Reference Cardioid

Common name: Manley Laboratories Reference Cardioid

Production Status: In production

The Reference Cardioid Microphone shares the same electronic attributes as the Gold Reference Series, but has a centre-fixed cardioid-only capsule with a thicker gauge (6 micron) gold sputtered diaphragm. With the similar film thickness and construction, similar high frequency resonance (a little edge), similar proximity effect and pretty good immunity from pops and sibilance problems, the Reference Cardioid more closely recalls how many of the vintage European tube mics such as the beloved U47 sounded like when they were new. Its rich tonal balance and liquid character is consistently admired for instruments such as guitars, drum overheads, saxophone, and especially vocals.