Nordic Audio Labs NU-24K – Fixed-Cardioid Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
The NU-24K is the latest microphone from Nordic Audio Labs, designed by Martin Kantola as an entry point into the company's D100K capsule and FloFET circuit ecosystem at a more accessible price than the flagship NU-100K. It is a fixed-cardioid, transformerless, solid-state condenser with no pattern switching and no additional controls – just the capsule, the FloFET amplifier circuit, and a body engineered to the same build standard as the rest of the range. Ships in a Peli-type hard case with a Rycote InVision shockmount included. Hand-built in Finland with a 10-year warranty.
D100K Capsule and FloFET: Same Core as the NU-100K
The D100K is Nordic Audio Labs' proprietary 30mm edge-terminated capsule with an aluminium diaphragm. Edge-terminated mounting reduces the resonance artefacts common in conventional capsule designs, which translates to a frequency response that is wide and smooth without harshness in the top end – and, critically, recordings that take EQ and compression without fighting back. The FloFET circuit operates identically to the one in the NU-100K: a solid-state topology running on standard 48V phantom power that produces the harmonic saturation and dimensional quality of high-end tube microphones without requiring tubes, transformers, or an external power supply. Tape Op reviewers noted a particularly useful property of the polar pattern: lower frequencies behave closer to supercardioid, while higher frequencies open toward a wider cardioid shape. This means the microphone can be positioned further from the source to manage proximity effect without losing presence – a quality that reduces the need for de-essing and pop filtering in post.
Specifications That Matter in Practice
The frequency response of 17 Hz to 27 kHz is broader than most large-diaphragm condensers in this class. Sensitivity of 18 mV/Pa and a maximum SPL of 136 dB before clipping give the NU-24K sufficient range to handle both quiet, dynamically nuanced vocal performances and louder acoustic instruments without gain staging issues. The microphone is purpose-voiced for a full, forward modern vocal character – wide, present, and detailed without the clinical edge that makes many condensers demanding to work with in mix. The 10-year warranty reflects the build standard of hand-assembled production in Finland.
KEY FEATURES
- Fixed cardioid pattern – voiced for vocal and acoustic instrument recording
- FloFET circuit – tube-like warmth without tubes, transformers, or external PSU
- D100K capsule – 30mm, edge-terminated, aluminium diaphragm
- Frequency response: 17 Hz – 27 kHz
- Sensitivity: 18 mV/Pa
- Max SPL: 136 dB before clipping
- Smooth, phase-coherent off-axis response
- Recordings accept processing with minimal artefacts
- Includes Peli-type hard case and Rycote InVision shockmount
- Hand-built in Finland
- 10-year warranty
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: large-diaphragm condenser, fixed cardioid
- Capsule: D100K, 30mm, edge-terminated, aluminium diaphragm
- Circuit: FloFET (solid-state, transformerless, no tubes)
- Polar pattern: cardioid (fixed)
- Frequency response: 17 Hz – 27 kHz
- Sensitivity: 18 mV/Pa
- Max SPL: 136 dB (before clipping)
- Phantom power: 48V
- Dimensions: 192 x 38 mm
- Weight: 380 g
- Included accessories: Peli-type hard case, Rycote InVision shockmount
- Warranty: 10 years
- Origin: Finland (hand-assembled)
