It's a great tube but it's overly bright and has a hard time sitting in a mix without processing.with the right voice this absolutely knocks any tube out the park and does wonders . Nothing less than pure magic but again this is meant for specific voices .

I've had this mic for 10 years and it's really terrific. It seems that everything that's in front of it sounds great. When I a/b different great mics, it just wins. I use a UA tube pre amp and the 2 together are peanut butter and jelly. Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar amps, voice-over, room mic for drums and percussion instruments are my main uses.

It's gone up a bit in price (as has everything) but I think it's worth it.

Funny story- Sweetwater sent me 3 condenser mics to try out (all half the cost of the Manley) and my sales rep tossed this one into the group that I requested.
I tried them all and the Manley won hands down. It was more than I wanted to spend but he told me he thought that might happen but said I would not regret spending more - down the road. He was correct!

Ive been a music producer for several years now and I've used all the vocal microphones you can think of. This microphone along with a great preamp will give your vocals the extra punch it needs. I am pairing this microphone with a rupert neve newton channel strip and omg it's amazing. This mic will also make mixing vocals so much easier because by the time you start mixing you barely have to so anything. Nothing beats tube microphones so do yourself a favor and buy this mic.

This is about the newest version of The Manley Reference Microphone…I did replace the tube with a Gold Lion 12xa7! I love that tube when buying anything new! I've done tons of tube test and that's the best I can recommend! I use 3 Vocal Mics…the Manley Replaced a Stam Audio SA47 because I felt it sounded better! I still use Stam Audio SA87 and a Sure KSM44 for certain things but the Manley usually wins the battle…The sound comes out polished not much needed in the mix! I have a deeper voice…You have to find a mic that fits your voice the best And I feel I've found that with the Manley! Thank You to the women at Manley you did a wonderful job making this Microphone! I never imagined spending this much on a Microphone but when you hear the difference it well worth it….can you get by with a cheaper Mic like a KSM 44 yea sure it's just not quite as good! I use that mic for different back up vocals! If I wanna sound like Pearl Jam or Sound Garden I use SA 87! But for the most of any type of song It's the Manley…it's a very clear Mic you hear everything better! I would definitely tell you to get a Distressor with it…look for the best setting on YouTube and you are set! This Microphone is Amazing! Best of Luck hope this helps you!

This microphone is AMAZING!! Once you hear what it brings to your ears, you will wonder why you waited so long the get it.

Everything is subjective when it comes to sound and all I can say IMO. Plenty of microphones live upto or even surpass this microphone.
I would not recommend this microphone; the tube has an expected 6 month lifespan.

First off, the mic looks like a super high quality piece of gear, capable of super performance. After using the mic for about a year on all of my personal vocals exclusively, the mic started to produce quite a bit of self noise and the occasional crackle. My signal chain includes a VoxBox preamp going direct to an RME Fireface 800. I called Manley, and although they tried to help, they would not cover the mic under warranty. Manley sold me a new Mic Grade Tube. I installed the tube and I still had the same problem. One thing that changed between tubes was the overall tone of the mic. The new tube sounded cold in comparison to the old tube. I started digging deeper and found that the actual circuit board was not making a good ground contact. After correcting that problem, the mic no longer made noise. I was still unimpressed with the performance of the mic. I had other less expensive mics that reproduced better "air". To summarize, being that my mic was the less expensive of the three offered by Manley, I felt that the internal assembly and the overall tone of the mic was not up to par with other less expensive models. That said, it looks cool in videos and photos. Would I purchase another one? maybe not.

I bought this microphone after hearing NF and Russ use it. Being an engineer and artist that makes similar style music with a similar cadence I figured it would be perfect. When I used this microphone (I tried about 10 different pre's) I found the sibilance to be an absolute nightmare despite mic placement or mix. If you are using this for yourself and you find yourself to be sibilant, avoid this microphone. It's not for you. That being said. It sounds absolutely stunning on my Gibson acoustic guitar, out of this world, detailed and full of life. However, vocals in the 8-12k range is just gross. I hated it and sent it back for a Lauten 386. Best of luck to all shoppers :)

This is the best vocal mic I've used. Better than a u87 in my opinion. With the right eq settings the u87 can be similar, but this has that bright, but not harsh modern sound from the start. If you want warm, smooth, detailed modern vocals, look no further!

