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
