Lauten Audio is a family-owned and operated company introducing innovative designs into the world of traditional microphones. Their inspiring lineup of mics marries classic sonics with modern utility, resulting in versatile, multi-purpose tools for any project. Today, we’re breaking down the Lauten Audio LA-120 in this review — a powerful pair of small-diaphragm condensers for the discerning engineer.
Lauten Audio Microphones Offer Game Changing Performance Live & In-Studio
Lauten Audio separate themselves from the majority of competitors with truly inventive design. Their microphones combine tried-and-true vintage sound stemming from decades of recording history, with current-day advancements ushering in a new era of recording technology. Consider something like the Eden LT-386 — a large-diaphragm tube condenser with three distinct voices for a range of sonic character from a single microphone. That’s the core of Lauten’s philosophy and an indication of where the brand continues to go.
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Lauten Audio’s complete lineup pushes boundaries, helping producers and engineers achieve the results they’re after with greater precision and ease.
Lauten Audio LA-120 Review: What Does V2 Have to Offer?
The LA-120 are a pair of small-diaphragm condensers well suited to a variety of recording applications. They embody the spirit of innovation that makes these mics so unique. Affordable as far as pairs of microphones go, the LA-120 doesn’t compromise features to keep the cost down.
LA-120 Key Features
Each LA-120 utilizes a transformerless design built around a JFET amplifier. Traditional mic designs take advantage of a transformer that inevitably lends color to the sound. While this can be a desirable trait in certain cases, it limits flexibility. The purpose of the LA-120 is to create a sonically versatile small-diaphragm condenser, which is perhaps its most critical feature.
Choose Your Filter
The LA-120 offers a pair of stepped filters for increased sound-sculpting capability. One is a high-pass filter at 50 and 150 Hz, and the other is a low-pass filter at 10 and 15 kHz. Used separately or together, you can quickly and easily alter the sound of the microphone depending on the source.
For example, you might want to take away some brittle top-end from overheads, or cut out some lows on an acoustic guitar to help it sound more articulate. Whatever the case may be, the onboard filters are there to make the LA-120 a flexible microphone for many instruments.
Frequency Response & Polar Pattern
The LA-120 has a full-range frequency response from 20 to 20. It’s relatively flat across the board with the exception of a few subtle peaks and troughs. The overall goal being a natural-sounding mic across the board. These microphones also come with swappable capsules. One is a cardioid capsule and the other is omni, so you can be prepared for any number of recording situations.
For tight and focused close-miking, pop on the cardioid capsule. For ambient recordings with more room sound, the omni capsule is ready to go.
Build Quality
The overall build quality is exceptional. The capsules are individually hand-tuned, the JFET amp is built in the US, and every unit is designed and tested in California. The whole LA-120 signal path, down to the capacitors and resistors, uses all premium components for the lowest noise, lowest distortion, and cleanest, most transparent reproduction possible.
How Does the LA-120 Mic Pair Sound?
The Lauten Audio LA-120 is an extremely articulate microphone with exceptional transient response and reproduction. Unlike many microphones that deliberately impart color on a sound, the LA-120 is meant to be completely transparent. The idea is that you’d capture the sound source exactly as it is, for a natural and realistic sound that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Add in the pair of filters, switchable capsules, and in-line pads for loud sound sources, and you have a microphone that isn’t only “flat” and natural, but equally versatile.
Where Does the LA-120 Stand Out?
The LA-120 excels at drum overheads, piano, acoustic guitar, strings, and choir/vocal ensembles. However, they certainly aren’t limited to just that. You could potentially record loud sound sources like snare drum or toms by flipping a switch and engaging the pad. Since they come as a pair, the LA-120s naturally stand out in stereo mic configurations to create a complete image of an instrument with unparalleled hi-fi realism.
Who Would Benefit from Using These Mics?
These would make an excellent first pair of small-diaphragm condensers for someone fleshing out their mic collection. That’s due to their affordability and feature-richness. Veteran engineers alike would enjoy these microphones as something unique and innovative to add to their arsenal.
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There isn’t really a singular individual who would benefit from the LA-120s, but rather anyone shopping for a quality stereo pair of small-diaphragm condensers. Upon review, the Lauten Audio LA-120 could find a home anywhere.
Lauten Audio’s V2 LA-120 Offer Professional Tone & Sound Quality at an Affordable Price
We’ve sung Lauten’s praises time and time again, and that wouldn’t be the case if they hadn’t done something great. The Lauten Audio LA-120 is simply a fantastic pair of small-diaphragm condensers that performs exceptionally well under a multitude of recording situations. It’s hard to find this number of features and sound quality in a pair of mics at this price, so Lauten definitely intends to lead the pack in that regard.
In our assessment and review, the Lauten Audio LA-120 is a rock-solid microphone in just about every way.