Soyuz 1973 Review
The 1973 large diaphragm microphone from Soyuz Microphones is a handmade mic and it’s probably one of the most affordable units that came out from this developer.
This new microphone from Soyuz features a capsule that was designed back in the 1970s when LOMO redesigned the famous AKG CK12 capsule. After that, the S23 capsules were developed and improved by the engineers from Soyuz into something that became a benchmark for their brand.
Soyuz 1973 Features and Sound
This mic uses FET technology meaning that without transformers, and precision-engineered capsule delivers a sound that is not boxy at all, that is full in mid-range and it is open in the area at the top end. Also, there is a will design low-end meaning that is really warm and not boomy at all.
With the Soyuz 1973, you will get a built-in resonator that removes the positive distortion in any unwanted resonance which makes these microphones a great choice when it comes to recording vocals or doing voiceovers.
With the transformerless design, the 1973 microphone from Soyuz has probably the lowest self-noise when compared to any other microphones from Soyuz, which is something that every engineer would adore. In case you have to record loud sources, there is an attenuation pad switch that can reduce the recorded volume by 10 or 20 decibels and it’s founded at the bottom of the microphone.
If you handle this microphone with care, you will have a friend for years to come and you will preserve it to the maximum. Something that is really different compared to the other large diaphragm condenser microphones, the FET circuitry requires only a couple of high-quality components which results in having a very lightweight yet effective microphone.
The design of the microphone is created in a way that you will be able to use it any way you want. You can easily place it on a microphone stand, you can turn it upside down, you can place it in front of an amplifier or you can put it in front of an acoustic guitar – this mic will handle all the tasks without any problems.
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When you compare this microphone to the first and most affordable unit from Soyuz, you will find that this one is less expensive at around 350 dollars. That means that this mic is pretty affordable and accessible to both beginners and professionals alike. That doesn’t mean that this microphone will give you bad results, but you will see that you will get high-end vintage sound without having the price of the microphone that delivers such outcomes.
Despite the fact that the Soyuz bomblet capsule was designed back in the 1950s, this one is a completely different microphone. The 1973 microphone from Soyuz has 150 ohms of impedance rating and it is a single pattern cardioid microphone. That means that is a slightly more advantageous choice compared to some other high-end mics, in case you do not have a discrete microphone preamp.
Every recording and audio engineer prices their microphones and puts them high on their pedestal in their studio. So this means that probably in every professional studio around the world, you will be able to find a vintage tube or FET model that comes from the 50s, 60s, or 70s from the last century.
What really stands out is the microphones that came from this era had more of a human touch in terms of manufacturing methods and hand-wired circuitry. What we really want to say is that the engineers put much more love into creating the microphone, compared to the modern way of developing them in a factory where you only need to start a machine to produce the mic.
Well, this microphone has the best of both worlds, meaning that it is a mix of old-school craftsmanship and state of art modern internal elements. The mic will deliver a very nice sonic characteristic associated with the old-school capsule and modern accuracy and reliability.
- Type: FET condenser microphone
- Capsule: Two 33mm membranes (one gold sputtered)
- Frequency Range: 30Hz / 18kHz
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Pad: -10dB / -20dB
- Sensitivity: 24.5 mV/Pa
- Impedance: 150 Ohms
- SPL: 140 dB
- Equivalent Noise: 18 dB (a-weighted)
- Power: Phantom 48V
- Size: 100mm length x 55mm diameter
- Weight: 300g (single microphone)
- Extras: Mic holder
Why You Need The Soyuz 1973 Microphone
Probably the first factor that everybody is looking into when they are on a limited budget is the price, and this microphone has a price that will knock your socks off. Based on what this microphone delivers, the price is really something, and everybody that knows their way around a mic will know that this price is amazing.
Also, the way this microphone is created with the mix of hints crafting and modern elements is something that really triggered our senses into getting this mic. Being a large diaphragm condenser microphone that comes into such a small package is really something and the results we hit when recording or tracking vocals were the deciding factor in getting this mic.
Even though we really like how it sounds on vocals that doesn’t mean that you are only limited to recording a human voice. If it’s good on vocals, that means that it is also good on acoustic guitars or any other acoustic instruments. All in all, this microphone is a total package and a complete bundle of joy for everyone that wants to have a unique and high-quality mic in their locker.
Conclusion
We are really amazed by this microphone. We also wish to have a nice pair of them. Soyuz delivered a true gem for all users, no matter if you are on a budget or you do not have a price limit to getting a new beast of a microphone. With the price of around $800, this is a great choice for every studio. And especially if you are a vocalist, you will benefit from this microphone the most.
With its sleek appearance and compact size, this microphone will not take a huge real estate on your mic stand and will be easy on it. Paired with a nice pop filter and mic preamp, you will get really high-quality recordings that will be industry-ready in no time!
If you are having any questions about this wonderful microphone, please let us know in the comment section below or reach out to the respected developer for more in-depth answers.
