Guitar World Verdict
The Warm Audio Fen-Tone WA-FT is an affordable, professional-quality ribbon mic that delivers the polished, natural-sounding tones that have made ribbon mics the preferred approach for miking guitar cabinets and many other instruments over the last 20 years.
Pros
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Affordably priced.
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Warm, natural sound with reduced high-end harshness.
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Can handle SPL up to 148dB.
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Built-in +26dB gain lifter/preamp makes it easy to use with audio interfaces and mic preamps that typically don’t provide ample gain for ribbon mics.
Cons
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The ribbon element is susceptible to damage from forceful bursts of air.
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An external high-gain pro mic preamp is recommended to get the best performance from the mic, which adds to the overall expense.
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What is it?
Even the most modest home studio should have a decent variety of microphones at its disposal.
The proliferation of high-quality, inexpensive condenser and dynamic mics introduced over the last few decades has helped aspiring engineers reach this goal somewhat.
However, many studios still lack a ribbon microphone, which is a versatile mic for capturing great sounding recordings in numerous applications, particularly miking guitar cabinets.
Until recently, ribbon mics were rather expensive, required a high-quality, high-gain mic preamp and were notoriously fragile and unable to handle high sound-pressure levels (SPL).
Warm Audio’s new Fen-Tone WA-FT selectable passive/active ribbon mic combines classic, compact, pencil-style ribbon mic design with modern features like a built-in selectable +26dB in-line preamp/gain-lifter, custom Japanese 1.8-microns thick aluminum ribbon, Neodymium magnets, USA-made Cinemag transformer and the ability to handle high SPLs up to 148dB.
Specs
- Launch price: $699/£599/€698
- Type: Ribbon mic
- Features: Selectable 26dB In-Line Warm Lifter Preamp (Phantom Power Required), five-year warranty, single mic includes heavy-duty flight case, mic clip and protective sock
- Frequency Response: 30 Hz-15 kHz (+/- 3db)
- Max SPL: 148dB (1kHz≤1%T.H.D)
- Output Impedance: 300 Ohms (Passive) 150 Ohms (Active)
- Sensitivity (Passive): -47 dBv Re. 1v/pa | (Active): -21 dBv Re. 1v/pa
- Weight: 0.67lbs / 0.30kg
- Contact: Warm Audio
Usability and sounds
Ribbon mics typically feature a figure-8 polar pattern, and the Fen-Tone is no exception. The ribbon element picks up sound from the front and the back while eliminating sound coming from the sides, which makes it great for applications like miking a guitar cabinet and simultaneously capturing the room sound or recording two acoustic guitar players facing each other.
The Fen-Tone WA-FT is durably built to last a lifetime
Unlike the figure-8 patterns on many ribbon mics that have “bright” and “dark” sides, the Fen-Tone’s central ribbon placement provides consistent sound quality on either side.
A small switch below the ribbon element allows users to select a passive or active setting, with the latter engaging the +26dB gain lifter for use with audio interfaces or mic preamps that may not have ample gain. The active setting also requires +48V phantom power.
A high-gain mic preamp, ideally one that provides 65dB gain, is required for passive mode and is highly recommended if you want to maximize the Fen-Tone’s impressive performance.
With its chrome-plated housing, bullet-shape design, slotted grill and neodymium magnet “wings” on either side of the ribbon element, the Fen-Tone WA-FT is durably built to last a lifetime. The mic comes with a padded carrying case and mic sock to protect the mic in transport or storage, and a mic clip is also included.
The Fen-Tone WA-FT’s 30Hz-15kHz frequency response captures warm, natural sound without harsh high frequency overtones, making it ideal for miking guitar cabs and overhead drums and cymbals.
The bass response is especially impressive, delivering tight, focused and detailed low end without excessive boom or flabbiness. I found myself using less EQ and lighter compression on my guitar tracks while mixing, as the overall sound captured by the mic was close to finished quality.
The natural “air” of the room sound captured behind the mic also provided a sense of dimension and space superior to using reverb in post processing.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★½
Although the Fen-Tone can handle high SPLs extremely well without distortion, I still recommend being as cautious as one would be with older, more fragile ribbon mics.
If you can feel the speakers moving air you should consider placing the mic further away
The ribbon element is still quite sensitive to explosive blasts of air, so it shouldn’t be placed near bass ports, extremely expressive singers (a pop filter is absolutely essential) or amp/speaker rigs with especially percussive attack – if you can feel the speakers moving air you should consider placing the mic further away.
Guitar World verdict: The Warm Audio Fen-Tone WA-FT is an affordable, professional-quality ribbon mic that delivers the polished, natural-sounding tones that have made ribbon mics the preferred approach for miking guitar cabinets and many other instruments over the last 20 years.
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