AEA R84A

R84A Features

•     Phantom powered R84 with 12 dB more sensitivity
•     Custom German toroidal transformer and JFET electronics
•     Optimal for soft sound sources and classical recording
•     Same award-winning sound as the passive R84

The AEA R84 is one of the most flexible ribbon microphones in use today. Designed as a lighter, more compact, and lower cost version of the R44, this Swiss Army knife of ribbon mics fits a wide range of applications.

Though passive ribbon mics like the R84 have always been known for their incredible sound, they also come with certain requirements needed to reach their full sonic potential. This mainly involves using a very high-gain, high-impedance mic preamp — characteristics that many older and even modern preamps lack.

Are They The Same?

They are almost identical in sound! The R84A is an R84, with the addition of a custom-made Lehle transformer and active electronics. The two versions of the microphone sound very similar and both offer that classic ribbon sound. Other than these two changes and an 18-carat gold-plated grill for the R84A, the passive R84 and the active R84A are essentially the same microphone.