Mojave Audio
Mojave MA-300
Large-diaphragm valve (tube) condenser, continuously variable pattern (omni to figure-8) set from the power supply, with pad and bass cut
Power External valve power supply, 100, 115 or 220-240 V AC, 50 or 60 Hz, about 10 W.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 3
- Sensitivity
- −37 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 51%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 66%
- Self-noise
- 14 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 59%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 60%
- Max SPL
- 120 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 3%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 3%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 2010
vs 75 side-address condensers
More output than 36% of 75 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 34% of 99 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 7% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the manual, p. 7.
"FREQUENCY RESPONSE", "20Hz – 20kHz, ±2.5dB"; relative dB, all three lines meet at 0 dB at 1 kHz. Distance, room, smoothing and bass cut setting not stated.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | 1-inch diameter, gold-sputtered, 3-micron dual diaphragm"1-inch diameter, gold sputtered"; "3-micron"; "dual membrane" (p. 3). The product page calls it a "K67 Style Capsule ... based on German U67 and U87 style microphones" and "Hand-selected". | p. 6 |
| Sensitivity | −37 dBV/Pa"-37 dB re. 1V/pa". Pattern not stated. | |
| Self-noise | 14 dB(A)nominal; not to exceed 16 dB. "14dB nominal, not to exceed 16dB (A weighted)". Pattern not stated. | |
| Max SPL | 120 dB SPLpad off; also 135 dB SPL, pad on. "120 dB, 135dB with pad on". | |
| Output impedance | 200 ohmtransformer balanced. "200 ohms, transformer balanced"; a Jensen output transformer (p. 2). | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHzbass cut flat. "20 Hz-20kHz, + 3dB at ‘Flat’ setting"; the graph is captioned "20Hz – 20kHz, ±2.5dB" (p. 7) and the product page says "+/-3 dB". | |
| Powering | external valve power supply, 100, 115 or 220-240 V AC, 50 or 60 Hz, about 10 W"100, 115 or 220-240 volts AC at 50 or 60 Hz. Power consumption approximately 10 watts." Page 4 says the supply switches between "100, 115 or 230 volts". | |
| Low cut | flat, cut; 100 Hz; 6 dB/octave"provides a 6dB per octave attenuation below 100Hz when engaged"; positions ‘Flat’ and ‘cut’ (p. 6). Not graphed. | p. 8 |
| Pad | −15 dB"The 15dB [pad] reduces the signal before the head amplifier in the microphone." | |
| Connector | XLR-7 (microphone to power supply)"the seven-pin XLR connectors between the microphone and the power supply"; a 16-foot 7-pin cable is supplied (p. 2). | p. 4 |
| Supplied accessories | AC power supply; 16-foot 7-pin microphone cable; shock mount; AC power cable; presentation case; carrying caseItems 1-6. | p. 2 |
| Valve | NOS 5840 (military grade 5840W) sub-miniature pentode, wired as a triode | p. 6 |
| Output transformer | Jensen (manual); "Custom Mojave transformer" on the product page | p. 2 |
| Distortion | Pad off: <1% at 117 dB SPL, <3% at 125 dB SPL; pad on: <1% at 132 dB SPL, <3% at 140 dB SPL | p. 6 |
| Pattern control | Rotary knob on the power supply, continuously variable: fully anticlockwise omni, 12 o'clock cardioid, fully clockwise figure-8 | p. 8 |
| Warm-up | About ten minutes; at least thirty minutes before first use | p. 3 |
| Mains fuses | T500mAL for 100 and 120 V AC, T250mAL for 220 V AC | p. 4 |
| From the product page | ||
| Weight | 454 g"Microphone: 7 5/8″ X 2″, 1 lb."; converted. The manual gives only the shipping weight, 14 lbs. | |
| Dimensions | 194 × 51 mm"7 5/8″ X 2″" (length and diameter); converted. | |
| Weight in case | 13 lbs (case with microphone, power supply, shock mount and cables); shipping weight 14 lbs | |
| Designer | David Royer | |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2010 | |
Documents
- MA-300 Multi-Pattern Vacuum Tube Condenser Microphonemanual, "MA300 Manual 2021 corrected"
- MA-300product page
- Mojave Audio MA-300 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.