Manley Reference Gold Microphone

The Manley Reference Gold Microphone is one of the finest microphones your money can buy in pursuit of true and accurate musical recordings. It's nimble American-made CK12-style capsule, open grille, and continually variable polar pattern design allow it to hear deep into a room, capturing nuances and subtleties like no other microphone. Some engineers say it sometimes hears more than they do!

The Manley Reference Gold Microphone is a statement, quite simply, of the finest microphones that money can buy in the pursuit of truly accurate musical recordings. The Gold Reference Series employ Manleys own design of large capsules (1.25 inch overall, 1 inch diaphragm diameter) which are executed to precise tolerances made possible by modern micro-milling machinery available today in California. The capsule rings and back-plates are milled from solid brass. The gold diaphragm film comes from Germany and is tensioned using proprietary techniques by David Josephson ensuring capsule-to-capsule constancy, combined with the speed, "air", and superb ultra-high frequency response you have only dreamt about.

The all-tube electronics in the MANLEY REFERENCE SERIES MICROPHONES are built around two triodes in cascade forming an entire gain-block. We currently use a dual-triode 12AX7 tube, easily obtainable and replaceable, mounted in a ceramic socket. (We originally used 6072A until it became impossible to find quiet ones out of the NOS dreck left on the market.) The output is coupled through a MANLEY output transformer of unparalleled quality and substantial physical size employing nickel laminations with "hum bucking" bi-filar windings, encased in mu-metal. The polar pattern control is continuously variable between the OMNI, CARDIOID, and FIGURE 8 positions vastly increasing this mic’s versatility. The Gold Mics make it possible to exactly tailor the proximity effect to achieve the desired character.

Driven by Manley Power
The power supply was designed for Manley, designed for vacuum tubes, and designed especially for audio fidelity. Numerous listening comparisons again prove the sonic superiority of this power supply. All lines are regulated, all rails come out at super-low impedance, and there is zero 50/60 Hz ripple component present in the chassis as the module runs at a much higher frequency well above the audible range. It is an efficient design in the high 90th percentile, and it functions it any mains input voltage from 90 to 250 V AC meaning no reconfiguration is necessary when traveling around the world. Just plug it in! It is a well-smart invention light years ahead of older linear power supply designs.

Proprietary Precision Suspension System
A proprietary precision suspension system is provided with each Reference Microphone (the capsule itself is mounted onto a rubber shock-mount.) Because the entire working "guts" of the microphone may be removed for service in one piece from the housing, it is envisioned that the microphone need not be removed from the suspension. Manley also provides a very useful swivel of their own design with every REFERENCE MICROPHONE; its T-bar handle and locking clutch action require no tools to adjust. And no MANLEY microphone would be complete without a genuine leather capsule protector which slips (and ties) onto the end of the microphone to protect the capsule when not in use.

Hand-Assembled in the USA
Like the other Manley Reference Microphones, all of the metalworking and construction is hand-assembled in the USA by our experienced staff in our Chino, California factory, located just 35 miles east of Los Angeles. We are sure you’ll love the organic nature of the intriguing artistic finish of the Silver Microphone as it will remind you about how natural and alluring the sound of this microphone is.

Manley Reference Gold Microphone Features

• Made in the USA
• All-Tube triode design
• Open weave stainless-steel grille
• Completely Variable Polar Pattern
• -10 dB switchable pad

Manley Reference Gold Microphone Specifications

• Frequency Response: 10Hz-30KHz
• Sensitivity: 17mV/Pa
• Noise Typically: -120dB EIN
• Max SPL: 150dB
• Output Impedance: 250 Ohms
• Weight: 2.25 lbs (mic)
• Size: mic body 2” diameter x 9.7” long x 4.5” (mic suspension outside diameter)
• Shipping weight: 15 lbs

Manley Reference Gold Microphone Includes

• Manley Reference Gold Microphone
• Shock Mount
• Power Supply
• Rugged Carrying Case
• 7-Pin Cable
• Leather Capsule Protector
• Manufacturer Warranty