Royer Labs have announced the release of the R-10 Hot Rod, an upgraded version of their popular R-10 ribbon microphone that has been developed in celebration of the company’s 25th anniversary.
The Hot Rod retains the transducer and internal shockmount design of the original R-10 along with its three-layer wind-screen system, both of which offer excellent protection and have helped to make the microphone a popular choice for use in live situations. It also features an open grille which has been designed to reduce the comb filtering effects that can be introduced by standing waves.
The output stage is where the microphone starts to differ from the original model, with Royer employing a custom Anniversary Edition transformer that provides an additional 5dB of output when compared to the standard R-10, as well as offering what the company describe as a “punchier feel and increased low-mid-range focus”. Some small visual tweaks have also been implemented, with the Hot Rod sporting a black badge and accents that help to distinguish it from the standard model.
As with the R-10, the Hot Rod is likely to remain a popular choice for capturing guitar cabinets, and promises to deliver all of the low- and mid-range warmth and punch that Royer have become known for, whilst responding well to EQ when some more emphasis of high-frequency content is required. Despite its status as a go-to guitar mic, the company say that the Hot Rod is equally capable on a wide range of sources, providing full-bodied drum with a realistic transient response, as well as excelling when being used as a room mic and offering a natural sound that fits neatly into a mix when used to capture acoustic instruments.
The microphone also utilises Royer’s patented offset-ribbon design, which places the ribbon element towards the front of the transducer, allowing for high SPL handling on the front side (the side with the logo), whilst providing a brighter response for recording lower level sound sources with the rear.
Watch our Royer Labs Video Report from NAMM 2023 to learn more.
Key Specs
- Polar pattern: Figure-of-eight
- Frequency response: 30Hz to 15,000Hz (+/- 3dB)
- Maximum SPL: 135dB at 50 Hz, 160dB at 1kHz
- Sensitivity: -48dBv (re. 1v/pa)
Pricing & Availability
The R-10 Hot Rod is available now, priced at $899€999.
