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CardioidElectro-Voice RE20

Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

The RE20 is an industry-standard large-diaphragm dynamic microphone, used worldwide on applications ranging from broadcast/VO to kick drum.

It uses Electro-Voice’s patented Variable D design to control the microphone’s proximity effect. This allows the microphone to be used very close to a source without losing clarity, as can happen to other microphones due to the increase of bass response from proximity effect.

Electro-Voice

A true cardioid microphone, the RE20 offers greatest rejection at 180° off axis — directly to the rear of the microphone. Pattern control is so consistent that the frequency response is nearly independent of angular location of the sound source, creating virtually no off-axis coloration, yet providing greatest possible rejection of unwanted sounds.

A switch on the mic body provides a high-pass filter, aka a “bass tilt-down switch,” which drops the low-frequency response by approximately 2.25dB/octave below 400Hz. (By comparison, the HPF on most studio condensers operates at a lower range but more aggressively, -3 to -6dB/octave below 75-150Hz.)

The Electro-Voice RE20 and Electro-Voice PL-20 microphones are identical. The PL series was simply a rebranding of selected RE-series models.

Unlike the newer broadcast dynamics, the RE27N/D and RE320, the RE20 does use an output transformer.

In a blind listening test, the RE20 was crowed the winner of the Ultimate Podcast Mic Shootout.

The Electro-Voice RE20 is also known as: RE-20, PL20, PL-20.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!
RE20 Cardioid Frequency Response Chart
Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (1.5 mV/Pa; 45 - 18,000 Hz)
  • Filter: HPF: -2.25dB/oct @ 400Hz (Via Switch)
Coil Diameter Impedance SPL/Noise
n/a 150 Ohms (Low) SPL n/a
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
737g (26.00oz) 217mm (8.54'') 54mm (2.13'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications

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