Shoutout to Patrick Lantz for guidance. I have been Maki g music for many years and this year I have fully committed to the craft and decided that certain basic tools do in fact make a difference. The Manley ref mic and Neve DOX mic pre have totally changed the game in both recording clarity and energy of recording vocals. Looking forward to a very productive 2022, thanks Sweetwater!

I've recorded several albums of mine with many hit songs on about every mic. This is hands down the best mic I've used. I bought mine last year and I use it regularly both live and studio.

Thanks to Rob Amaral! Best Sweetwater Sales Engineer hands down! Great advice!
I had to wait about a month for this mic! What a hit! This mic makes all the difference! Huge upgrade in sound and detail! Love Eva Anna and the team over there at Manley! Next, VOXBOX!

I've been recording, mixing, and mastering Hip-Hop since 2010 and have used plenty of microphones. I've used this microphone at two different professional recording studios. When I got the session back from the first studio, I wasn't that impressed. The vocals sounded thin, brittle, and harsh, especially on the top end. I thought maybe the sound engineer didn't know what he was doing. When I got the session back from the second studio, the same result.

I know all the hype that surrounds this microphone but don't fall for it. $ for this microphone is a rip-off. There are way better options at this price point and under. Check out the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387. Half the price but just as good.

I've gotten better results with the Samson C01 paired with my Neve Shelford Channel. I'm not joking.

The only thing I really like about this microphone are the looks.

LOVED THIS MIC

It's hard to describe anything different than most engineers have already stated. Also,I usually don't write reviews, but this mic is a game changer for me!
I was just about finished tracking vocals on a hard rock track for a client using another quality condenser microphone, when this gem arrived at the studio door. We only had a breakdown section to finish with vocals which I thought, what the heck, it's a totally different section (happens 1x in song), let's plug The Manley mic into the Chandler TG2 and give it a go.
WoW!! The breakdown section came to life! It put the vocals up front and so in your face the way I love rock vocals.
This mic required absolutely no eq on the way in, just a touch of the distressor to even out the vocal performance. The singer and band were so blown away, they have requested to retrack the rest of the song. It's that great! As I stated, this mic is a game changer!
I can't thank Bob Furlong and Sweetwater enough for the superb customer service.

I have to be honest when I first got this microphone I wasn't that impress. To me it was a nice mic but nothing special compared to my other high end mics. So I thought about seriously Returning it. So I decided to let the tube warm up for 24 hours. All I have to say is wow!!!!!! Oh my goodness. This truly is the closest thing to the Sony c800g. The Sony may be a 1/4 of a inch better if that. But I seriously doubt if you could even tell. This mic has super high end all over it. If you want that finished vocal sound. Look no further but of course you need a well treated room and a decent pre wouldn't hurt. But this mic is superb

Always thought the higher priced mics... we're just bull and so not worth the price tag but then this happened.. Finally just said screw it and bit the bullet paid full price and glad i did! just had to see what all the hype was all about..Literally just got this mic the other day and i am absolutely loving it! I mean as soon as i plugged it into my Manley Core, pressed record and played it back with just a light preset.. I was blown away!!! Have used plenty microphones over the years but nothing even comes close to this baby! Hands down the best mic i've ever owned or let alone used.. Would for sure buy again.. If your thinking about buying the Manley Reference just get it!

Idk maybe the competition in this price range is stiff. I have a Mojave ma 1000, a chandler limited the, and a Lauren audio eden. The Manley is nice but to me it's nothing special. Maybe I am spoiled Because of the mics I have are so great. But I know this is sacrilege manley really didn't impress me

I'm probably rewriting all the reviews that have already been published, but it's worth saying that this mic is definitely worth the money. The signal is quiet, crisp, clear, and it reproduces exactly what you put in front of it. It's nice and airy without the over-exaggerated "shimmer" of something like a U87. It's a well rounded frequency response that picks up every nuance of the source. It's made in America by Americans, and it will be my first choice for vocals, acoustic guitar, and most likely some other instruments I have yet to try it with.

