Newmann Retro Microphone News: The Newmann Retro valve microphone is a multi-pattern, large-diaphragm condenser microphone designed and built entirely in the UK. The Newmann Retro is currently on demonstration at DV West London and DV Birmingham.
Newmann Retro Multi Valve Pattern Valve Microphone Review
Hugh Robjohns (Sound on Sound, July 08) comments:
Overall the Newmann Retro's sound character is fairly neutral, but with a crisp and airy top end. This brightness isn't overdone and it didn't over-emphasise vocal sibilance, but it certainly adds a sparkle and sheen to instruments like acoustic guitars, percussion and pianos, as well as capturing a lot of detail. The bottom end of the spectrum is well balanced but slightly 'laid-back', and that creates the impression that the deep bass is not as extended as some other mics. Again, this didn't cause any problems with a wide variety of sources, and if anything it contributed to clean-sounding mixes without the need for ‘window filtering’.
The Newmann Retro is quite ‘tubey’ in its character — I think few would be in any doubt that this is a valve mic — but the effect is not as overdone as many I can think of. Overall, the spectral balance seems very well judged and the slightly rich quality through the mid-range isn't overly plummy or bass heavy in the way that a lot of valve mics can be. Thanks to the overall neutral character, most vocal and instrumental recordings sounded good in a mix without needing much, if any, EQ — something that I think is always the sign of a very ‘usable’ microphone.
If you are looking for an attractively priced switchable-pattern, large-diaphragm valve microphone with a bright, airy and detailed sound character, contact either of these DV stores to arrange a personal demonstration of the Newmann Retro