Austrian Audio OD505

The OD505 addresses a classic stage-mic trade-off: dynamic capsules handle high SPL well but have lower sensitivity and need stronger preamp gain, while condensers sound more open but are more fragile. Active circuitry powered by 48V phantom raises the front capsule's output to 4.4 mV/Pa — nearly condenser-level — while keeping the heavy die-cast body typical of stage mics. A supercardioid pattern and a 35 Hz–16 kHz frequency range give a maximum SPL of 154 dB.

A second capsule as a handling-noise canceller

A common problem with handheld mics: a vocalist gripping the mic during a performance generates handling noise and transmitted vibration straight into the capsule. The OD505 solves this with a passive lower capsule wired in reverse polarity relative to the main capsule — both pick up handling noise equally, but summing the two signals cancels it out, while the wanted vocal signal is captured almost exclusively by the active front capsule. The result is noticeably lower handling noise without reaching for extra noise gates on the console.

Consistent output level regardless of cable length

Classic high-impedance dynamic mics lose high frequencies and signal level over long cable runs, a real issue on large stages with a distant FOH position. The OD505's active electronics compensate for this, delivering a stable output level regardless of preamp input impedance or cable length — a 6-8 dB gain boost over a standard dynamic mic means the signal stays consistent from soundcheck through the last song of the set, without manual gain riding between positions.

KEY FEATURES

• Active dynamic microphone with a dual ODC50 capsule
• Supercardioid pattern with strong off-axis rejection
• Reverse-polarity passive rear capsule reducing handling noise
• 3D Pop Noise Diffuser reducing plosives without dulling the top end
• Switchable 120 Hz high-pass filter (2nd order)
• 6-8 dB output gain over a standard dynamic microphone
• Rugged die-cast body with a steel protective grille
• 48V phantom power

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: active dynamic, dual capsule
• Polar pattern: supercardioid
• Frequency range: 35 Hz - 16 kHz
• Sensitivity: 4.4 mV/Pa
• Maximum SPL: 154 dB SPL
• Low cut filter: 120 Hz (2nd order)
• Load impedance: >1 kΩ
• Power: 48V phantom (<1 mA)
• Connector: 3-pin XLR