Top 10 Best Ribbon Microphones: Big Reviews + Buyers Guide!

Best Ribbon Microphones

Introduction

Choosing a microphone for your home recording studio comes down to two big questions. First, do you really need this tool? Second, what kind of sound will it produce?

When it comes to sound quality, ribbon microphones stand out as some of the most intriguing and unique options. Today’s ribbon mics are inspired by the classic models once used in radio and vintage recordings—you’ve probably seen them in old movies and photos. That elegant, smooth sound is still going strong and continues to give ribbon microphones their unique character.

In recording studios, ribbon microphones have always had a place, even as technology moves forward at lightning speed. Here, we’re going to share the secrets and details of this timeless microphone so you can understand why it’s special and learn how to use it in the best way possible.

Just so you know, the ribbon microphones we’ll mention aren’t listed in any particular order. They’re randomized because we don’t want to rank them from best to worst.

Listed below are our Top 10 Best Ribbon Microphones:

1. Royer R-121

Despite its high price tag, this outstanding example of a modern ribbon microphone has tempted many, and none have looked back. It works seamlessly with any existing setup, is protected against accidental phantom power, and is built to handle high SPLs.

Versatile enough for any instrument, it offers a flat frequency response that remains consistent at any distance, along with a replaceable ribbon. You can use it to capture anything with lifelike realism. The added brightness in the low end gives your recordings a beautiful tonality. High frequencies stay clean without distortion, and the lows are exceptionally rich.

Expertly engineered, it blends modern components with a classic design, built for lasting durability. Royer has redefined the industry by breathing new life into overlooked technology.

While the price may make you hesitate, you won’t regret adding this to your studio. It can give your recordings a fresh vibrancy, capturing nuances you might have missed before. Its exceptional sensitivity picks up sound waves precisely, without coloring your recordings with unwanted background noise.

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2. Shure KSM313/NE

The KSM313 features what’s called a dual-voice design, which takes advantage of both sides of its figure-8 polar pattern to deliver two distinctly different frequency responses and sounds. The front (emblem) side offers the classic thick and creamy ribbon sound, while the backside is noticeably brighter—almost like the lifted high-frequency response of a quality vocal condenser mic.

The KSM313 has a sturdy metal body finished in black paint, with a red mesh screen covering its precisely machined sound-entry ports. It has a solid, hefty feel, and a threaded nut secures it to a “monocle” swivel bracket that allows you to position the microphone in any orientation. Inside, it uses direct point-to-point wiring, gold ribbon connections, and a high-efficiency custom-wound transformer. The mic comes in a foam-lined mahogany “cigar box” case, beautifully built with finger joinery and high-quality hardware.

Roswellite, invented by Bob Crowley and Hugh Tripp, is a game-changer compared to typical aluminum ribbons. It’s much stronger, instantly responds to high frequencies, and snaps back to shape even after being physically deformed by windblasts, plosives, phantom-power jolts, or high-SPL sources.

The KSM313 is a rugged, worry-free ribbon mic that doesn’t require delicate handling. Its warm and clear sound makes it an excellent all-around alternative to the standard condenser and dynamic mics found in both studios and on live stages.

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3. Rode NTR

Rode’s new NTR marks the Australian company’s first venture into ribbon microphones, following a long and successful history with condenser mics. Unlike traditional ribbon designs, the NTR stands out. Rode says the NTR “addresses common criticisms of other ribbon microphones, while significantly expanding the possible usage scenarios.”

According to Rode, every component of the NTR—from the transformer to the ribbon itself—has been designed and built in-house. The ribbon, just 1.8 microns thick, is one of the thinnest on the market and is laser-cut, unlike the hand-cut ribbons from many other manufacturers. This process eliminates microscopic frays along the ribbon’s edges that can degrade over time, which should give the NTR even greater longevity.

That durability is further supported by Rode’s inclusion of an easy-to-use Travel Screw, which secures the delicate ribbon when the mic isn’t in use. Plus, they offer one free ribbon replacement within the ten-year warranty period.

