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AEA A840 Active Ribbon Microphone Introduced by Wes Dooley at AES, October 2009

Ribbon Microphone Wizard Wes Dooley introduces the world to the new A840 Active Ribbon Microphone at the New York City AES (Audio Engineering Society) Exhibits October, 2009. Designed to be a cross between a more afforda... Read more

Ribbon Microphone Wizard Wes Dooley introduces the world to the new A840 Active Ribbon Microphone at the New York City AES (Audio Engineering Society) Exhibits October, 2009. Designed to be a cross between a more affordable A440 Active Big Ribbon Mic (AEA's other active ribbon, also the quietest and most detailed ribbon microphone ever produced, but with a $5k price tag), and the R84 affordable ribbon (that sounds incredibly warm and smooth but requires tremendous preamp gain, this new A840 is destined to be a tremendous success... it's street price is designed to be well under 2-grand. Loads of detail, dynamic range (high SPL of 141 dB and low self noise of 17.5 dB), and the famous AEA ribbon sound will make this extremely versatile and user friendly even on acoustic instruments where it's tougher to make traditional ribbons operate. Hugely wide frequency response add to the fact that this microphone is going to be versatile accross the studio and orchestra. Call Sound Pure toll free at 888-528-9703 to discuss ordering one, or any questions you might have, or try sales@soundpure.com. Members of the Sound Pure Sales team are also experienced professional recording engineers that are glad to lend their sales experience with any of their prospective customers. Please give us a call, we are here to help!

From AEA

For those without access to an ideal preamp, AEA offers the Active R84A (formerly known as the A840), a premium version of the R84 complete with JFET electronics and the same custom transformer used in our active R44. It’s basically an R84 with a built-in preamp.

The active R84A mic retains the same sonic character of the R84, but with an additional 12dB of output and a stable impedance. This gives a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps, including those found in audio interfaces for personal computers. This is great for on-the-road musicians who might have to use a different preamp each night.

The extra 12db of output is vital when recording quiet sources like vocals or soft acoustic guitars. The active circuitry also prevents noise interference on long cable runs or when operating near large lighting rigs. The R84A’s active circuitry requires standard 48-volt phantom power to operate. The premium R84A also flaunts an 18-karat, gold-plated grille.

Operating Principle
Pressure gradient transducer
Directional Pattern
Bidirectional
Frequency Range
<20 Hz to >20 kHz
Polarity
Pin 2 high for positive pressure on front of microphone
Polar Response
Native bidirectional, figure-of-8 pattern
Horizontal
Up to 90 dB rejection at right angles to the front/back axis.
Vertical
Level changes with angle of incidence, but frequency response is consistent.
Transducer Element Material
Pure aluminum corrugated ribbon
Thickness
1.8 µm
Width
0.185 in (4.7 mm)
Length
2.35 in (59.7 mm)

Microphone Dimensions

Height
11.6 in (29.5 cm)
Width
3.9 in (9.9 cm)
Depth
2.5 in (6.4 cm)
Weight with cable
3 lb (1.36 kg)
Shipping Weight
4 lb (1.8 kg)
Connector
XLR-3M

R84A

Maximum SPL
141 + dB SPL (1% third harmonic > 1 kHz)
Sensitivity
6.3 mV/Pa (-44 dBv/Pa) into unloaded circuit
Output Impedance
92 Ω broadband
Recommended Load Impedance
1.0K Ω or greater
Phantom Power
P48 phantom power, 7 mA

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

Not eligible for Try Before You Buy or the 48-hour approval period. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

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