First off I have to give a big thanks, love, and appreciation to my Sales Engineer Nick Beach. Nick Displayed profound professionalism and consistent help for anything I needed.
Now for the Manley, I use it strictly for vocals, and it has been worth every penny. I used to have a Neumann U87ai which is also a great versatile microphone but I sold it because their is just no comparison. The vocals just sit on top of the mix, every syllable is perfectly articulate, it is amazing and sometimes unbelievable to hear. It's made my life easier. The ability to record smooth and 3D vocal tracks. I've been chasing that ability for a long time, experimenting with mics, placement, preamps, etc. and this one was automatic. I have it permanently chained into a Neve 1073 and I will NEVER sell them. I can't say enough good things about this mic. If you're going for the bright, sparkly, clear, in your face type vocal sound that fits perfectly in modern pop, R&B, Rap, Gospel, Country, EDM and sometimes rock productions, it's really hard to go wrong with Manley Reference C. There's a reason it's popular. In the low range, the sound is rather precise and round. The sound is deep enough and clear. In the mid-range and the higher frequency, the sounds get incredibly detailed (which is also related to the mic"s high sensitivity) with a good bunch of brilliance and air – but in a very positive way. Indeed, the sound never gets harsh, is just a sort of a smooth lift.

First off I have to give a big thanks, love, and appreciation to my Sales Engineer Nick Beach. Nick Displayed profound professionalism and consistent help for anything I needed.
Now for the Manley, I use it strictly for vocals, and it has been worth every penny. I used to have a Neumann U87ai which is also a great versatile microphone but I sold it because their is just no comparison. The vocals just sit on top of the mix, every syllable is perfectly articulate, it is amazing and sometimes unbelievable to hear. It's made my life easier. The ability to record smooth and 3D vocal tracks. I've been chasing that ability for a long time, experimenting with mics, placement, preamps, etc. and this one was automatic. I have it permanently chained into a Neve 1073 and I will NEVER sell them. I can't say enough good things about this mic. If you're going for the bright, sparkly, clear, in your face type vocal sound that fits perfectly in modern pop, R&B, Rap, Gospel, Country, EDM and sometimes rock productions, it's really hard to go wrong with Manley Reference C. There's a reason it's popular. In the low range, the sound is rather precise and round. The sound is deep enough and clear. In the mid-range and the higher frequency, the sounds get incredibly detailed (which is also related to the mic"s high sensitivity) with a good bunch of brilliance and air – but in a very positive way. Indeed, the sound never gets harsh, is just a sort of a smooth lift.

Before I bought the mic, I was skeptical. I got the mic and everything changed. Now I'm a believer. It's now my favorite mic.

This mic is top notch, I use it a lot on acoustic guitar paired with my manley core.

Let me start by saying that I'm a recording and mixing engineer and a small commercial studio owner who records strictly Hip Hop and R&B vocals. I've always ran my microphones through an SSL mic pre from my SSL Nucleus, which has the same mic pres in it that they have in their huge Duality desks. I started my craft using a Blue Baby Bottle, then upgraded to a Neumann TLM103, then upgraded to a Neumann U87ai and while I felt those were all fairly significant upgrades from one another (for most of the voices I work with), I was still never really "blown away" by ANY of them... hence, the reason why I continued searching for another upgrade. I was starting to consider changing my preamp to be honest, but advice and opinions from some very professional people lead me down the path of trying the Manley Ref C out first. I just finished mixing down my first job off this mic and I am literally "blown away" by the sound I was able to get from an artist I've worked with a dozen times before. It's night and day compared to anything I've ever used on him in the past. NIGHT and DAY. It sounds SO GOOD, that for the past 3 days of mixing this song down, it's been all I can think about. I fall asleep at night thinking about this song. I wake up in the morning thinking about this song. 3 days straight, all I can think about is how good I was able to get these vocals to sound. Yes, right out of the box this mic sounds fantastic as they say, but during and after mixing the vocals, is when you'll truly hear how amazing this microphone is. I'm feeling like a 39 year old little kid this week. SO HAPPY! Let it warm up for 45 minutes before recording. #boom #mindblown

I own several great mics for recording VO. My Manley Reference Cardioid is the flagship. It has a wonderfully silky, rich sound. I've owned several tube mics including some U47 clones, but the Manley is the one I kept. Deeply rich without sounding muddy. Nice airy high end without sounding sibilant. I highly recommend this mic!