Beyond vocals, the NTR delivers excellent results on acoustic guitar and guitar cabinets. All things considered, we believe the NTR is a fantastic addition to any studio that takes its craft seriously.

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4. Beyerdynamic M 160

The Beyerdynamic M 160 Twin Ribbon Hypercardioid Microphone was first introduced in 1957, offering its own unique twist on the classic ribbon microphone design. This mic is incredibly versatile and has a rich history of use by some of the most legendary musicians in the world—think Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, who used it on his drum set. It’s definitely designed for the music market, whether you’re a singer or an instrumentalist. If that sounds like you, keep reading!

Ribbon microphones like this one use a thin electrically conductive ribbon—often made from aluminum, duralumin, or nanofilm—suspended between the poles of a magnet. This setup generates a voltage through electromagnetic induction. The ribbon itself is incredibly delicate, sometimes as thin as 1/50th the width of a human hair.

Pretty wild, right? The increased sensitivity to input impedance gives ribbon microphones a more natural sound. However, since ribbons are closely related to dynamic microphones, they often need to be paired with a microphone preamplifier to boost the input level.

What really sets the Beyerdynamic M160 apart is its dual-ribbon design combined with a hypercardioid polar pattern—one of its most unique features. This makes the microphone highly directional, which works beautifully with the natural, broad, and rich sound pickup that ribbon mics are known for.

With a wide frequency response of 40Hz to 18kHz, the M160 delivers a rich, warm low end and crystal-clear highs, making it a top choice for capturing both vocal and instrumental performances.

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5. Golden Age Project R1 Active MKIII

Beneath its traditional (though admittedly generic) exterior, the R1 features a two-micron thick, 50mm corrugated aluminum ribbon, tensioned within a magnetic field. Both the ribbon and magnet assembly are mounted on an internal shock mount. However, don’t be misled—the shock mount does little to protect the microphone’s delicate mechanism from rough handling or misuse.

Golden Age Project emphasizes this point by offering a ribbon warranty that extends only to your ‘initial inspection.’ Quick movements, exposure to wind or strong breathy plosives, and horizontal storage can all damage the ribbon alignment (as is true with most classic ribbon microphones).

It almost goes without saying: a ribbon mic should never be used without a pop shield. Still, despite its vulnerability to strong gusts, the R1 MkIII Active can handle extremely high sound pressure levels—up to an impressive 160dB at 1kHz.

Its figure-8 polar pattern features broad front and rear lobes, along with typical 90-degree off-axis null points, making it much more forgiving of a vocalist’s sideways movement than many other large-diaphragm condensers. Conversely, its vertical axis becomes very narrow at high frequencies. The limited length of the ribbon means shorter wavelengths can be partially ignored unless they’re directed straight into the microphone.

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6. Audio Technica AT4081

Launched in 2009, the AT4080 and AT4081 showcase several new ribbon-motor innovations. Audio-Technica reports that there are 18 patents pending for the technology in these microphones.

The motor uses a dual-ribbon design. Having two ribbons wired in series can improve the transducer’s sensitivity. The two ribbons are mounted front-to-back, with one positioned just in front of the magnetic pole and the other slightly behind it.

The ribbon motor sits behind a resonator plate—a perforated metal plate that acts like a hardware EQ device. This plate likely contributes to the microphone’s enhanced high-frequency response. It’s assumed that both sides of the ribbon motor are capped with matching resonators.

Pure aluminum foil, commonly used in ribbon microphones, is susceptible to corrosion from moisture in the air. This leads to a layer of aluminum hydroxide forming on the ribbon’s surface. Additionally, the combination of the aluminum ribbon and its often-brass mounts creates a bimetallic junction, which can cause electrolytic corrosion. This increases the circuit’s resistance, resulting in reduced sensitivity and higher noise levels.

Applying a thin (500 Angstrom) layer of gold to the ribbon and its junction plates can prevent corrosion without negatively affecting the ribbon’s mass or resonant frequency.

