You're not helping with my GAS Bill...

misery (and being broke) loves company!

I may have to pull a few extra shifts. :-)

The AEA active mics (as well as their preamps) have circuitry designed by Fred Forssell.  He is widely respected in the high end recording market as one of the finest mic preamp and converter designers.  You will likely find the internal circuitry sounds cleaner and more dynamic than many high quality preamps.  
 
I only heard the extremely expensive A440 once a few years back at the NAMM show.  I immediately left the show because I knew there was nothing else on the floor that could wow me that much.  
 
The new AEA N22 is also worth looking in to.  

I went with the R121 and the R84.
I took them over to my buddy Billy's studio last night for a little comparison test.
This is a piece Billy is working on (the take is not "perfect").
Some kind of crazy open tuning using a "spider capo", too complicated for me!
Audience perspective; the Royer is hard right (closer to the neck) AEA hard left (just off the sound hole).
R121>LA-610(setup so there is no compression, eq flat)
R84>DBX pre (I forget the model, it think its called "noisey pre")
This is the "dry" track +6db on the Master Buss to boost level a bit.
This is the "wet" track CA2A for a little "gentle" compression, hp at about 110hz (6db slope)
LXP "Small Hall" on the verb buss (about -30db on the meter)
The Blue Tubes Brick Wall Limiter, CD Master preset, on the Master Buss.
Enjoyed the DBX so much I ordered an AEA RPQ500; my "rack" is full, but there are 2 spots (well 1 now) in my "Lunch Box".
 
T

Sounds very natural.  I think at least one of these are going on my 2014 GAS list.

Hi Tom,
 Get down with your bad self! :-) I hope you enjoy your new mics and preamp.
 
 This thread got me thinking hard about diverging from my plans to buy a LDC I've been wanting and getting more ribbons mics for my end of the season purchase. :-)
 
 best regards,
mike

So here's a follow up on the AEA RPQ500.
The R121 is hard left thru the GR pre.
The R84 hard right thru the RPQ, LF filter at about 85hz and the "CurveShaper" "dimed" up pretty good.
We set the mics up in a "Blumlein" configuration.
Full Moon Takes, this is exactly what went into Sonar from the pres.
Full Moon Mix, FabFilter eq's on both, HP about 60hz, I put a high shelf on the R121 to brighten it up more like the 84 thru the RPQ.
Lexicon "Small Hall" on the verb buss.
FabFilter light compression and gentle limiting on the Master buss.
Hope you enjoy...
T

Awesome.
 
When I finally bought my ribbon mics and tried them for myself I was left scratching my head wondering why I spent so much time lusting after condenser mics. I struggled to come to come to grips with the idea that the expensive condensers mics I own aren't as good as the really really really expensive condenser mics that I wish I owned, and yet, relatively affordable ribbon mics seem to have a smoother and more deluxe sound than anything I had anticipated. For many years I was told that ribbons had disappeared because they weren't up to snuff. I'm glad that some folks kept the ideas alive and made them available for us so we could learn to give them a try.
 
Your recording just left me with the same impression. :-)

I take that as high praise, thank you!
And a BIG Thank You for turning me onto the ribbons.
T