recordinghacks

Mojave Audio MA-101 FET

Detachable-Capsule Pencil Condenser Microphone

The MA-101 FET is a new pencil microphone designed by David Royer. It combines the FET amplifier circuit of the 201 FET with the small-diaphragm detachable capsule form factor of the MA-100.

The mic ships with Omni and Cardioid capsules, as does the MA-100; in fact, the capsules are compatible with the MA-100. There are no plans for patterns other than Omni and Cardioid at this time.

Both capsules use 20.5mm diaphragms made of 3-micron Mylar. With either, the mic’s self-noise is 14 dBA.

A switch on the circuit board provides a -15dB pad. This is believed to be a non-capacitative pad; it works by cutting the polarization voltage to the capsule. With the pad engaged, the mic’s max SPL (with either Cardioid or Omni capsules) is 140dB.

The mic body flares out to accommodate an oversized Jensen output transformer.

The mic was announced at Winter NAMM 2010.

Everything Audio Network, 2010

This is one of the best “small-diaphragm” solid-state condenser mics I have ever used. For the price, the mic is an incredible performer. No, the stereo pair does not have the “reach” of my 1-micron Stephen Paul-modified Neumann KM-54s, or even of my Royer SF-24 active stereo ribbon mic, but one of those microphones cost much more than a pair of Mojave MA-101fets.

Electronic Musician, 2011

Next to a Neumann KM184 on an open, ringy snare drum, the [MA101-FET] yielded a lot more definition and depth. The Neumann mic sounded hazy by comparison…

As drum overheads, I compared the MA-101s to the tube MA-100s and to the large-diaphragm tube MA-200s, which are arguably my favorite overhead mics. Next to the small-capsule tube 100s, the 101s had an upper-midrange presence that the drummer really liked… Next to the MA-200s, the 101s sounded a little hyped at the top of the midrange, especially as the 200s sound so natural to my ears.

Permalink: Mojave Audio MA-101-FET

The mic was released in 2010.

Specifications

Compatible Capsules
Mojave Audio MA 101 Cardioid 20mm Cardioid capsule Sensitivity: 11.2 mV/Pa CHARTFreq. Resp.: 30 - 18,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | Still In Production Mojave Audio MA 101 Omni 20mm Omnidirectional capsule Sensitivity: 11.2 mV/Pa Freq. Resp.: 30 - 18,000 Hz MSRP: n/a | Still In Production

Pads & Filters	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Pad: -15dB (Via Switch)	550 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 135 dB Self-noise: 14.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
227g (8.01oz)	171mm (6.73'')	28mm (1.10'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48v

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