AKG's Perception 820 Tube Crosses the Pond

AKG has brought its Perception 820 Tube microphone to the United States from Europe, promising to bring a unique, warm, and rich sound to America's recording and project studios. According to the company, the Perception 820 Tube features many of the same technologies found on higher-end microphones.

"Affordable tube microphones often sound rather sterile and similar to conventional condenser microphones, but we wanted the Perception tube to have a real 'tuby,' vintage character," said Thomas Stubics, AKG's product marketing manager, in a statement. "The first prototypes still sounded too neutral for us, and it was clear that it must be possible to get more sound out of it. As we can hear now, that was true.

In addition to allowing selection of nine different pickup patterns, the remote control unit can be used to adjust the switchable bass-cut filter and the attenuation pad, says the company. More controls also provide the user with the ground lift switch that prevents unwanted hum, if necessary. The Perception 820 Tube comes complete with a spider suspension, remote control unit, mic and power cable, a metal carrying case, and a mini-poster.