranty: One year parts and labor, shipping not included. Three year extended warranty if the product is registered.
Weight with Cable: 4 lb 11 oz (2.15 kg)
Weight with case: 7 pounds (3.2 kg)
Height: 12.65” (32.4 cm)
Width: 4.62” (11.7 cm)
Depth: 3.75” (9.5 cm)
