ProAudio Review - September 2008 - (Page 35)

STUDIO | REVIEW by Richard Alan Salz ished wooden jeweler’s box with die cut foam securing the contents inside, an ORTF microphone bar, foam windscreens, and a pair of microphone clips bearing way more than a passing resemblance those belonging to beyerdynamic MKV 9 microphones. M-Audio claims that all Pulsar II matched pairs are within 1 dB of each other. The Pulsar II’s self noise is rated at a low 15 dBA, which is rather good, especially for a small-diaphragm condenser microphone in this price range. From 20Hz to 20kHz, the included response chart seems to show a fairly flat response up until a moderate rise somewhere around 7kHz or so, and then a drop off up around the 14kHz mark. The microphone itself has a black painted brass body with a chrome grille and end-piece, and features a 6-micron, 3/4-inch diaphragm. The output of the microphone is biased into Class A, and the topology of the output stage is FET. There is a 10dB level cut pad along with a switchable high-pass filter (12dB per octave at 80Hz). The Pulsar II microphones are made in China, and they carry a one-year limited warranty. M-AUDIO continues on page 36 ® M-Audio Pulsar II Small-Diaphragm Condenser This version is a cut above the usual low-cost small-diaphragm microphone. M-Audio is a company that is present and accounted for at virtually all parts of the recording process. Need an interface, pair of studio monitors, control surface, pocket-sized recorder, or perhaps some microphones? MAudio has you covered. One could think that experience gleaned in one product area might very well translate to other product areas, bringing an entire product line’s overall quality and performance levels up. In this review of the Pulsar II small-diaphragm condenser microphone, I will test that hypothesis. FEATURES The Pulsar II matched pair set retails for $399, though the street price is right around the $300 mark. What do you get for $300, other than two microphones? First off, a nicely fin- “I’ve always liked a beauty with brains.” Josh Homme, Artist/Producer, Queens of the Stone Age SIGMA Active ribbon microphone The warmth of a ribbon mic at a fraction of the price. for a retailer near you, visit sontronicsusa.com www.proaudioreview.com September 2008 | ProAudio Review | 35 http://www.sontronicsusa.com http://www.sontronicsusa.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - September 2008

ProAudio Review - September 2008 Contents Publisher’s Page: It's A Hard Drive World Broadcast News and New Products Lawo mc256 Digital Production Console Studio News and New Products Earthworks PM40 Piano Mic System Onkyo Professional PR-SC885 HDMI 1.3a Surround Sound Processor Developments and Trends: Instrument Microphones Benchmark Media DAC1 Pre Focal Twin6 Be Studio Reference Monitors Cascade FAT HEAD II Blumlein Package Studio Projects CS5 Microphone M-Audio Pulsar II Small-Diaphragm Condenser Live News and New Products JBL MRX512M Live Monitor QSC: Behind The Scenes Contracting News and New Products Primacoustic Broadway Professional Acoustic Solutions Buyer's Guide: Contracting Amplifiers/Mixers Buyer's Guide: Contracting Speakers Single Slice: pc muñoz "Chatter & Buzz"

ProAudio Review - September 2008

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