AEA N13 NUVO Stereo Kit is a matched pair of active ribbon microphones N13 configured for Blumlein and near-coincident stereo recording, supplied with a dedicated stereo bar, SKB case, and accessories. The N13 is AEA's first departure from the Big Ribbon format — a 1.2-micron aluminum ribbon measuring 33.0 mm × 2.87 mm that delivers faster transient response and a brighter tonal balance than the 60 mm Big Ribbon used in the R88, N8, or N22. The pair is factory-calibrated to within ±0.5 dB between channels, removing the need for level-matching adjustments at every session.
Mid-Field Stereo on a Single Stand
The N13's recommended working distance is 8–36 inches — the range where the motor's low-end tuning keeps proximity effect balanced and the thin ribbon preserves transient accuracy without the compression that occurs when a large ribbon is placed too close to a source. The included Blumlein bar mounts both microphones in an X/Y 90° or near-coincident arrangement on a single stand, with no additional adapters required. A Blumlein pair of N13s above a drum kit, piano, or ensemble produces a stereo image with clear channel separation and sharp transient definition — a characteristic that Big Ribbon pairs at the same working distance typically don't deliver at mid-field. The figure-8 pattern and low-profile slate gray finish make the kit inconspicuous for orchestral, broadcast, and video recording environments where mic visibility is a concern.
Active Electronics — Compatible Across the Preamp Range
The JFET circuit with a German-made Lehle transformer — identical to the one used in the N22 and N8 — outputs 92 Ω broadband with a sensitivity of 11.48 mV/Pa (–38.8 dBV). The active electronics, powered by 48 V phantom, remove the need for a dedicated high-gain ribbon preamp. The N13 pair performs consistently from a Neve console to a USB project studio interface. Maximum SPL of 141 dB (1% THD above 1 kHz) — the same rating as the N22 and N8 — means the kit handles close miking of high-SPL sources such as brass and drums without issue, expanding usable range beyond the standard mid-field application.
KEY FEATURES
- Two matched N13 ribbon microphones, factory-calibrated to ±0.5 dB
- 1.2-micron aluminum ribbon — AEA's first non-Big Ribbon bidirectional design
- Ribbon dimensions: 33.0 mm × 2.87 mm
- Active JFET electronics + Lehle transformer (Germany) — both microphones
- Output impedance: 92 Ω broadband
- Sensitivity: 11.48 mV/Pa (–38.8 dBV) at 1 kHz, no load
- Max SPL: 141 dB (1% THD harmonic distortion >1 kHz)
- Power: P48 phantom, 7 mA (per microphone)
- Polar pattern: figure-8 (bidirectional) — both microphones
- Recommended working distance: 8–36 inches (mid-field)
- Off-axis rejection: up to 90 dB at 90°/270° (horizontal axis)
- Blumlein bar included — X/Y and near-coincident setups without additional adapters
- Kit contents: 2 × N13, Blumlein bar, SKB case, mic clips, protective sleeves
- Microphone dimensions: 225 mm × 42 mm (max.); weight approx. 325 g (each)
- Handmade in Pasadena, California, USA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (per microphone)
- Operating principle: pressure gradient transducer
- Polar pattern: figure-8 (bidirectional)
- Frequency range: <20 Hz – >20 kHz
- Max SPL: 141 dB (1% THD >1 kHz)
- Sensitivity: 11.48 mV/Pa (–38.8 dBV) at 1 kHz, no load
- Output impedance: 92 Ω broadband
- Recommended load impedance: ≥1 kΩ
- Power: P48 phantom, 7 mA
- Ribbon thickness: 1.2 µm; width: 2.87 mm; length: 33.0 mm
- Output connector: XLR-3M
- Dimensions: 225 mm (H) × 42 mm (max. diameter)
- Weight: approx. 325 g
- Made in: USA (Pasadena, CA)
