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CardioidAudix SCX-25

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The SCX-25 is a fixed-cardioid, large-diaphragm FET condenser mic in an unusually compact lollipop style.

The amplifier circuit is transformerless, and utilizes surface-mount components (SMCs).

The mic capsule is a center-terminated, large-diaphragm (25mm) design, and is shockmounted in the form-fitting headbasket; it is suspended by four short elastic cords. The diaphragm is made of gold-sputtered 5-micron Mylar.

Scott Dorsey

It’s a Chinese U87-clone capsule, but in a lollipop mounting arrangement and with conventional and fairly clean transformerless electronics.

SoundOnSound

I was impressed with the isolation from mechanical vibrations achieved by the Audix mic. Far better than the [Microtech-Gefell] M930, and very similar to the performance of the shockmounted Sennheiser [MKH40] and Neumann [TLM103] mics.

The microphone body, made of brass, measures 21mm in diameter; any clip or shockmount that fits a 21mm body will fit the SCX-25. The lollipop head measures 51mm in diameter, and is 23mm thick.

The headbasket is constructed of a single, but tightly woven layer of metal mesh.

MIX

These minimalist head grilles result in the SCX-25 having a very open sound, because the capsule is more accessible to fragile transients. Also, because sound doesn’t get trapped inside the housing as much as with more formidable head grilles, the off-axis response is nowhere near as phase-y as many other large-diameter condensers.

Reviewers report that the mic exhibits little proximity effect, but that a pop screen is a requirement for use on vocals. The mic’s pattern control was not widely praised — references to the mic picking up room sound generally refer to what SoundOnSound characterized as “poor cardioid shape across the entire range.”

The mic shipped with a nylon mic clip (p/n MC1), a Cordura pouch (p/n P1), and a foam-lined wooden storage case (p/n CC5).

It sold for MSRP $799 in 2002, and was built in the US. (It is not known whether the currently-shipping version, the SCX-25A, is still built in the US.)

The ‘A’ revision (see sidebar link) appeared first in the company’s 2005 retail catalog.

Electronic Musician

Except for some seriously high-dollar microphones, the SCX-25 is one of the best mics I have used to record piano.

ProAudioReview, 2002

Although $799 is not considered a lot of money for a condenser microphone, recordings of the Audix SCX-25 revealed a definite high-end sound. On my ‘73 Martin D-35 Martin, a guitar with a brighter-than-normal Martin top end, the Audix’s imparted a touch of high end sheen that made its recording sound very natural. The perceived presence was very pleasing to the ear. It was not a harsh high-mid/low treble enhancement, but a smooth kind of presence that added warmth and shimmer to the guitar.

MIX

The SCX-25 had noticeably more self-noise [than a Neumann TLM-103] when adjusted for equal gain. At close range, the frequency responses of the SCX-25 and TLM103 were very similar, with the TLM103 having a bit more upper bass or low mids. I could hear a bit more room with the SCX-25, although there were times when I could only tell the two apart by the increased self-noise of the SCX-25…

I took the pair of SCX-25s to Secret Sound near Baltimore for a drum tracking session…

We positioned an SCX-25 overhead next to each AKG 451, about seven feet above the floor, and splayed them out slightly…

The SCX-25s were 4 to 5 dB more sensitive than the 451s. The 451s were very smooth with a more conservative bottom, to the degree that the kick and snare sounded as though they were further away. The SCX-25s were brighter on top, less midrange-y, with a more present kick and snare… I felt that the 451s sounded drier, flatter and more isolated, while the SCX-25s sounded brighter, without being harsh, and with a wider stereo spectrum.

The Audix SCX-25 is also known as: SCX25.

The mic was released in 2001.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!
SCX-25 Cardioid Frequency Response Chart
Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (27 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 25mm
Diaphragm gauge: 5 microns
200 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 135 dB
Self-noise: 14.0 dB(A)
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
221g (7.80oz) 148mm (5.83'') 21mm (0.83'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires phantom power
  • Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v

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