Pinnacle Microphones FAT Top Ribbon Microphone
Best ribbon pair for warming up bright digital recordings.
Experience a smooth, warm, and well-rounded sound with this ribbon microphone stereo pair. Designed to naturally tame bright audio sources, this microphone pair excels at capturing natural-sounding vocals and instruments without extensive EQ. Its bidirectional polar pattern provides excellent sonic isolation, while the high SPL handling accommodates loud sources like guitar cabinets. Ideal for warming up digital recordings, this versatile pair is a valuable tool for both studio and stage applications, offering a rich and natural audio capture.
$625.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
272
/ 3374
#272 in Microphones
Price vs Category Average
-10%
Below average
Microphone Type
Ribbon
/ Ribbon
Who it's for
- Engineers seeking vintage warmth for harsh sound sources
- Studio recordists tracking loud guitar amps and drum kits
- Producers utilizing advanced stereo miking techniques
Who should skip it
- Users lacking high-gain preamps or inline signal boosters
- Engineers requiring modern high-frequency air and sparkle
- Beginners needing a durable mic for vocal plosives
Performance breakdown
High-Frequency Taming
Effortlessly smooths out harsh transients for a natural, vintage-inspired sound.
SPL Handling
Robust ribbon design manages loud guitar cabinets without compromising audio integrity.
Stereo Imaging
Blumlein bar inclusion makes capturing immersive, wide stereo soundscapes incredibly simple.
Isolation Precision
Symmetrical figure-eight pattern provides reliable rejection of unwanted off-axis noise.
Digital Warmth
Adds essential analog character to sterile, clinical digital recording chains.
Build Durability
High-purity aluminum ribbon offers professional performance with standard studio care.
Key Specs
Microphone Type
Ribbon
Ribbon Type
99.99% Pure Aluminum, 2.5 microns
Mono/Stereo
Stereo Pair
Polar Pattern
Symmetrical Figure-8 (Bidirectional)
Frequency Response
30Hz-15kHz (±3dB)
Max SPL
135dB SPL (1kHz at 1% THD)
Output Impedance
200 ohms
Signal to Noise Ratio
70dB
Know before you buy
Ribbon microphones like the FAT Top naturally roll off high-frequency harshness, which helps counteract the sometimes clinical or brittle sound of digital recording chains. This results in a warmer, more analog-style character that sits more naturally in a mix.
Yes. With a maximum SPL rating of 135dB, these microphones are built to handle high-volume sources like guitar amplifiers without distorting the ribbon element.
The figure-8 pattern captures sound equally from the front and back while rejecting audio from the sides. This is excellent for isolating specific instruments or capturing two performers facing each other, but you must be mindful of your room acoustics since the rear of the mic is also live.
While they work with standard audio interfaces, ribbon microphones generally have lower output levels than condenser mics. You will get the best results using a preamp with clean, high-gain capabilities to ensure you have enough headroom without introducing unwanted noise.
The set comes as a complete stereo pair, including two shockmounts to reduce handling noise and a Blumlein bar, which allows you to mount both microphones together for precise stereo imaging.
Absolutely. Their natural, smooth frequency response is ideal for acoustic instruments, as it captures the body and resonance of the instrument without emphasizing the sharp, metallic transients that can sometimes sound harsh with condenser microphones.
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