Earthworks SR40V Handheld Condenser Vocal Microphone

The SR40V is a handheld cardioid condenser built for a lead vocal, with a response that runs from 20 Hz all the way out to 40 kHz. That top end is not decoration: it is what keeps consonants and breath intact instead of smearing them, which is the difference a singer hears when they move off a dynamic. Peak acoustic input is 145 dB SPL, so it does not fold up in front of a loud monitor wedge.

Because it is an active condenser, its output sits noticeably higher than the dynamic it replaces and you will usually need to pull channel gain back. It needs 24 to 48 V phantom on the channel; plug it in with phantom off and the channel muted, then let it settle before unmuting. The body is 7.25 in long and 1.95 in at its widest, weighs 0.80 lb, and ships with a microphone clip and a protective fabric bag.