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7. AEA R84A

The AEA R84A quickly wins over engineers and musicians with its impressively wide frequency range, offering lush highs and powerful lows. Its balanced and manageable proximity effect enhances the low end of vocals, drums, and brass, simply by adjusting the distance from the mic. With a ribbon mic as versatile, lightweight, and easy to maneuver as the R84A, it’s perfect for both close-up and ambient miking.

The AEA R84A keeps the same sonic character as the AEA R84, but adds an extra 12dB of output and stable impedance. This ensures a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps, including those found in audio interfaces for personal computers. This is ideal for musicians on the road who may need to use a different preamp each night.

The extra 12dB of output is a huge help when recording quiet sources like vocals and delicate acoustic guitars. The active circuitry also prevents noise and interference on long cable runs or when working near large lighting rigs. The R84A requires standard 48-volt phantom power to operate its active circuitry. It also features an 18-carat, gold-plated grill.

The R84A’s beautiful midrange captures the unique qualities of many instruments with detailed elegance. Its deep low end is perfect for adding weight to drum kits or thickening up thin vocals. This mic works well on almost any voice or instrument, making it a valuable tool in any recording or broadcast studio.

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8. Royer SF-12

The SF-12 stereo coincident ribbon microphone from Royer delivers top-notch audio quality with outstanding stereo separation and imaging. This stylish ribbon mic is designed to eliminate any audible diffraction effects or cavity resonance.

The SF-12 is essentially two perfectly matched ribbon microphones, stacked one above the other, each angled 45 degrees from center in the classic Blumlein configuration. No matter where the sound is coming from, the frequency response is impressive, and off-axis coloration is virtually nonexistent.

The SF-12 is remarkable for capturing “you-are-there” stereo recordings, picking up not only the instrument itself but, depending on placement, the acoustic character of the space as well. If you pay close attention to how an instrument or ensemble sounds in the room, you’ll likely discover a spot where it sounds best to you. Place the SF-12 there, and you’ll capture exactly that sound.

The Royer SF-12 is an excellent choice for drum overheads, where its stereo imaging and realism help create powerful, dynamic drum tracks. In jazz settings, recording the kit flat yields extremely natural-sounding cymbals, tom-toms, and snares. For rock and pop, where you want to capture the punch of the kit but add some extra air to the cymbals so they cut through, simply boost the top end with EQ.

Ribbon microphones handle EQ exceptionally well because they generate almost no self-distortion. When you boost a frequency, even by several dB, you’ll hear only the musical qualities you want—without any unpleasant distortion artifacts getting in the way.

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9. Avantone CR-14

For the most part, the CR-14 follows the standard passive ribbon mic design. It features a low-mass ribbon and magnet assembly (the motor), paired with a transformer-coupled output to deliver a “velocity” microphone with a very natural figure-of-eight polar pattern.

Like similar microphones, the frequency response naturally rolls off in the high end, and overall sensitivity is on the lower side. However, as you might have noticed, this is a “dual ribbon” design, meaning it uses two ribbons placed side by side. Avant claims this setup results in higher sensitivity, and at 3.2 mV/Pa, it’s definitely better than some other ribbon mics we’ve tried.

Another important aspect of the CR-14 is its mechanical design. It comes with a traditional suspension cradle, which is especially helpful in cutting down on low-frequency rumble and unwanted noise from the mic stand.

It’s also worth mentioning the mic’s grille design. The outer grille is backed by a fine wire mesh just behind it. While it’s hard to say exactly how this affects the frequency response, it does influence how the mic handles plosives and wind. In practice, we found the CR-14 handled these issues well, adding to its overall sense of durability and user-friendliness.

The CR-14 offers excellent value for money, and while its red color might not immediately appeal to everyone, it’s a well-built microphone. The shorter dual ribbon design does sacrifice a bit of high-end detail for its compact size.

Overall, the CR-14 is a great choice if you’re looking for a solid and affordable ribbon mic to add some variety to your collection.

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10. sE Electronics Voodoo VR1

The Voodoo VR1 ribbon microphone is a passive mic (with the VR2 being the active version) that features a patent-pending design by Siwei Zou, the company’s CEO. This design allows the VR1 to capture a full frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz, with a fairly linear response throughout.

