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Large-Diaphragm Dynamic Microphone

  • Directional characteristic: Cardioid
  • Switchable High-Pass
  • Variable-D design
  • Frequency range: 45 / 18,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 1.5 mV / Pascal
  • Dimensions (diameter x length): 49 x 54 x 217 mm
  • Weight: 737 g
  • Incl. clamp and storage box
  • Remark: Ideal for bass drums, wind instruments, and speeches
Available since November 1999
Item number 128926
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Tube No
Switchable Polar Pattern No
Omnidirectional No
Cardioid Yes
Figure-8 No
Low Cut Yes
Pad No
shockmount included No
USB Microphone No
Polar Pattern Cardioid
639 €
All prices incl. VAT
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Closer than close

The Electro-Voice RE-20 is a versatile dynamic large-diaphragm microphone which implements the cardioid polar pattern typical for dynamic mics and has a pleasingly natural, authentic sound. For a microphone of this type, its responsivity and resolution are well above average thanks to its particularly lightweight coil-diaphragm unit (combining an aluminium coil and EV's proprietary "Acoustalloy" diaphragm). However, the real special feature of the RE-20 is its almost non-existent proximity effect – which means there is no noticeable bass boost when close-miking, in addition to which it also has a switchable bass cut for even more flexibility. A padded storage bag and matching stand mount round out this appealing package.

Continuously Variable-D

Unlike other dynamic microphones, this mic's proximity effect is negligible: Electro-Voice has developed a technology especially for this very purpose, called "Continuously Variable-D". Sometimes, singers and musicians will actively seek out the proximity effect for a targeted bass boost; conversely, it can sometimes have an undesirable, potentially unpleasant effect. For example, even small changes in the position of close-mic recordings can lead to major changes in the output. In addition, an otherwise balanced instrument's sound can be irretrievably and negatively altered by the overemphasised bass range, so that the musician has no choice but to set up further away from the mic, which then results in more unwanted room presence on the recording.

A real multi-instrumentalist

The Electro-Voice RE-20 is a true all-rounder, offering outstanding performance with its natural sound characteristics, which imitate a condenser microphone with surprising fidelity. It has found many fans at radio stations for use as a voice mic, but it is also an excellent choice for woodwind and brass instruments, not to mention guitar amps. Drummers should also note that its transmission in the bass range only drops off very slowly below 70Hz, which means it will also produces excellent results in front of a bass drum: Despite the suppression of the proximity effect, the RE-20 certainly doesn't lack for bass reproduction.

About Electro-Voice

Electro-Voice was founded in 1927 and has been dedicated to building sound reinforcement systems and microphones since the 1930s. The firm, originally based in Indiana, USA, is considered one of the industry pioneers and has developed many new technologies still in use today. For example, their hum-cancelling coil was not only a milestone for microphone construction, but also was at the origin of the humbucker pickups still used in many guitars. In the long history of the company, Electro-Voice has constantly expanded its offer and today sells a wide range of products for sound reinforcement tasks from entry to professional levels.

Popular for speech – but why?

As mentioned above, the Electro-Voice RE-20 can be used with great flexibility in a whole host of different applications. However, the RE-20 is particularly popular as a speech microphone: Thanks to its broad sweet spot and the lack of proximity effect, the person speaking has considerable freedom of movement, allowing them to move around in front of the mic without having to worry about how this might affect the colour of their voice. In this way, the unique character of a person's performance remains largely independent of their speaking position. Finally, the resilient RE-20 is also less sensitive to pop sounds, interference (for instance, from an additional humbucker coil), and wind noise.

264 Customer ratings

4.9 / 5

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143 Reviews

A
My Personal Favourite Dynamic Microphone for Vocals
Anonymous 07.04.2014
Although this mic can be used for many applications, I am a vocalist and for my requirements I believe this is a great microphone for many reasons. Firstly, its frequency response is relatively flat so very little eq is required to make it sound great. There are no muddy bottoms or brittle tops to this mic, from bottom to top it is round, full and warm and enhances the natural quality of your voice. It is often used as a broadcast mic, so it has that ability to project the the bottom end of your voice but it doesn't muddy it, whether at the bottom or top of my range the mic provides great clarity and maintains the thickness throughout your range, whereas with slightly lower end 'industry standard' mics I can often feel my voice artificially sharpening or spiking in texture in certain places as I go up through my range. This mic makes transitions feel seemless as the texture of the mic is so consistent from top to bottom and for that reason, it always feels like its working with you.

Also. the proximity effect is incredible, it is easy to forget you are singing through a microphone as whether you back away or get anything other than right up to the grille of the mic, the volume and frequency changes remarkably little in comparison to the proximity effect on any other mic I have used. It resists pops and there are no issues with sibilence. Also, it is built solid, it is an extremely resilient mic and can take a forceful load (one of its other applications is as a highly regarded kick drum mic) so you can belt into this and feel 100% confident that it will replicate what you are doing. It also has great rejection, I use this whilst singing and playing the acoustic and whilst other mics such as condensers may pick more up in terms of detail or ribbons may provide even more warmth, they can be tricky for managing feedback, whereas this mic rejects noise brilliantly, for this reason, I think this is an outstanding microphone for live performance (although some may find it unwieldy and it is not designed to be held during performance)

In the same bracket the Shure sm7B is very well regarded and similar to this mic, but it is my personal opinion that this is simply because the 7b is cheaper and so is the lower hanging fruit between the two, I believe this to be a vastly superior mic, though of course these things are subjective and ultimately a matter of personal preference/requirements.

One thing I think is important to mention is that this mic (like many quality dynamics), is very low output, so for the sound to be fully realised it needs to be driven hard with gain. For this reason I thoroughly recommend purchasing either a Cloudlifter or Triton Fethead alongside this mic. These products provide a clean gain boost by utilising the phantom power in your preamps (it does not feed the signal to your mic so there is no danger to your mic). Since I have done this it has made the sound of the mic even bigger and even when played at the same volume, the difference in fullness (and the re20 is already full to begin with) between with or without a gain boost is quite significant.

In purchasing this microphone I compared scores and scores of mics (in studios and also by using an online comparison clipilator) and out of all the dynamics I have encountered thus far, it is easily my favourite and would require something pretty special to top it.

One last thing, I believe Thomann to be an outstanding retailer and their customer service second to none.
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Love of my life
Roman666 23.10.2019
I immediately fell in love with this microphone. (Before I even tried it)
I use it mainly for vocals. I have a lot of low range in my voice and I like microphones that allow for my voice to sound soft and natural. I've now been playing about 40 concerts with this mic and most sound engineers, if doubtful at first, are really into the mic after the first couple of sounds. Live and in studio I'll never want to miss this beautiful microphone.
I also record clarinet and saxophone as well as some drums and an AC30 guitar amp with it sometimes and hardly use my phantom powered membrane mics anymore bc this is really all I (need) want! I hope to one day own another 1 or 2 of this and can highly recommend you to put aside your doubts and order this microphone yesterday!
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The best for me
Kaplamas 27.03.2022
I use it for voice over work and I couldn't be happier.
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In production since the 60s
roccapl 19.07.2022
Famously used by Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Cobain and Thom Yorke for vocals, ubiquitous in millions of radio stations. Great for miking bass cabs an kick drums, very reduced proximity effect and a big cardiod pattern forgiving of the angle you point it to (your voice doesn't change much if you move your head). Doesn't pickup a lot of noise from the room and provides good isolation. It needs a good preamp, but not as much as its competitor the SM7B.
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