Gearank

Gearank High Notes

• 2018.11: Highest Rated Handheld Mic from $300 to $500
• 2017.08: Equal Highest Rated Handheld Mic from $300 to $500
  Tied With:
  Shure KSM8
  

Gearank Recommendation

The AE5400 appeared on our recommended list for Live Vocal Mics from March 2016 until April 2020 when it was replaced by mics that newly out-ranked it.

Overview

This is a dual purpose mic that works well live and in the studio, in fact Tony Bennett used this mic on his Duets album - I once met him in person when I was doing audio for a location TV interview and he was a great guy as well as a great singer.

The AE5400 uses the same capsule as Audio-Technica's well regarded AT4050 studio microphone but with additional features built in to reduce handling noise.

Unlike many handheld condenser mics, the AE5400 has a large diaphragm which makes it much more like a studio condenser.

It also has a 80Hz high-pass filter to reduce the proximity effect if you like to sing close to the mic, and a 10dB pad which allows you to mic sound sources as loud as 157 dB meaning you can mic just about anything with it.

If you're looking for a genuine studio sound for either male or female lead vocalists to cut through the mix then this is a good option,

Specifications

• Type: Condenser
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Impedance: 150 Ohms
• Maximum SPL: 147 dB or 157 dB with 10 dB pad engaged
• Applications: Live and studio vocals, instruments, amplifiers.
• Power Requirements: 11v to 52v phantom power

Audio-Technica AE5400 Frequency Response Chart

Audio-Technica AE5400 Polar Pattern Chart