The smooth response that makes ribbon microphones popular for various recordings is still present in the VR1, even with its ability to capture higher frequencies. Because of this, the VR1 can be used for far more applications than most ribbon microphones.

It works very well in most situations where you’d typically use a high-quality condenser microphone, making it a great choice for layering takes when you want to add a slightly different character to your sound.

There are always a few microphones that show up again and again when people start building their collection, which means many recordings tend to have a similar sound. Why not break the mold and try sE Electronics’ new Voodoo VR1 ribbon microphone? It’ll definitely add a new character to your recordings that no condenser microphone on the market can provide.

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How does the ribbon microphone work

The ribbon microphone was invented just before the dynamic microphone. Its name comes from its main component: a thin steel ribbon. This ribbon, which can be made of aluminum, duralumin, or nanofilm, is placed between two poles of a magnet inside the microphone capsule.

The steel ribbon acts as both the diaphragm and the transducer, picking up sound vibrations and converting them into an electrical signal. The ribbon moves in response to the speed of the air from the sound source, which creates the necessary tension. Because of this, ribbon microphones are also sometimes called “velocity microphones.”

What kind of sound ribbon microphone produces

One of the most important and well-known definitions of the ribbon microphone comes from AEA founder Wes Dooley. According to Dooley, ribbon microphones “hear like your ears.”

The natural way they capture sound is very clear in the final audio. While other microphones can offer a highly accurate sound—sometimes picking up details you didn’t even notice or might not want—the ribbon microphone is very linear and, therefore, very honest.

Low frequencies have a stronger impact on the metal ribbon, creating bursts of resonance. On the other hand, ribbon microphones handle and even gently reduce high frequencies, resulting in a smooth response to those sounds. This is why their sound is often described as warm, pleasant, and, for some people, even dark or mellow.

Security Tips For Ribbon Microphones

As previously mentioned, ribbon microphones are delicate instruments. To help you take care of your ribbon mics and avoid the hassle of re-ribboning, we’ve put together a list of essential do’s and don’ts.

Do’s for Ribbon Mics

• Do use a pop filter when recording vocals.
• Do use a windscreen if you’re working with a ribbon mic in windy conditions.
• Do place the microphone off-axis when recording loud sound sources.
• Do use high-quality mic cables with proper wiring.
• Do use a “mic sock” when transporting your ribbon mic.
• Do store the ribbon microphone upright and correctly when not in use.

Don’ts for Ribbon Mics

• Don’t expose the microphone to wind or blasts of air.
• Don’t connect ribbon mics with phantom power engaged.
• Don’t let foreign particles come into contact with the ribbon microphone.
• Don’t drop a ribbon microphone.

By following these guidelines, you’ll greatly increase the likelihood of keeping your ribbon microphone safe and sounding its best. Remember, ribbon diaphragms are relatively easy to stretch, snap, or damage. Taking a few simple precautions will go a long way in protecting your mic—and your budget.

Caution with Phantom Power

Phantom power sends electrical current through balanced cables to power condenser microphones, direct boxes, and other gear. Conventional ribbon microphones, however, are equipped with an internal transformer—sometimes called T-power—so they don’t need phantom power.

Be very careful when using phantom power, because many ribbon microphones can be damaged by it. As a general rule, never turn on phantom power without first checking if your ribbon microphone can handle it.

There are some ribbon microphones today that actually require phantom power—not for the ribbon transducer itself, but for other internal components. Examples include Royer’s R-122 MKII, AEA’s A840, and Shure’s KSM313.

Conclusion

Well, we’ve reached the end of our list of the top 10 best ribbon microphones, and we hope we’ve provided you with clear and helpful information on these picks.

Everyone deserves to have a ribbon microphone in their collection for various uses, and with the wide range of prices available today, there’s something for every budget.

If there’s a microphone you’d like us to review that we haven’t covered, please let us know in the comments section. We’ll do our best to provide information on it!