AEA KU5A Supercardioid Unidirectional Ribbon Microphone











zZounds Gear Experts Say...
With its supercardioid pattern, the KU5A captures what it's aimed at with you-are-there realism! Robust build quality makes it a stage and studio workhorse.
Overview
The KU5A is an end-address, phantom-powered, supercardioid ribbon microphone. It is equipped with active circuitry and a custom transformer optimized for all preamps. The reduced rear-lobe of the supercardioid pattern lends to greater rejection of ambient noise and other sound from behind. Sources within 3 inches of the KU5A will benefit from the warm tonality of its proximity effect, and it can handle 135 dB SPL at 1kHz. The KU5A's integrated electronic high-pass filter smoothly rolls off low end with a 6dB/octave at 283Hz. It's supremely durable in close range, outdoor, and live applications and can handle direct blasts of air from loud singers and other instruments that move air.
The KU5A is an active microphone complete with a custom transformer and JFET electronics. It features the same custom transformer used in the A440, R84A, and NUVO microphones. This circuitry grants more output, less audible noise, and a stable impedance. Stable impedance allows for a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps, including those found in audio interfaces. The boosted output is vital when recording quiet sources like vocals and soft acoustic guitars. Additionally, the active circuitry also prevents noise, and interference on long cable runs and when operating large lighting rigs. The KU5A requires standard 48-volt phantom power. The phantom current draw for active AEA ribbon mics is 7 milliamps. IEC specifies P48 power should be able to deliver 10 milliamps… read more per input. Some USB and battery-powered audio interfaces won't deliver this. Please check the current values available on your unit to ensure the best performance.
- Equipped with active circuitry and a custom transformer optimized for all preamps
- Supercardioid pattern lends to greater rejection of ambient noise
- Responsive to the proximity effect, delivering a warm tonality within 3"
- Can handle 135 dB SPL at 1kHz
- Integrated electronic high-pass filter smoothly rolls off low end with a 6dB/octave at 283Hz
- Supremely durable in close range, outdoor, and live applications
- Circuitry grants more output, less audible noise, and a stable impedance
- Requires standard 48-volt phantom power
read less
The KU5A is an active microphone complete with a custom transformer and JFET electronics. It features the same custom transformer used in the A440, R84A, and NUVO microphones. This circuitry grants more output, less audible noise, and a stable impedance. Stable impedance allows for a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps, including those found in audio interfaces. The boosted output is vital when recording quiet sources like vocals and soft acoustic guitars. Additionally, the active circuitry also prevents noise, and interference on long cable runs and when operating large lighting rigs. The KU5A requires standard 48-volt phantom power. The phantom current draw for active AEA ribbon mics is 7 milliamps. IEC specifies P48 power should be able to deliver 10 milliamps… read more per input. Some USB and battery-powered audio interfaces won't deliver this. Please check the current values available on your unit to ensure the best performance.
Features:
- An end-address, phantom-powered, supercardioid ribbon microphone- Equipped with active circuitry and a custom transformer optimized for all preamps
- Supercardioid pattern lends to greater rejection of ambient noise
- Responsive to the proximity effect, delivering a warm tonality within 3"
- Can handle 135 dB SPL at 1kHz
- Integrated electronic high-pass filter smoothly rolls off low end with a 6dB/octave at 283Hz
- Supremely durable in close range, outdoor, and live applications
- Circuitry grants more output, less audible noise, and a stable impedance
- Requires standard 48-volt phantom power
Specs
-Operating Principle: Pressure gradient transducer
-Directional Pattern: Supercardioid
-Frequency Range: < 20 Hz to >20 kHz
-Maximum SPL: 135 dB SPL (1% third harmonic > 1 kHz)
-Sensitivity: -43dBv (at 1 kHz, no load)
-Output Impedance: 92 O broadband
-Load Impedance: 1.0 kO or greater
-Phantom power: Requires 48V Phantom Power, 7mA
-Polarity: Pin 2 high for positive pressure at the front of the microphone.
-Switchable High-Pass Filter: 6dB/Octave at 283hz
-Relative Output at 180* Off Axis: - 12dB
-Angle of Maximum Rejection: 135*
-Transducer Material: Pure aluminum corrugated ribbon
-Transducer Thickness: 1.8 um
-Transducer Width: 0.055 in (0.14 cm)
-Transducer Length: 1.175 in (2.9 cm)
-Microphone Height: 8 in (20.3 cm)
-Microphone Width: 3 in (7.6 cm)
-Microphone Weight: 2 lb 9.8 oz (1.19 kg)
-Connector: XLR-3M wired to a 3 meter captive cable
-Directional Pattern: Supercardioid
-Frequency Range: < 20 Hz to >20 kHz
-Maximum SPL: 135 dB SPL (1% third harmonic > 1 kHz)
-Sensitivity: -43dBv (at 1 kHz, no load)
-Output Impedance: 92 O broadband
-Load Impedance: 1.0 kO or greater
-Phantom power: Requires 48V Phantom Power, 7mA
-Polarity: Pin 2 high for positive pressure at the front of the microphone.
-Switchable High-Pass Filter: 6dB/Octave at 283hz
-Relative Output at 180* Off Axis: - 12dB
-Angle of Maximum Rejection: 135*
-Transducer Material: Pure aluminum corrugated ribbon
-Transducer Thickness: 1.8 um
-Transducer Width: 0.055 in (0.14 cm)
-Transducer Length: 1.175 in (2.9 cm)
-Microphone Height: 8 in (20.3 cm)
-Microphone Width: 3 in (7.6 cm)
-Microphone Weight: 2 lb 9.8 oz (1.19 kg)
-Connector: XLR-3M wired to a 3 meter captive cable
- Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
- Base Item
- Shipping Weight: 4.3 lbs
- Shipping Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 6 in
- Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): KU5A
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Web: https://aearibbonmics.com/support/
Web: https://aearibbonmics.com/support/
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
(1 ratings)
Submitted April 8, 2025 by a customer from me.com
"My Favorite Microphone"
Verified Purchaser
zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
This is by far my favorite microphone to use in studio. It's great as a live application as well, but not as easy to just keep in my backpack. So overall, when I am in my studio space, this is what I use, I love it so much I recommended my dad get one too, and he loves his unit. The company AEA is amazing and this mic is smooth and clear all at once. Truly an amazing engineering feat.
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