List of flat (even) frequency response microphones

They can sound amazing.


All that might be needed is an inductor in series with a resistor and the total resultant network connected across the mic's output. For example the Pleiades (130Ω,40mH) inline gentle slope high pass or low cut XLR female to male barrel adaptor filter. Microphones of lower impedance than 200Ω may need different values of R,L. Otherwise the sound can be even more bass, mid bass, mid heavy than typical microphones. (The proximity effect can start below 1KHz when the mic distance is a few inch small as can be seen for example on Shure catalogues back pages, SM58 for example).


Without such a filter especially at mic mouth distance of less than 24in, 12in, 6in etc most mics sound bass, mid bass, mid heavy due to proximity effect bass boost, Fletcher Munson (loud reproduction) curves bass boost, voice effort (softer singing than reproduction) curves bass boost. Directional mics exhibit in addition to the psychoacoustic effects mentioned above, the proximity effect.


Mics with rising treble response may have gained acceptance or popularity as the treble rise may be a way to cover up the bass or mid heaviness. But bass heaviness is still there chasing. Once bass heaviness is compensated the harshness of the HF rise is left exposed.


Flat frequency response microphones once bass, mid bass, mid heaviness is compensated shine through natural and detailed with no hype.


And they can approach with proper compensation the ideal of flat frequency response not from mic to loudspeaker but much more importantly from singer's vocal chords to listener's brain. [Lowe, Morgan], [Hilliard].


Here is the beginning of a small list of such world class microphones:


AKG D190
AKG D20, D25
Beyer M100, M101, M260, M81, M810, M64 Electro-Voice RE-15, RE-16 too?
Electro-Voice D054? (not tried yet) Grampian GR1, GR2
Shure SM59
Shure SM7 with its HF reduction LCR filter on
Fostex M80RP, M88RP
Sennheiser MD211 (omnidirectional)
Sennheiser MD409 (not tried yet)
Sennheiser MD441 U3 with its HF reduction LCR? filter on


The flatness of sensitivity versus frequency of these microphones can be seen or read on the respective datasheets. The human ear can recognize the sound quality of smooth.


If you know of more flat frequency response microphones you might like to add on comments.


References:


Sound Picture Recording and Reproducing Characteristcs (flat frequency response from producer's brain to listener's brain) - D. P. Lowe, K. F. Morgan - Journal of the society of motion picture engineers


A Brief History of Early Motion Picture Sound Recording and Reproducing Practice - John F. Hilliard - Journal of the society of audio engineering - vol33 - no4 - 1985 April