Cascade Microphones
Cascade Fat Head II
Passive figure-8 ribbon mic (2.5 micron aluminium ribbon), side-address, with a stock or Lundahl LL2912 output transformer
Power None (passive). Switch phantom power off before you plug it in: a faulty cable can damage the ribbon. Low output: it needs a lot of preamp gain.
- Type
- Ribbon
- Pattern
- Figure-8
- Sensitivity
- −56.3 dBV/Pa
- Among 28 ribbons: more output than 15%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 9%
- Max SPL
- 165 dB SPL
- Among 29 ribbons: takes louder sound than 86%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 99%
- Rated range
- 30 – 18k Hz
- Released
- 2007
vs 24 side-address ribbons
More output than 4% of 24 side-address ribbons.
Each stripe is one side-address ribbon with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 28 side-address ribbons
Takes louder sound than 85% of 28 side-address ribbons.
Each stripe is one side-address ribbon with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
1 of 2; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the report rh, p. 1.
Cross-Spectrum Labs report on a "Fat Head II", 1/3-octave bands, relative to 1 kHz; reference mic ACO Pacific 7052S. Distance and room not stated; "not a NIST-traceable calibration".
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the report rh, p. 2.
"Cascade Fat Head II Ribbon Microphone Polar Response", 500 Hz, 1 kHz and 5 kHz, full circle, 0° up, rings every 5 dB (labelled -20 to +5). Measured every 10°. Distance and room not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the product page (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2007 | |
| Max SPL | 165 dB SPL"Max SPL: 165 dB", no condition. | p. 1 |
| Output impedance | 200 ohm"200 Ohms (Low)". The report's impedance graph (page 2) runs at about 100 to 180 ohms from 100 Hz to 5 kHz. | |
| Rated frequency range | 30 Hz to 18 kHz | |
| Powering | none (passive)"passive symmetrical ribbon"; the reports give "Phantom Power: N/A". | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"3-pin XLR male (1)". | |
| Weight | 495 g"495g (17.46oz)". | |
| Dimensions | 185 × 76 mmLength × maximum diameter: "185mm (7.28'')", "76mm (2.99'')". | |
| Ribbon | 99% pure aluminium, 2.5 micron, 1 3/4" × 3/16" (44 × 4.8 mm) | |
| Transformer | Stock transformer, or Lundahl LL2912 as an upgrade; not offered with a Cinemag transformer (unlike the Fat Head) | |
| Versions | Brown body with gold grille, silver body with polished nickel grille, or black body with polished nickel grille; also sold as stereo pairs and as a Blumlein package | |
| Released | 2007 | |
| PriceRecording Hacks | MSRP $219 (stock transformer); $349 with the Lundahl LL2912; pairs $375 and $675 | |
| Shock mount | Plastic shock mount included | |
| From the report rh | ||
| Sensitivity | −56.3 dBV/Pa (1.5 mV/Pa)1 kHz, 94 dB SPL, measured; also −54.4 dBV/Pa, Fat Head/Lundahl, measured (Cross-Spectrum report, Feb 2007); also −55.9 dBV/Pa, 1.6 mV/Pa (Recording Hacks). "Microphone Sensitivity: -56.3 dB (1.5 mV/Pa) (re 1000Hz, 94 dB)". The Lundahl report: "-54.4 dB (1.9 mV/Pa)"; Recording Hacks lists 1.6 mV/Pa (-55.9 dBV/Pa, converted). | p. 2 |
| Noise floorreport | "<17 dBA" | |
Documents
- Microphone Frequency Response Measurement Report: Cascade Microphones Fat Head IICross-Spectrum Labs, project J2007-020
- Microphone Frequency Response Measurement Report: Cascade Microphones Fat Head/LundahlCross-Spectrum Labs, project J2007-020
- Cascade Microphones Fat Head IIRecording Hacks microphone page
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.