Buyer's Guide: AEA Microphones & Preamps

AEA is one of the most respected manufacturers of ribbon microphones for studio recording. The California-based company is known for resurrecting the legacy of a pivotal series of microphones from the earliest era of sound reproduction. But there’s more to AEA than spot-on vintage recreations. In this buyer’s guide, you’ll get an intro to the company, an overview of its offerings, and the details of its key products.

This History of AEA

The story of AEA begins with the history of microphone technology. After ribbon microphones were developed by Telefunken in the early 1920s, the US-based RCA company began working on what would eventually become the classic 44 series in 1931.

The RCA 44 became a legend with thousands of units still in active use at the time of the 1976 closure of RCA’s microphone division. After consulting with the company’s chief engineer, Wes Dooley, and Dick Knoppow of AEA took on the task of repairing RCA’s ribbon mics and producing replacement parts to keep them in service.

Following a cancer diagnosis in the early 1990s, founder Wes Dooley embraced his passion for ribbon mics to produce an accurate replica of the RCA 44 using original materials and processes. Today, AEA continues to produce replica 44 mics but has contributed many ribbon microphone innovations of its own, taking the technology into the modern day.

AEA Microphones

R44 series

The soul of AEA’s microphone catalog is its range of replica RCA 44 ribbon mics.

The series features five variations on the AEA R44C, which is an exact replica of the original RCA 44BX.

Considered by some to be the most musical microphone ever produced, the RCA 44BX has an instantly recognizable sound with thunderous lows from its strong proximity effect, full and rich midrange, and a unique top end that can take the edge off of harsh instruments.

All that vintage character is perfectly captured in the AEA R44C which also features museum-quality aesthetics.

The R44CE is the cost-effective version with identical sound and internal components but with more economical cosmetics.

The R44CX includes AEA’s innovative X-motor technology which increases the output of the microphone using only mechanical methods and no active electronics. It comes equipped with a modified R44 transducer with two additional magnets and provides an extra 6 dB of output.

The R44CX also comes in a more affordable cosmetic package known as the R44CXE.

Finally, the A440 active ultra-premium variant comes with the X-motor design, a custom Lehle transformer, and built-in RPQFJET preamp electronics for even more flexibility in preamp choice.

R84 series

The R84 series began in the year 2000 as an effort to capture the magic of the R44 sound without some of the difficulties associated with the vintage originals.

With intense proximity effect and a total weight of eight pounds, the R44 can be challenging to use in some situations.

The R84 puts AEA’s signature Big Ribbon element, transformer, and puff shield concept into a smaller form factor.

Its more compact transducer and magnets deliver less proximity effect and more top end.

The R84 design is available in an active configuration as the R84A with an additional 12 dB of output and stable output impedance.

R88 series

The R88 is a stereo microphone with two figure-eight Big Ribbons arranged in a Blumlein configuration.

As the stereo edition of the N8, the R88 offers the widest frequency range in AEA’s catalog.

This, along with the ideal stereo image created by its factory-aligned Blumlein array, make it perfect for complex source audio like drums, strings, and piano.

The mic can function in a mid/side configuration by rotating its housing 90 degrees in relation to the source and using a M/S decoder.

The R88 is also available in an active edition, the R88A, which includes n JFET preamp.

R92

The R92 is a unique near-field ribbon that exhibits reduced proximity effect at close range to the sound source.

With different tonal voicings on its front and back sides, the R92 is a creative tool that excels when placed close to brass, guitar amps, kick drum, and percussion.

The R92 offers rich low-end, warm detailed midrange and smooth highs with classic ribbon character.

With one side offering more brightness, the other is tuned to deliver pleasing control of brash top end for sources that need taming in the highs.

KU4

The KU4 is AEA’s take on the classic RCA KU3.

It’s a supercardioid ribbon designed to provide superior directionality and rejection of off-axis material.

It also offers extended top end compared to other ribbon mics, making it excellent for vocals.

The KU4s directionality means it can be used to capture individual instruments when performers are situated in the same room during recording.

KU5a

Building on the supercardioid concept of the KU4, the KU5a brings enhanced durability and close-range performance with classic ribbon tonality.

Its design permits vocalists to sing directly into the KU5a’s grill without risk of damaging the mic.

The KU5a features active electronics and a custom transformer designed for high performance with any mic preamp, making it suitable for both live and studio use.

Tonally, the KU5a delivers pronounced midrange and low-end heft with detailed, extended top end.

Its moderate proximity effect can be further decreased with the built-in high-pass filter when placed at close range.

Nuvo N22

The Nuvo N22 is an active, near-field ribbon mic with a rugged yet compact footprint.

Opting for a more modern design philosophy than AEA’s vintage-inspired catalog, the N22 offers clarity with a balanced tonal character.

The mic exhibits a notable high-frequency bump at 3 kHz that’s great for sources that need additional power and presence.

Nuvo N8

The Nuvo N8 is a modern far-field ribbon with active electronics.

Designed to capture lifelike, natural sound, its expansive frequency response and balanced low end make it highly effective when placed at a distance.

Its far-field design allows it to retain high and low-frequency extension as far as twenty feet away.

AEA Microphone Preamps

Ribbon microphones need an appropriate preamp to deliver their best results.

Their comparatively low output and sensitivity to preamp impedance mean that not all conventional preamps are up to the task.

AEA’s expertise in microphone technology led them to create a range of preamps as the ideal companions to their ribbon mic designs.

TRP3

AEA’s third-generation TRP3 offers up to 85 dB of gain with a selectable -3dB high pass filter at 115 or 230 Hz.

With the cleanest and most musical preamplifier quality AEA has achieved yet, the TRP3 faithfully reproduces even the smallest details of microphones, voices, and other sound sources.

Its dual channel, easily recallable form factor makes it perfect for stereo pair recording.

RPQ3

RPQ3 brings 3rd generation preamp technology to the RPQ platform with CurveShaper EQ, LF control, and 85 dB of crystal clear gain.

RPQ500

The RPQ500 puts EQ-enabled Ribbon Pre tone in your 500-series rack. With the same high impedance and ultra-high gain design, it’s a great way to add a channel of ribbon-optimized preamp to your setup.