Sontronics DELTA 2 Active Ribbon Microphone

DELTA 2 is the ribbon you put in front of a loud amplifier without wincing. The active circuit is phantom powered, which lifts output to 10 mV/Pa and keeps the mic from depending on a preamp with unusual gain, and the ribbon itself handles 140 dB before distortion. Figure-of-eight pickup is what makes it useful on a 4x12: the null off the sides rejects the drummer, and the rear lobe is a working room mic if you turn it around.

Response runs 20 Hz to 15 kHz with the natural high-frequency roll-off that stops a bright cabinet or a trumpet bell from turning harsh. Self-noise is 10 dBA and impedance stays under 150 Ohms. Output is a standard 3-pin XLR needing 48 V phantom. The mic weighs 0.39 kg and ships in an ABS flight case with its shock mount.