Detail 01
2.5-micron aluminum ribbon
Extremely thin element. It responds fast to transients but a blast of air or a dropped mic can stretch it.
Product detailSKU #1274319728020
RoyerR-121 Matched Ribbon Microphone Pair - Nickel
1/3
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A matched pair of R-121 ribbon mics in satin nickel, for engineers recording guitar cabs, brass, and drum overheads in stereo.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Blumlein or mid-side stereo on drum kits and rooms
- Matched pair on a stereo guitar cab or brass section
- Taming harsh top end on loud amplified sources
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Anyone whose preamp cannot supply 60 dB of quiet gain
- Chasing air above 15 kHz on vocals or acoustic guitar
- Live stage use — ribbons are fragile and this is a studio pair
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Figure-8 pattern
Picks up equally front and back, rejects hard at the sides. That rear lobe hears the room, so placement matters.
Detail 03
30 Hz to 15 kHz, ±3 dB
Rolls off above 15k, which is why loud cabs and brass sound smooth instead of harsh through it.
Detail 04
–50 dBv sensitivity
Quiet output. You will run the preamp much higher than with a condenser, so preamp noise becomes audible.
Detail 05
300 ohm output into a >1,500 ohm rated load
Needs a preamp input of at least 1.5 kohms. Lower-impedance inputs thin out the low end.
Detail 06
Max SPL over 135 dB
Handles a cranked guitar cab up close without the ribbon giving up on the loud parts.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Passive ribbon — do not send phantom power, and never patch with phantom already on
- 02Store and move it vertically; a loose ribbon element sags over time
- 03Matched pair means the two are paired for stereo — keep them together
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Do these need phantom power?
No. These are passive ribbons. Phantom power is not required and switching it on while patching can damage the ribbon element. Mute and unpatch before touching phantom.
02What preamp do I need?
One with at least 1,500 ohms input impedance and roughly 60 dB of clean, quiet gain. Output is –50 dBv, so a noisy preamp will show itself.
03Can I put one on a loud guitar cab?
Yes. Max SPL is above 135 dB, and the roll-off past 15 kHz is exactly why loud cabs sound smooth rather than brittle through it.
04Why buy the pair instead of one?
The two are matched to each other, which is what makes Blumlein, mid-side, and stereo overhead setups image correctly. Two unmatched mics will not center the same way.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
4 detailsSound
- Polar Pattern
- Figure-8
- Frequency Response
- 30–15kHz +/- 3dB
- Sensitivity
- –50dBv Re. 1v/pa
- Rated Load Impedance
- >1,500 ohms @ 300 ohms
3 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Gray
- Body Finish
- Dull satin nickel
- Finish
- Dull satin nickel
2 detailsConnections & power
- Output Impedance
- 300 ohms @ 1K (nominal)
- Output Connector
- Male XLR 3 pin (Pin 2 Hot)
2 detailsSize & weight
- Dimensions Wxl
- 58 mm, 25 mm (6.13 inch, 1 inch)
- Weight
- 244
4 detailsOther
- Magnets
- Rare earth neodymium
- Maximum SPL
- >135dB @ 20Hz
- Generating Element
- 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon
- Acoustic Operating Principle
- Electrodynamic pressure gradient
