JZ Microphones was founded in Latvia in 2007 by Mr. Juris Zarins. He’d spent the better part of two decades researching and developing successful microphones with companies like Blue before striking out on his own as JZ Microphones. Today we enjoy the fruits of his labor, checking out a vintage-inspired modern classic in this JZ Vintage 67 review.
JZ Microphones Vintage 67 Offers a Modern Take on a Studio Staple
If the name doesn’t give it away, the V67 is a fresh take on the legendary Neumann U67. Almost immediately, however, the dissimilarities between the two reveal themselves. Whereas the Neumann is a tube condenser, the JZ V67 is solid-state. Don’t be alarmed, though: the Vintage 67 was never meant to be a clone of a studio classic, but its own entity drawing inspiration from a tried-and-true workhorse. And with that, it absolutely excels.
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JZ Vintage 67 Review:
How Does It Sound?
In two words, you could say rich and articulate. The frequency response is fairly natural overall, featuring a very slight lift at 40 Hz falling off around 200 Hz, and another gentle lift at approximately 1.5 kHz before falling off around 10 kHz. It’s part of that midrange bump that helps the mic sound full and clear on numerous sound sources without sounding harsh or sterile. Many competitors in this price range fall victim to overly bright top ends, which the Vintage 67 does not suffer from.
Design & Build
The design itself is unique visually as well as functionally. At first glance, its looks really stand out. The best way to describe the shape is as a hip flask — sort of a shallow rectangle with rounded edges. Functionally, the design incorporates a built-in shockmount to shut down unwanted rumble. It also gives the mic a low profile on the stand, so you can maneuver and place it more easily than with a bulky shockmount.
Internally, the JZ Vintage 67 is handmade in Latvia with carefully chosen components. It features Class A discrete electronics which are highly durable and virtually noiseless. Everything in the JZ V67 points to quality you’d expect from much pricier microphones.
Golden Drop Technology
Golden Drop Technology is the heart and soul of all JZ microphones. The proprietary design results in an ultra-light diaphragm that’s able to move rapidly in response to acoustic energy. As far as its impact on the sound, Golden Drop capsules are precise, clear, and free from unwanted coloration or distortion.
How Does the Vintage 67 Stack Up in the Studio
The Vintage 67 proves itself to be a future classic studio workhorse. There’s no doubt that it excels in any situation a large diaphragm condenser would, from vocals to guitar amps, drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano, brass, woodwinds, strings, and more.
Who Would This Microphone Be Good For?
The JZ Vintage 67 would be perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of vintage flair to their mic collection at a reasonable price. The sound is on-par with what you’d expect from a legendary studio mic, but the design, quality, and reliability takes full advantage of modern technology for a best-of-both-worlds approach.
Closing Thoughts: The Vintage 67 Offers an Amazing Modern Take on a Vintage Classic
We’ve been thoroughly impressed with JZ Microphone’s offerings up to this point. The Vintage 67 is right up there with the company’s other designs and offers truly impressive quality and sound. One of the most amazing things is how affordable it is relative to other mics with this caliber of sound reproduction. The V67 is every bit a performance-oriented, vintage-inspired microphone with just the right amount of modern influence.
