Roswell Audio Mini K47 Condenser Microphone

Mini K47 Condenser Microphone

The Mini K47 captures the tone of a vintage microphone, with modern performance specifications.

“K47” refers to the capsule design. The capsule in this microphone is modeled after the one in the most famous microphone of all time. It provides a full, balanced tone without any harshness or hype in the upper frequencies. It will record less sibilance and fewer mouth sounds on your next vocal track. It will add weight and body to high strings and electric guitars. It will reduce the jangle in strummed acoustic tracks.

For this microphone, we chose a very clean and transparent circuit design. It lets the sound of the capsule pass through without alteration. Self-noise and distortion performance are on par with microphones costing significantly more. The circuit incorporates the best tricks we’ve learned from modifying and upgrading other companies’ products.

To ensure that every Mini K47 microphone delivers superior performance out of the box, we test them extensively prior to shipping: for polarity, noise, frequency response, and sensitivity. We listen to every microphone before it leaves our facility.

The Mini K47 ships with a swivel mount and padded storage pouch.

FEATURES

• True single-backplate 34mm K47 style capsule
• 3-micron diaphragm
• Ultra-clean transformerless circuit
• Imported, audiophile-grade capacitors
• Heavy, solid steel body

BENEFITS

• Natural, unhyped frequency response
• Enhanced articulation
• Solid, high-quality construction
• High sensitivity
• Low self-noise and very low distortion
• Modern performance with vintage tone

COMPONENT DETAILS

The Mini K47 is built into a body used by several other manufacturers. But it differs extensively from those lookalike microphones, in its components, its performance, and its sound.

The most significant difference is in the capsule. While competing models use either a small-diaphragm capsule or an undersized 32mm K67 type, the Mini K47 — as its name states — uses a true 34mm K47 type capsule, modeled after the capsule in the most famous microphone of all time. We selected this capsule because it delivers a sound that no K67-based microphone can ever achieve: beautiful midrange detail with a neutral, rather than a hyped, top end.

Most of the condenser microphones under $800 use the 2SK170 JFET, a low-cost, general purpose amplifier that can sound good when configured properly. But it usually used in circuits where its very high input capacitance (Ciss, 30pF) acts like a hardwired pad: it reduces the mic’s sensitivity, which effectively raises the mic’s noise floor. We prefer a JFET with a much lower input capacitance. We bias each one individually within the microphone’s circuit, to ensure the highest possible gain without distortion.

The input coupling cap is the first component most aftermarket “modders” would change, because so many condenser mics use a low-grade ceramic or generic polyester box film type in this critical position. For the Mini K47, we use a polystyrene part. Styrene capacitors are generally considered to be the most neutrally voiced, cleanest sounding capacitors.

The main signal capacitors in this circuit are polypropylene film types, imported from Germany.

This combination of components delivers a sonic profile that is much more musical and balanced than anything in its price category.