Golden Age Audio - R1 MKII

The R1 Mk II follows in the tradition of the iconic passive ribbon microphones that have shaped the sound of many historic recordings. Inspired by legendary models such as the RCA 44 and 77, this microphone has been designed to reproduce a realistic, full and particularly musical sound image. Its ribbon operating principle offers a smooth transient response, without aggressive high frequencies, while retaining excellent definition in the midrange.

At the heart of the R1 Mk II is a large-geometry, extremely light and precisely dimensioned pure aluminium ribbon, which captures the slightest dynamic variations with finesse. This design contributes to the typical sonic signature of ribbon microphones: a dense bass, a warm midrange and a natural, never clinical treble. The figure-of-eight directional pattern allows the sound source to be picked up from both front and rear, while effectively rejecting sound from the side, opening the door to a wide range of creative recording techniques.

The R1 Mk II withstands very high sound pressure levels, up to 160 dB SPL, making it perfectly suited to both vocals and powerful sources such as brass instruments, guitar amplifiers, drums or percussion. It comes into its own when combined with a preamplifier with a comfortable gain reserve, such as a 1073 or equivalent preamp, to exploit the full richness of its passive signal.

Whether used in the studio or on stage, the R1 Mk II stands out for its versatility. It's ideal for use with strings, orchestral ensembles, choirs or ambient recordings, but also as a back-up for electric sources when you want a more organic, less shiny texture than with an electrostatic microphone. Its robust construction and careful balancing guarantee long-lasting reliability, true to the spirit of the classic microphones from which it takes its inspiration.