Clean, Clear, In your face, yet nuanced and detailed. This thing is a real workhorse for pop vocals. If you're going for that bright pop vocal sound that cuts through a dense mix like a knife through butter, this mic will get you there with ease. It's wonderful to track vocals while hearing what sounds pretty darn close to a finished vocal sound in your ears. When I'm mixing vocals tracked with this thing, it's more about subtle enhancements than trying to find the right sound. The mic is very sensitive to room treatment and background noise, but minor adjustments to my space and using blankets draped over mic stands did the trick for me. It's also wonderful on acoustic guitar and percussion.

If you're not ready to spend around $10k on a mic and you'll be shooting for a modern vocal sound a lot of the time, you should consider Manley Ref C.

The Ref C was my first "big kid" microphone. I purchased it because I know it had been used on a bunch of top 40 hits. But to say that it sounds "expensive" is an understatement. I love the detail and size it gives vocals. Paired with my RND mic pre and a distressor, it's my go-to vocal chain. It also excels at acoustic guitar and even as a mono overhead on drums (would love to get a second one day to do stereo overs)

This mic has a very modern and hi-fi sound. It is bright but not harsh. The smoothness of this mic is Manley signature (I've used the Manley Core). I'd describe the smoothness as the surface of a piece of metal. It is not the most natural and neutral sounding mic but the sound is desirable in modern music. This has been used by many name artists and producers. I do RnB and Pop but I think this mic is great for Rap vocals as well. I would pair this with a warm tube pre like the Fearn to make it sound more natural and get the almost perfect sound. With a solid state pre, it still sounds cool but can be too modern for some. In most situations, this is a top mic.

Incredibly buy this microphone recommended by one of the recording engineers that I admire most of my country, Ariel Lavigna, who uses one and recommended me to make the purchase when I was buying a passive massive manley .. I indicated that my chain still needed reinforcement in the vocal microphone, and that's how I bought the reference c, a microphone that at the first use, I honestly believed could not integrate it into my work, but with the passing of the days each time I could not stop using it simply because anything you record with the cobra its own dimension in the mix and it remains with a three-dimensional definition and a sonic fullness that really few teams or microphones managed to give me. is a microphone that I use a lot in drums, rooms, acoustic guitar voices all kinds of re-recording almost happened to be my first-hand condenser microphone, and honestly I'm already evaluating acquiring a new unit because I want to see them in action as Oh in a battery .. sincerely whoever buys this microphone have the investment insured as well as the audio solved.

The best mic Ive ever owned. I wish other people didnt know about it. Point Blank!
You can hear its magic as soon as you hear your voice through it...Of course theres a pre fav for this mic which you should have but i found 2 more options and i swap between the 3. The only advantage I have at this point lol. Owned it for about 4 years. Have not thought about replacing it once! Just added more pre options.

I own quite a few very good microphones, but had never really been willing to take the chance on the Manley Microphones. Having said that, I decided to bite the bullet this year, and go all out. I picked up this Microphone, along with a pair of Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channels, and a Manley Voxbox, which are all routed into an Antelope Audio Goliath HD. See my review of the Goliath HD for details on that.

My voice is that of an operatic lyric tenor. Loud-at 90 db. A low of D2 to a high of F5. It makes for a challenge to get a clean take, even with the -10 db switch engaged where you have that option. I also do a lot of loud rock in the vein of Layne Staley, or Bon Scott. I put this microphone through both of the preamp channel strips and was able to dial in some amazing tones, but dead flat was the best overall outcome.

The Manley Reference Cardioid is forward, clear, very clean, and nearly a perfect microphone. In all of the tests I have thrown at this thing, it has been truly remarkable. You'd be hard pressed to find a Microphone that does a better job at capturing the truth of your voice. The self noise is very low, despite a tube design, and the capsule is well suited for the circuit design, despite being a chinese capsule. In many of the online reviews or comments I have seen, people who have never actually used the Microphone are highly critical of this aspect of the microphone, but honestly, it isn't a negative. It is well chosen, and well matched to the circuit. In recording acoustic guitars, it sparkles, and yet, is honest. It sounds so close to what you ear hears at shoulder height, that you are smiling as soon as playback begins. ...it might seem a little pricey to some, but given that the Microphone is the first step in your recording chain, and everything else is at the mercy of that signal, you can buy this Microphone with confidence. If you find you don't much care for it, a tube swap is an easy mod to make, and many report warmer character with a Telefunken tube swap. For my purposes, this Mic is already as good as it needs to be. Other reviewers have said this Microphone is so good that all you need to add is talent. That is true. I have found that dead flat EQ, and very mild compression is really all you need to capture a vocal that sits in the mix with warmth, depth, and clarity. That is an awful lot of bang for the buck in my book.

