Mic Archive
Audio-Technica ES933
Photo: Audio-Technica, from its spec sheet c, p. 1.

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ES933

Miniature condenser hanging mic for choirs and stages with interchangeable elements (cardioid ES933C, hypercardioid ES933H, MicroLine ES933ML), on a 15.2 m attached cable to an AT8538 power module

Power Phantom 11-52 V DC.

Type
Condenser (electret)
Pattern
Switchable, 4CardioidHypercardioidLobarOmni
Sensitivity
−40 dBV/Pa
vs 75 end-address condensers

More output than 20% of 75 end-address condensers.

Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.

  • Among 204 condensers: more output than 33%
  • Among 311 mics: more output than 53%
Self-noise
29 dB(A) computed
Max SPL
138 dB SPL
vs 110 end-address condensers

Takes louder sound than 53% of 110 end-address condensers.

Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.

  • Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 53%
  • Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 49%
Rated range
30 – 20k Hz

Frequency response

Angle

Distance

From the spec sheet c, p. 2.

Polar pattern

Transparency

From the spec sheet c, p. 2.

All specs

From the spec sheet c
Sensitivity−40 dBV/Pa (10 mV/Pa)cardioid; open circuit, 1 kHz; also −40 dBV/Pa, hypercardioid (ES933H sheet); also −35 dBV/Pa, MicroLine (ES933ML sheet). "–40 dB (10.0 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa"; ES933H the same; ES933ML "–35 dB (17.7 mV)".p. 2
Self-noise29 dB(A)cardioid; also 29 dB(A), hypercardioid; also 24 dB(A), MicroLine. Not stated; 94 dB SPL minus the signal-to-noise ratio (65 dB; MicroLine 70 dB).
Max SPL138 dB SPLcardioid; 1 kHz, 1% THD; also 138 dB SPL, hypercardioid; also 133 dB SPL, MicroLine. "138 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D."; ES933ML "133 dB SPL".
Signal-to-noise ratio65 dBcardioid; 1 kHz at 1 Pa, A-weighted, typical; also 65 dB, hypercardioid; also 70 dB, MicroLine. "65 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa"; footnote "Typical, A-weighted, using Audio Precision System One". ES933ML: 70 dB.
Dynamic range109 dB1 kHz at max SPL, typical; all three elements. "109 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL" on all three sheets.
Output impedance250 ohm"250 ohms" on all three sheets; page 1: "Output is low impedance balanced".
Rated frequency range30 Hz to 20 kHzcardioid; also [80, 20000], hypercardioid, as printed on the ES933H sheet; also [30, 20000], MicroLine. "30-20,000 Hz". The ES933H sheet prints "80-20,000 Hz", though its graph, like the others, runs from 30 Hz.
Poweringphantom 11-52 V DC"11-52V DC, 2 mA typical".
Current draw2 mAtypical
Low cutflat, roll-off; 80 Hz; 18 dB/octave; high-pass"80 Hz, 18 dB/octave"; "SWITCH Flat, roll-off". Page 1: a recessed switch in the power module, "integral 80 Hz high-pass UniSteep® filter".
ConnectorXLR-3 male on the AT8538 power module; the mic cable ends in a TA3F"Integral 3-pin XLRM-type (power module)".
Weight5.5 gcardioid microphone, without the power module; also 5.5, hypercardioid; also 9.5, MicroLine. "MICROPHONE 5.5 g (0.2 oz)"; ES933ML "9.5 g (0.3 oz)". Power module 81 g.
Dimensions27.5 × 8.4 mmcardioid microphone; also [27.5, 8.4], hypercardioid; also [146.5, 8.0], MicroLine. Length × head diameter: "27.5 mm (1.08") long, 8.4 mm (0.33") head diameter"; ES933ML "146.5 mm (5.77") long, 8.0 mm (0.31") head diameter". The drawing gives the cardioid body as 12.3 mm across behind the head.
Finishlow-reflectance black; white versions ES933WC, ES933WH, ES933WML (power module black)p. 1
Supplied accessoriesAT8538 power module; AT8452 steel hanger; AT8109 two-stage foam windscreen (C, H); AT8138 MicroLine foam windscreen (ML)"ACCESSORIES FURNISHED"; white models get the (WH) hanger and windscreen. AT8138 from the ES933ML sheet.p. 2
Interchangeable elementsESE-O omnidirectional (360°); ESE-C cardioid (120°); ESE-H hypercardioid (100°); ESE-ML MicroLine (90°)
Cable15.2 m (50 ft), permanently attached, 3.2 mm diameter, 2-conductor shielded, terminated with a TA3F-type connector
Power moduleAT8538: 92.9 mm long, 18.9 mm diameter, 81 g; flat/roll-off switch; XLR-3 male output
RFIUniGuard RFI-shielding technologyp. 1
HangerVinyl-coated steel wire hanger; twist the mic in the holder to aim it
PlacementAudio-TechnicaForward of the front-most source, above the rear-most, aimed between them; the distance to the rear-most no more than twice that to the front. Pickup width about 3 times the distance to the nearest performer (cardioid), 2.5 times (hypercardioid), 1.5 times (MicroLine); space extra mics apart by the same factor
RoHSRoHS compliant

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