The Most Versatile Condenser Mics at Any Price: One Producer’s Picks for 5 of the Best All-Purpose LDCs from $150 to $1,500
Best Under $500: Lauten LA-320
In addition to the usual low rolloff switch, the LA-320 sports an unusual high rolloff option, giving this mic a dual personality, and even more versatility.
If you have a little more in your budget, the Lauten LA-320 is worth a very close look, as it’s also received quite a few critical nods and still manages to slide in at $499 street.
As my colleague and friend Jason Finkel detailed in his recent full review, the LA-320’s internal electronics feature a tube dual-triode vacuum tube circuit that is a nod to classic “German tube mics of the past.”
In my own tests, I found the 1″ capsule it to have nice presence and a pleasantly crisp and focused tone.
The LA-320 also has both 120hz high pass, making it easy to dial out unwanted low frequencies, and a 12k low pass filter for softening the bright and airy top-end of this mic. A very solid choice that regularly competes with mics over $2k, the LA-320 is a sure and versatile choice for any home or mid-level.
Another very capable mic that slides in right under $500 is the similarly versatile Avantone CV-12, which boasts a slightly more retro-leaning tone and features an impressive choice of nine polar patterns, as well as the ubiquitous pad and HPF. The fact that it not only comes loaded with an old stock Russian 6072a tube but is shipped with two extra tubes and a handsome case is just icing on the cake.
Best Under $1k: Mojave Audio MA-301 FET
The Mojave MA301 FET is a serious step up for any home studio, and could find significant use in top-flight pro studios as well.
Coming in at $895 street price, the MA-301 FET from David Royer’s Mojave Audio has been a regular feature in a number of busy studios, and for good reason: Multiple polar patterns, low cut filter, and -15db pad make this a very versatile and capable mic.
With a “military grade FET” and a Jenson transformer, the MA-301 exhibits a bit more warmth and mid-range presence than the previous mics.
Much like the Aston Origin, I found its frequency response to be incredibly neutral and useful, and the 301 FET (and it’s more expensive, tube-based cousin) would definitely be a good all-around mic for both the home or a professional studio.
If the transformer-based design of the MA-301 FET might be a bit too colored for your tastes, it’d be hard to go wrong with another mic in this price range that achieved “classic” status in studios worldwide many years ago: AKG’s C 414.
The 414’s iconic design and grill are legendary, as are its ability to handle and accurately reproduce an incredibly diverse range of sonic sources, due in no part to the 414’s nine pickup patterns, four-position bass roll-off switch, and four-position pad.
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