The 10 Best Ribbon Microphones
Special Honors
Coles Electroacoustics 4038 Studio This model may not have a conventional appearance going for it; some might even call it ugly. But you're liable to forget that when you hear how it performs, as it can create one of the warmest, deepest low-end responses of anything in its price range. It's particularly loved by broadcasters, making it a smart choice for podcasting, though its carrying case is a bit flimsy. bhphotovideo.com
Editor's Notes
September 23, 2020:
A few small changes have occurred since our last visit to the ranking, including the addition of the Royer R-10, which may offer the best value for its quality out there, though it can be a bad choice for vocalists without a lot of natural power, as its output is somewhat low and can cause you to push the mix and reduce the quality of the voice track. That said, it makes an excellent choice for tracking instruments, particularly guitar cabinets and combos, though the SE Electronics X1R Passive gives it a run for its money in that aspect.
Most vocalists would do better with something like the Rode NTR Premium Active. Its frequency response makes it ideal male vocalists in the bass, baritone, or low tenor ranges who aren't looking for that classic high-end ribbon cutoff you get with the more traditional MXL R77 SPL, or for female vocalists who find they need that upper register above 16 KHz to capture their entire resonance.
Built quality should be an important factor here, as well, as that SE Electronics model and the Royer Labs R-122 may be among the few options you could easily consider taking out of the studio and onto the stage, while the Beyerdynamic M160 Double can also be comfortably used by live artists if they take a little bit of care with it.
November 29, 2018:
The best of these mics are inevitably expensive, though companies like MXL and Rode are doing really nice jobs driving the cost down with high-quality goods. Some brands, like Coles and Royer Labs, may not be as familiar to some, but they are among the most lauded manufacturers in the industry.