For Vocals, I have thrown rock, opera and traditional irish tenor stuff at it, and it sounds marvelous. No post treatment required. It's just a truly great microphone. Kudo's to EveAnna Manley's team, and the fine folks at Sweetwater for helping me get a recording rig that is truly "radio ready" without a lot of work.

I do voice overs for television and have alway been a Neumann partisan. I like the Sennheiser MK 416 also but this mic which I"ve had my ey on for nearly a year blows them all away...including the Neumann M149 Tube. The Manley is connected to a Focusrite ISA 430 and the first thing I noticed is that it needed little or no EQ at all. Right out of the box it sounded terrific. I had to adjust the input, had to kick in the -10db pad on the Manley too because this one is loud. It has a vibrant low end and sparkling mid and higher range also. In my line of work you need every tool possible to succeed and stand out and the Manley Reference Cardiod gets it done. I would assume it pretty great for singers too. I can"t recommend this enough. Oh, and it looks really terrific too...which is a bonus. Pictures don"t really do it justice. In person it"s a big "un. Get one today.

I purchased this mic to record various voice over projects, and let me tell you...it's something. Everything you've read about this this beauty is true (I had no idea my voice could sound THIS good). The sound it captures is gritty, highly detailed, and very present. It also has a great low end that's enhanced by a solid (but not over the top) proximity effect, and a nearly "finished" aesthetic that holds up extremely well to eq, heavy compression, etc. Prepare to fall in love.

In order to get the best out of this mic, you absolutely must use it in a properly treated room. It will pick up every every ounce of room ambience, outdoor noise, etc.

Hi everyone,

Let me start off by saying that I own a Sony c800g (for 5 years now) and it's a wonderful mic. The Manley Reference doesn't sound like the c800g, and here's why.

The Sony is a more 3D, brighter, more mid pronounced mic. It's unforgiving when it comes to singing, meaning that you have to be really good! Also, if your room isn't optimal, the c800g will let you know right away.

Are these qualities that you'd want in a mic? Yes and no. I use it with a Chandler REDD and Tubetech Cl1b and it makes the vocals cut right through a mix, but sometimes it's too bright, too 3D, and it can be challenging yet rewarding because you gotta force yourself to be a better singer.

The Manley Ref C is a little bit bass heavier, not as bright as the c800g, not as mid rangy either, and less 3D sounding and has more output (with the -10db pad it's about the same as the c800g). The thing is, these are actually great qualities! It doesn't pick up the room as much, and in my opinion, I'm a better singer singing through the Manley Ref C as I can hear my pitch better, probably because it has less air than the c800g. The Manley Ref C is a way more balanced mic. Reminds me of a duller sounding Elam 251 (also another daunting mic).

The reality is, the Ref C, Sony c800g and u87 have been on countless hit songs, along with the u47, u67, 251, Blue bottle Microphone etc.

Ref C, pretty much anything by Kesha, a few Katy Perry songs (as I know they used the Korby Kat too), Shania Twain, Mike Posner (Pill In Ibiza) etc, it's used on a lot of hits! There's probably a lot of artists that I'm forgetting but in my opinion, if you want a mic that's no nonsense, this is it, and it's a lot less expensive than a c800g or 251. I'm planning to get one. It's a great mic to combine with the c800g.

No, it doesn't do the air that's on the c800g and that's ok, it doesn't have to. Many times, it's too much! The fact that the c800g is treble heavy can make it less upfront sounding in a mic than the Ref C. Ref C is also easier to edit when it comes to mouth clicks etc, because I swear, the c800g picks up way too much! The editing time that I save alone is worth it.

Also, I recommend the Manley Ref C over the u87ai for vocals. The Ref C would work on way more voice than the c800g as the Sony mic is a 1 trick pony, but when it works it's amazing. Also, another mic to consider is the Rode K2 with a Telefunken Tube, it's surprisingly good.

I have been using the u87 for a while now and I started doing my vocals on Neumann microphones. They always have been very good sounding microphones efficient, clear and a pleasure to work with when doing vocals. I have a very deep voice (I do hip hop, r and b and pop) many singers that I would bring into the studio to do vocals would also do there vocals on the u87 with no issues.

