Ribbon mics are seriously hot. They’ve always been popular among studio pros, of course, but lately, even some home and project studio owners have started to catch the fever. Trust us, nothing will raise temperatures like the 18-carat gold-plated Royer Labs R-122V Vacuum Tube Ribbon Microphone, which combines the warmth of a tube mic with the sweet frequency response of a ribbon mic. The R-122V has an output of -29dB, about 25dB hotter than an R-121, and its ability to withstand high SPLs makes it suitable for applications that were previously considered off-limits to ribbons.
The R-122V’s active electronics utilize a NOS (new old stock) U.S.-built military 6AU6 vacuum tube and Royer’s proprietary toroidal ribbon-matching transformer. A Jensen output transformer with an 8:1 ratio allows the R-122V to drive virtually any preamplifier and handle long cable runs with ease. The R-122V goes through an extensive burning in process to assure proper settling of the vacuum tube. The Royer Labs R-122V ships with a dedicated power supply and a cable set equipped with military-grade locking XLR connectors.
