Apex Electronics 205
Bidirectional Ribbon Microphone
The Apex 205 is the best-known retail version of Alctron’s HRM-8B, a large-format ribbon design that has, according to Oktavamod’s Michael Joly, “obvious internal resemblance to the AEA R84.” The same ribbon motor design can be found in the Nady RSM-2 and the Shinybox 46 (the latter being remarkable in that it has all the mods you’d want to do built in from the vendor).
Common mods for these mics include:
- Re-tensioning sagging ribbons
- Removing blast filters from behind grille
- Swapping the stock transformer for a Cinemag (e.g. CM-9888) or Lundahl (e.g. LL2911) or Edcor (e.g. RMX1)
For sound samples of a shootout between the AEA R92, Coles 4038, and a pair of OktavaMod-modded Apex 205s, see drBill’s ribbon mic shootout on solo piano.
The Apex Electronics 205 is also known as: Apex205.
Specifications
Frequency Response - BidirectionalClick Graph to Compare! |
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Pickup Patterns | Pads & Filters |
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Bidirectional
(2 mV/Pa; 30 - 18,000 Hz) |
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Ribbon Construction | Impedance | SPL/Noise |
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50x5mm, 2-micron aluminum ribbon | 600 Ohms (Low) | Max SPL: 165 dB |
Weight | Length | Max Diameter | Interface(s) |
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524g (18.48oz) | 170mm (6.69'') | 55mm (2.17'') |
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Power Specifications |
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