The design aim was to produce a valve mic that sounded big and warm, while also being airy and smooth at the high end. So what can make a microphone sound like this? Obviously, the capsule plays a large part in the sound of any microphone, but the quality of the electronics, and particularly the output transformer, also has a significant influence.
The CV4 utilizes Miktek's own MK9 capsule, a dual‑membrane, one‑inch capsule, skinned with five‑micron Mylar, onto which is evaporated a 0.4‑micron layer of gold. Miktek pride themselves on the precision with which they machine and assemble their capsules, including the critical diaphragm‑tensioning process, but they also stress the importance of the AMI BT4 transformer built for them in the US, which they say delivers a classic sound with the extended low‑frequency response associated with the best vintage valve microphones. For amplification, the circuit uses a NOS (New Old Stock) Telefunken EF800 valve.
Please read from the web.
Constructionally, the microphone follows classic lines, with a cylindrical body finished in satin silver, a chromed basket, a couple of tasteful trim rings, and a company logo on what is the 'hot' side of the mic when it's used in one of the cardioid modes.Internally, the mic looks robustly engineered, and the output transformer appears rather more substantial than those of many other tube microphones. All the circuitry is mounted on two printed circuit boards, high‑quality capacitors and metal‑film resistors are used, and the ceramic valve-base is mounted in resilient rubber, to isolate it from vibration. Everything appears to be hand soldered, and connections to the valve base are made with PTFE coated wire, which has extremely good insulating properties — as well as the benefit that the coating doesn't melt when you solder the joints!
While the mic has vintage leanings, the power supply looks very modern and is built into a tough aluminum extrusion with switchable 110V/230V input settings. This links to the mic using the included seven‑pin XLR cable, and a rotary control on the PSU allows the user to select from nine polar patterns, all the way from omni, through cardioid, to figure‑of‑eight. There are no pad or LF roll‑off switches on the mic or the PSU. Just like a nuemann does. The nuemann specs are higher, but for 20,000 they would be. Thanks