Last night I had the chance to track a song with the Manley reference C, the studio we're I used the microphone had swapped out the normal capsule with another one that they said sounded fantastic, and they had A and B with a Sony c800g Dr Dre favorite microphone and the only thing he dose vocals on. The engineer knew I was coming so he turned on the microphone way before and let the tube warm up. Let me just say that I have found my new favorite microphone!!! It sounded so clean, so great on my voice I felt like a studio beast!!! Can I say I love this microphone ??? I adore it!!! The senior engineer had told me that with the capsule switch it wasent worth it to get the c800g since the Manley came so close to the c800g in terms of sound and quality, I still have not tried the c800g but I believe him!! This is honestly my new favorite microphone I have gotten great results from the u87 but for me this is the one now just awesome!! This microphone is worth every penny, every red cent!!

I've used a few large diaphragm condenser microphones in my time for lead vocals, for mostly hip-hop but also some pop, R&B and rock music. I've also used a few different preamps, both tube and solid state. I've used a Soundelux U195, a Blue Baby Bottle, a (medium diaphragm) Blue Spark, the (relatively obscure) JJ Audio Dutch M251, an ADK CS-67 L (probably my favorite for that "old school smooth color" sound). I've used them all variously with a UA LA-610 preamp, the built in pre's on a BLA modified Signature Series Digi 003r and an APA Juggernaut Twin.

I will not go so far as to say the Manley "blows them all away". But I will say this. If your acoustics are on point (it is incredibly detailed, it WILL pick up a boxy room), this microphone will give you that modern "pop" sound on lead vocals that you've heard on countless records. I realize this statement is somewhat of a cliche when it comes to this mic, but some cliches are repeated for a reason.

Aside from the aforementioned detail, it also imparts an almost imperceptible smoothness and color at the same time. And cutting through the mix is the easiest it has ever been for me with this mic. I've only used it so far with the Juggernaut Twin, and to my ears it sounds best with the Iron transformers engaged as opposed to the nickel, but to each his own. (My ADK CS-67 L sounds better with the nickel transformers, as it imparts so much sweet color on its own.) As far as its specific "character", it's almost like the same openness/airiness that the M251 has, but with just a bit of the "*****" and/or color that the CS-67 L has.

I read all the reviews on this mic and decided I have to try it out for myself and I was BLOWN AWAY.
The hype is real and if you are looking for that polished pop vocal sound out of the box, I HIGHLY recommend the Manley Reference microphone.
This mic has an excellent build quality with a sleek design and sounds amazing on every instrument.
If you have the money and can afford the investment, BUY IT. You will not be disappointed in this mic and the money is definitely worth the quality!

Cheers!

There's just no way to get the detail, clarity, presence, and warmth you hear on the vocals of every well produced song, unless you have a mic that can deliver those qualities. There's no way to add those qualities after the fact. Once the detail is lost it can't be artificially recreated. Nobody would ever be disappointed in this mic.

All I can say about this microphone is WOW! Brought it home immediately hooked it up and opened up a session. Myself and the artist were in awe. I should have made a professional upgrade like this ages ago! This mic is paired with my Manley Core what an amazing combo. I have a dynamic Duo now. Now all i have to do is add the UA Apollo 8p to my arsenal and I will have a Big Three in my signal chain! You can never go wrong with anything Manley!!!!!

This is one of the best microphones I have ever used. With a clean pre, there is clarity, clean, detailed top end and a touch of smoothness. You can obtain a modern pop vocal sound pretty quickly. This mic is. It a colored tube mic but one that is more subtle in a good way.
Use a more colored pre from Manley, API, or Neve, and you can obtain a rounder tone with a little less sparkle on top. Great shockmount and of course it looks amazing. Highly recommend if your looking for a higher end tube microphone that does not have that shrill top end that many tube mics have that are under $2,000. No mic will be the best for every application or voice, but this o e fits the bill on many vocal and acoustic guitars tracks I have tried.

I'm a pop singer/songwriter with a project studio. I was torn between a Bock 251 and this mic. I couldn't quite get my budget up to the $4200 needed for the Bock. I heard good things about this mic. I purchased it--did some vocals and I am sincerely, sincerely blown away. It's clear, present, and for a guy like me, who is frightened to death of EQ'ing things, I really don't have to add much. But sounds great on acoustic guitar as well.

