Manley Reference Gold Tube Condenser Microphone

Description

MANLEY REFERENCE GOLD TUBE CONDENSER MICROPHONE

Extension & Air. THE Reference.
When fidelity is the goal, the Manley Reference Gold Mic is the solution. Its nimble CK12-style American-made capsule, open grille, and continually adjustable pickup pattern design allow it to hear deep into a room, capturing nuances and subtleties that other mics miss. It is real. It is the truth.

“But if there’s a single aspect that makes the Gold as special as it needs to be, it’s what happens down at the bass end. Most voices benefit to some extent from warmth, but it often comes with a blurring of detail – not so with the Gold, which gives you as little or as much warmth as you want without any loss of clarity.”
– Intermusic UK, November 2007 –

The MANLEY GOLD REFERENCE MULTI-PATTERN MICROPHONES are a statement, quite simply, of the finest microphones that money can buy in the pursuit of truly accurate musical recordings. The Gold Reference Series employ our own design of large capsules (1.25 inch overall, 1 inch diaphragm diameter) which are executed to precise tolerances made possible by modern micro-milling machinery available today in California. The capsule rings and back-plates are milled from solid brass. The gold diaphragm film comes from Germany and is tensioned using proprietary techniques by David Josephson ensuring capsule-to-capsule constancy, combined with the speed, “air”, and superb ultra-high frequency response you have only dreamt about.

The all-tube electronics in the MANLEY REFERENCE SERIES MICROPHONES are built around two triodes in cascade forming an entire gain-block. We have recently switched to a dual-triode 12AT7 tube, easily obtainable and replaceable, mounted in a ceramic socket. (We originally used 6072A until it became impossible to find quiet ones out of the NOS dreck left on the market, then we used 12AX7 for awhile.) The output is coupled through a MANLEY output transformer of unparalleled quality and substantial physical size employing nickel laminations with “hum bucking” bi-filar windings, encased in mu-metal. The polar pattern control is continuously variable between the OMNI, CARDIOID, and FIGURE 8 positions vastly increasing this mic’s versatility. The Gold Mics make it possible to exactly tailor the proximity effect to achieve the desired character.

We have chosen a very open weave stainless-steel grille for the capsule window which allows all the highs to reach the capsule unimpaired letting the engineer choose if, when, and how much pop screen is appropriate. As a result, the Reference Gold reaches to the furthest extremes of highs and lows with gorgeous natural acoustic smoothness. Some engineers tell us it sometimes “hears” more than they do! A locking 6-pin XLR connector for the 30 foot power supply cable carries the stringently filtered B+ and regulated heater voltages from the separate dedicated power supply. The audio signal exits the PSU via a traditional 3-pin XLR jack. The microphone body is machined from brass providing excellent shielding properties, polished to a high lustre, then plated with 24 karat gold for an impressive finish, inspiring confidence in artists and producers.

Our proprietary precision suspension system is provided with each REFERENCE MICROPHONE (the capsule itself is mounted onto a neoprene-rubber shock-mount.) Because the entire working “guts” of the microphone may be removed for service in one piece from the housing, it is envisioned that the microphone need not be removed from the suspension. We also provide a very useful swivel of our own design with every REFERENCE MICROPHONE; its T-bar handle and locking clutch action require no tools to adjust. And no MANLEY microphone would be complete without a genuine leather capsule protector which slips (and ties) onto the end of the microphone to protect the capsule when not in use.

Features

• Manley’s flagship microphone with 24 karat gold-plated finish on a solid brass body
• Open-weave stainless steel grilles for the capsule window for seamless high frequencies pick up
• Switchable 3 polar patterns (Cardioid, Omni, Figure of 8)
• Switchable 10dB Pad to reduce extra hot signal
• Natural and highly detailed responses make this microphone a popular choice for strings, piano, orchestral work, and vocals
• Dual-triode 12AX7 tube to give you the warmth you need in every recording without the loss of clarity
• Based on the classic CK-12 capsule and Hand Made in USA by Josephson Audio
• 5 Micron Evaporated Gold Diaphragm 1″ diameter
• External PSU and 30′ power supply cable with locking 6-pin connectors
• Locking flight case with key, and leather capsule protector included
• Fully handcrafted in Manley Labs’ Chico, California facility

Specifications

Capsule Type : Dual Edge Terminated Large Diaphragm Capacitor (Condenser)
Polar Patterns : Continuously Variable (omni through cardioid through Figure of 8)
Diaphragm Size : 1 Inch; 1.25 Inch Overall
Diaphragm Thickness : 5 Micron; Gold Sputtered
Frequency Response : 10Hz-30kHz, AMP to 60kHz
Maximum Input SPL : 150 dB SPL at Capsule
Sensitivity : 19mV/Pa
Amplifier Type : 2 Triode Gain Block Lo Z Output
Active Components : (1) 12AX7 Dual Triode Vacuum Tube
Output Type : Transformer Coupled, Manley IRON® 7227
Output Polarity : Balanced XLR, Pin 2 Hot, Pin 3 Low
Amplifier Distortion : Less Than 0.05 % THD+N BW 22-22 kHz (1kOhm Load, 1kHz -40dBV Output)
Amplifier Noise: Typically – 108 dBV “A Weighted”
Body : 24 Karat Gold Over Machined Brass
Mic Weight : 1.5lbs
Mic Weight : 2 lbs (mic)
PSU Weight : 2.5 lbs (PSU)
Mic Size : 2″ x 9.7″ x 4.5″ (mic including suspension)
PSU Size : 5″ x 8.2″ x 3.4″ (PSU)