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AEA R92

Bidirectional Ribbon Microphone

The R92 is a “large geometry” passive ribbon microphone, with a thin (1.8 micron) aluminum ribbon nearly 60mm in length. It was designed to avoid the proximity effect of many passive ribbon designs, and therefore can be used relatively close to a sound source without excessive low-frequency buildup.

As do most ribbon-mic designs, the R92 has a bidirectional pickup pattern. The front and rear responses are not identical, but rather produce two different tones, termed “crisp” (front) and “smooth” (rear) by the manufacturer.

The R92 is designed with an integral elastic shock mount, featuring a unique mounting system that allows excellent flexibility of mic positioning. The mic ships with a two meter cable and a durable plastic carrying case.

The AEA R92 was part of our $60,000 Ribbon mic shootout.

Pro Audio Review

I’ve been a huge fan of ribbon mics for well over a decade but if anyone ever told me that a ribbon could capture high frequencies the way the R92 captures high frequencies, I would have called them a liar. Before now a frequency response that extends up to 19 kHz was unheard of in a ribbon mic but the R92 has changed that. Its top end is wonderfully pristine. You truly have to hear it to believe it.

EQ Magazine, 2005

[W]hen I plugged the Tele into the Deluxe I was prepared for something nice, but what I got was fantastic. Putting the R92 a little off axis, about 18 inches away from the speaker resulted in a deep, creamy presence without the normally irritating 3.5k brain drill this combo usually exhibits.

MIX, 2005

I’m a pushover for ribbon mics. They are uniquely qualified to bring warmth and pleasure to almost any sound source. With the R92, the extended top and reduced bottom brings something completely new to the mix. And although it sounds decidedly dark when compared to a condenser, it more than makes up for it with personality.

It rounds off transients in true ribbon fashion, adding a naturally compressed sound that flatters even the most strident source. This tendency and its tailored frequency response make the R92 a hands-down winner at close quarters… The R92 — like its forefathers carrying the same engine, the R84 and R98 — is unequaled in its price range.

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Specifications

Frequency Response - BidirectionalClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Bidirectional (1.7 mV/Pa; 20 - 18,000 Hz)

Ribbon Construction	Impedance	SPL/Noise
1.8µm pure aluminum ribbon	270 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 135 dB

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
907g (31.99oz)	191mm (7.52'')	64mm (2.52'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications

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