Royer Labs R121

The Royer Labs R-121 is a flagship studio microphone that completely revolutionized the modern approach to ribbon mic recording. It was purposefully designed to withstand extremely high sound pressure levels (SPL) while maintaining the legendary, warm, and incredibly natural tone that classic ribbon designs are famous for. Thanks to its unmatched versatility, this model has become an absolute standard in premier recording studios worldwide, shining on electric guitar amps, brass instruments, drum rooms, and vocals alike.

At the heart of the microphone lies an ultra-thin, 2.5-micron pure aluminum ribbon, powered by potent rare-earth neodymium magnets. The implementation of Royer's patented offset ribbon transducer design allows the R-121 to effortlessly handle loud sound sources from the front (up to 135 dB) without risking damage to the element. Interestingly, the rear side of the microphone offers a slightly brighter response with a gentle top-end lift when used within proximity range (3 feet and closer), opening up entirely new sonic possibilities for recording engineers.

Due to its passive architecture, the microphone contains no internal active electronics, which completely eliminates the risk of induced noise, overload, or distortion even at maximum signal levels. The lack of Phantom power requirements and the ribbon element's full immunity to heat and humidity make this model exceptionally durable and reliable. The R-121 boasts a figure-8 polar pattern, a flat frequency response, and an absolute absence of high-frequency phase distortion, guaranteeing flawless audio quality and striking realism.

KEY FEATURES

• Classic, natural ribbon sound without the hyped high-end of condenser mics
• Capability to handle extremely high sound pressure levels (over 135 dB)
• Patented offset transducer assembly with a 2.5-micron pure aluminum ribbon
• No internal active electronics to overload or produce distortion at high SPLs
• Extremely low residual noise for pristine audio capture
• Ribbon element completely unaffected by adverse heat or humidity
• Total absence of high-frequency phase distortion and ringing
• Rear side of the mic offers a brighter tonal characteristic when close-miked
• Equal sensitivity from the front and back of the element (Figure-8 pattern)
• Consistent and reliable frequency response regardless of miking distance

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Operating Principle: Electrodynamic pressure gradient (Passive Ribbon)
• Polar Pattern: Figure-8 (Bi-Directional)
• Generating Element: 2.5-micron pure aluminum ribbon
• Magnets: Rare Earth Neodymium
• Frequency Response: 30 Hz - 15 kHz (+/- 3 dB)
• Sensitivity: -50 dBv Re. 1 V/Pa
• Output Impedance: 300 Ohms @ 1 kHz (nominal)
• Maximum SPL: > 135 dB @ 20 Hz
• Output Connector: Male XLR 3-pin (Pin 2 Hot)
• Dimensions (L x D): 158 x 25 mm
• Weight: 245 g