Tube condenser microphones are usually loved for their unique character, even as non-tube (FET) microphones are regularly described as extra correct and are a great deal more popular available on the market today. For all subjective alternatives, there are different major variations among the tube and the FET microphone.
Tube Microphones | FET Microphones | |
Vacuum tube (at least a triode) | Field-effect transistor (often JFET) | |
External power supply units | Phantom power or DC bias voltage | |
More | Less | |
Typically warmer (tube saturation and high-end roll-off) | Typically colder (accurate sound capture) | |
Yes | Sometimes | |
Fragile tube components | More durable solid-state components | |
Very expensive | Less expensive |
Audio Quality
High-quality vacuum tubes and field-effect transistors sound great and help produce excellent audio quality in their microphones.
However, there is much debate about how tube and FET microphones sound different from one another. Let's discuss this briefly here.
In general, tube microphones sound:
Warmer and richer
Larger, Bigger, and more dimensional
Smoother top-end
In general, FET microphones sound:
Detailed, honest, and accurate
Colder and brighter
It's worth noting that not all tube and FET mics produce high-quality audio.
That being said, if a manufacturer is going through the trouble of putting a vacuum tube microphone on the market today, it's likely that they'll do their best to produce a high-quality microphone.
The same cannot be said for FET microphones since FETs are relatively easy and cheaper to manufacture. For instance, the cheap electret mics in consumer electronics have FETs in their design.
Transformer Or Transformer-less?
Audio transformers are sometimes included in the output design of microphones. They act to balance the mic signal, step the voltage (mic signal strength) up or down, adjust the output impedance of the signal to proper levels, and protect the mic from DC voltages like DC bias and phantom power.
Tube microphones always have output transformers.
Step-down transformers are typically designed into tube microphone outputs. These transformers were absolutely necessary when solid-state electronics were not available and are still overwhelming used today.
The step-down transformers drop the impedance to usable levels while also balancing the tube's outputted audio signal at the microphone output. These two steps are necessary for the microphone to output consistent, high-quality audio.
Although tube mics today could opt for transformer-less output circuitries, they by and large do not.
FET microphones sometimes have output transformers.
All early solid-state condensers also had transformers to help balance their outputs and adjust the impedance of their output signal.
Price
Tube microphones are known for their high price points. FET mics include such a wide range of products that their price range mirrors this width.
The price range of tube microphones:
The most expensive condenser and ribbon microphones on the market have tube electronics. Though there are some consumer-grade tube mics on the market for cheap, you'll be looking at at least $500 for an entry-level prosumer tube microphone.
Tube mics, especially the highly sought-after vintage models, command price tags above $10,000!
Active ribbon microphones that feature tube electronics are also quite expensive. The AEA A440, for example, is a whopping $5,800.
Its often troublesome as well as challenging to choose the right microphone for the the desired work. You can always refer to https://mynewmicrophone.com/the-ultimate-microphone-buyers-guide/ by Arthur who is the owner of Fox Media Tech and author of My New Microphone. He's an audio engineer by trade and works on contract in his home country of Canada.
Also, check out latest video review on how to select best mic for your recording requirements by the TheRecordingRevolution.com
Please refer to youtube link as below:
Few of the best handpick mics that are budget friendly but still a power pack!
Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000Hz. Phantom power requirements 48VDC, 2mA typical.
Pickup PatternsPads & FiltersCardioid (20 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
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