Design
Every great microphone starts with a great capsule. After much consideration, Vanguard chose the BeesNeez CK12 capsule for the V14. These Australian-made capsules are manufactured using modern, automated CNC processes inspired by the original vintage CK12. One of the most complex — and revered — capsule designs ever conceived, the CK12 is the beating heart of some of the most hallowed vintage microphones.
This capsule sits within the Vanguard Audio Labs chassis platform, with an open-weave headbasket for low internal reflections and a natural sound.
The Cinemag® transformer emulates the properties of the famed “T14” transformer found in vintage Austrian microphones, but uses a larger core for better low-end response, along with higher-quality alloys and precision windings.
For the V14, Vanguard Audio Labs has spared no expense in sourcing premium-grade, over-specified components from manufacturers around the world. Components within the microphone are cryogenically treated, including a hand-selected vintage GE 6072A valve. Each circuit board is soldered by hand at their workshop in California, using US-made, low-noise, precision-spec, audiophile-grade resistors.
Aesthetically, the precision-machined stainless steel body is hand-polished to a #4 grained finish. The V14’s serial number is laser-engraved on the lower rear of the microphone.
Performance
The V14 has been designed with the character of vintage Austrian-made microphones in mind, while also drawing on modern technology and design to meet the performance demands of today’s recording professionals.
The historically accurate CK12 capsule is switchable via the power supply between 9 different polar patterns.
On the rear of the microphone is a 3-way switch offering three different microphone voicings:
- Flat — an untouched signal flows straight from the valve to the output transformer.
- “251 roll-off” — a switchable capacitor giving that famous Telefunken model its signature top end.
- “Ribbon” — a thicker, warmer style of sound.
The PS-14 power supply is built like a tank, designed from the ground up to provide clean, consistent power with no drift.
