AUDIO-TECHNICA AT4080 

Phantom-powered bidirectional ribbon mic

Audio-Technica mics deliver the coveted ribbon mic sound while eliminating fragility and low-output issues. Weighing in at the upper end of the company’s price spectrum, the AT4080 makes for a great addition to any mic vault. This phantom-powered dual ribbon design features plenty of output impedance, making it a great match for your favorite microphone preamp. The figure-eight pattern picks up sound from the front and rear lobes of the mic while canceling those to the side, and the real magic of this mic lies in its ability to blend in warm room tones via the rear lobe. We found the bottom end to be plush, mids warm and the highs crisp but not harsh.

–Doug Doppler

Audio-Technica.com