I must add, I have a NEUMANN TLM 49 mic, which is a VERY good mic as well. This mic is well worth the $1100 more it cost that the Neumann to get. Nice work Manley!

This mic is amazing! Clear, warm, natural!

This is an exceptionally clean sounding microphone with an exceptionally crisp sound that can hold its own against more expensive microphones costing twice the price.

The real magic happens when you mate this Microphone to the right PRE AMP.

A mic like this needs a good mic pre amp and there are several to choose from.

I happened to purchase the Presonus ADL 600(Anthony Demaria) series and the results could not be better.

This mic has a high SPL rating of 150 so if you need to, belt into it and marvel how it just takes it in and makes you sound great!

When I received mine Manley was offering a 5-year warranty as an incentive to register it. An added bonus to a superbly built microphone.

A lot of singers and voice over people use this microphone for its unmatched clarity and being a tube design, the digital harshness is void.

If you are looking for a super big buck microphone sound, just mate this to a good tube pre amp and let the magic happen. Granted $2700.00 is not a drop in the bucket, but with this baby you are actually getting more quality than what you are paying for.

For voice over artists this is the same microphone that the late Don Lafontaine used to record all those movie trailers.
He became famous for his phrase “IN A WORLD”

For this man money was no object as he himself admitted he had made millions from voicing trailers, so money was not a factor and he went for the Manley Ref. He could have easily spent 20 grand on a mic, but he went for the Manley Reference Tube.

Is there a 20 grand Mic, probably somewhere in the world.

The pre Amp you choose is just as important as the microphone you choose. I recently joined this Microphone with a PreSonus ADL-600 Anthony DeMaria pre amp. This Pre amp is worth looking into. The Manley mates well with this Pre Amp and delivers a clean crisp sound that you can play with and color in any fashion you want using your plug ins on your DAW.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely! Even if the capsule is made in China, the result is the sound you are going to get.

I never thought I'd say this but I've fallen in love with my new Manley Mic! The sound right out of the box is sooooo clear without any eq'ing. I mean I'm so excitiing to have finally purchased a industry level microphone which will only help add to the quality that I've always wanted coming from my studio! The music industry has changed so much for private studio owners who want to be taken serious in an already deluged industry. If you want to make sure your work is not being overlooked you have to make sure the quality of your music isn't in question! Thanks Manley for making this mic.............I'm now the talk in my town amongst the other studio owners in town!!

....for this mic.
This has been my go-to vocal mic for close to 15 years. I don't know if it's possible to get any more "real" then this mic. It sound's good on just about every type of singer you will run across. My usual vox chain goes from the Ref mic to a VoxBox to a Vari-Mu, and not that I'm a Manley fan-boy, just not sure how it can get any better then that 99% of the time.
It shines on acoustic for me also. If I could only have one mic this would be it.

this mic sounds amazing on vocals. it is a perfect complement to my u87. it has a very open, modern, bright but not harsh sound. on my 87 i always have to boost the air up but this gets me there off the bat. i run it through a cl1b and the result is gorgeous. if i were a pop singer, this would be my main mic.

I tried this mic with 3 preamps. Manley TNT, Rupert Neve 517, Avalon VT 737. Both sides of the Manley gave this mic a very high distorted silbiance even at low volumes at impedance 600 and 2000. Could not get it to work well. The 517 was way better providing a smooth clear transparent sound at a high output. The Avalon came out better than expected. The low output and warm sound added to the ability to shape the sound with the eq actually made the mic and ch strip shine. My conclusion to this is that this mic will work much better with a ch strip than with a straight preamp. I gave it this rating because there is no reason for this mic to have a made in China capsule at the price range it's selling. Makes me wonder if the slogan "made in Chino not China" is really true.

It always depends on who's the one behind the mix...But Capture is the MOST important number one task on my list for this fair price...I say MANLEY REFERENCE MICROPHONE...Vocal chain must be unique...this mic belongs with a great chain... in our case its hooked up to a Rupert Neve Portico and its only blissful excellence in capture...Very crisp, clean vocals with enough grit to stick to any pop, rock or retro production...Hands down Manley!! Love at first Listen...

Simply the best........hands down

This is a good microphone, especially for those who love
sand vocals ...
open and bright ... good for pop and rock music ...
even a little harsh ... but not too ...
use it for a year with focusrite ISA One
sound nice ...
but the price is too high ... and it's a shame