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Sound Pure's Take

I would imagine a majority of user experiences with “budget friendly” large diaphragm condenser mics to be somewhat similar. They provide you with a decent amount of detail, but often have a thin quality that lacks richness and warmth. The Avantone CV-12 was designed to provide the opposite experience and sound while remaining within a very accessible price point, making it one of the best vocal and instrument microphones if you’re working on a budget. 
The CV-12 received a ton of notoriety as the “Taylor Swift mic”, being used on her Speak Now album to achieve a shimmery, rich pop-vocal. I can say after trying it on a handful of sources this application and context is probably the mic’s greatest strength. Being based off of the legendary AKG C12, the CV-12 boasts a similar powerful bottom-end and of course the famous present yet very smooth top-end. That said, it’s no surprise it performs excellently in a modern pop context as a forward yet smooth vocal mic, but don’t view this mic as just a one trick pony. Just like the C12, the CV-12 is an excellent workhorse mic; I loved how it captured the body and shimmer of a rhythm acoustic guitar and as a mono overhead it accentuated the cymbals while its smoothness controlled any brash frequencies and transients. 
All in all, my experience with the CV-12 revealed that the days of only having access to thin, lifeless LDCs while working on a budget are now over. If you're looking for an intimate, modern-voiced microphone with a lush, tube 'sheen', the CV-12 is your mic!

From Avantone Pro

The Avantone “Cabernet (C-series)” mics are designed to offer true professional performance. They will meet or surpass the performance and specifications of much higher priced mics. The CV-12 is truly a gorgeous looking and sounding microphone. The design, character and performance is comparable to some of the fine vintage tube mics of the 1950’s & 1960’s…but at a fraction of their cost!

Our rugged CV-12 microphone body and capsule assembly are precision machined of brass. Aesthetically, it features an elegant Cabernet Wine-Red finish, accented with polished nickel trim and grill. The transformer coupled tube circuitry has its origins in famous European vintage designs. Any studio can proudly offer the CV-12 as a primary vocal mic…It exudes class visually as well as sonically. Manufactured using the finest materials yielding a very solid feel, superb structural integrity and rugged reliability.

The versatile CV-12 mic is able to produce professional results with a warm, pleasing sonic character. The included Custom Retro Shockmount is superb in allowing a precise positioning of the mic while inhibiting the transfer of unwanted vibrations up into the mic. This isolation allows for superior professional results.

Type
Tube-Type True Condenser Microphone
Capsule
Dual-sided 32mm center-terminated gold-sputtered Mylar (6 micron)
Polar Patterns
9 patterns selectable at PS-12 power supply
Frequency Response
20Hz - 20kHz +/- 3dB
Output Impedance
<=250 Ohms / transformer isolated
Maximum SPL
136dB (0.5% THD @1000Hz) 146dB with pad engaged
Equivalent noise level
<17dB
S/N Ratio
78dB
Sensitivity
-35dB
Output Connector
Male XLR 7 pin w/ special power supply & cables
Tube Type
6072A
High-Pass Switch
80 Hz 6dB/octave Switch
Attenuation Switch
-10dB Switch
Power Requirements
dedicated PS-12 Power Supply w/ selectable 115/230 VAC capability
Finish
Polished Nickel trim / Metallic Cabernet Red Body
Weight
.8 kgs / 1.8 lbs
Dimensions
237mm x 46mm / 9.5" x 1.8"

Watch & listen

Avantone CV-12 Multi-Pattern Tube LDC Microphone - Quick n' Dirty

The versatile CV-12 mic is able to produce professional results with a warm, pleasing sonic character. The included Custom Retro Shockmount is superb in allowing a precise positioning of the mic while inhibiting the tran... Read more

The versatile CV-12 mic is able to produce professional results with a warm, pleasing sonic character. The included Custom Retro Shockmount is superb in allowing a precise positioning of the mic while inhibiting the transfer of unwanted vibrations up into the mic. This isolation allows for superior professional results. The CV-12 is truly a gorgeous looking and sounding microphone. The design, character and performance is comparable to some of the fine vintage tube mics of the 1950’s & 1960’s. This mic is available four SoundPure's Try-Before-You-Buy Program, so if you want to hear how it sounds in your studio, shoot us an email at ProAudio@SoundPure.com, or give us a call anytime at 919.682.5552. Thanks for watching!

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Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

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