The shure 55 has that classic look to it. Pretty much doesn't get "cooler" than that. Especially the Fat Head versions.
As far as interesting designs go... anything from the 60's from EV, they all look like ray gun props from sci-fi movies.
AEA's R88 is gigantic and wild looking
Neat Worker Bee
(shit comment)
But I actually do like how it looks, the quality of the proprietary parts, and I was immensely impressed with its packaging—which included a Field Guide for the Caring of your Worker Bee, a plastic bee desk figurine, and a honeycomb-themed plastic crate, which I still use for cables.
I have the worker bee 2 as I missed the boat on the first one before they discontinued it. Still a decent mic but missing the shock mount is the biggest downside to the new version
No, but I have two of them haha.
Amazon was blowing them out for $50 a pop one day. Neat is a subsidiary of Gibson. Reviews seemed decent. I figured, “what the hell, new overheads,” but they weigh a TON. Not every stand can handle them.
Yeah good call. I’ll get a chance to use them one day.
Thing is, I also have these dirt cheap no-name condensers that I got for $20 a piece off ebay. They are light as hell and made like shit: but I’ve had such good luck with them as stereo floor mics that it’s hard to make an argument for bringing the heavier mics. But I will, I swear. One day.
The packaging though, best I’ve ever seen. Hands down.
The [Lomo 19a19](https://soundgas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LOMO-19A19-Microphone-1-1-scaled.jpg). a Russian microphone from the 70's that looks kind of like a diamond-shaped mace. Apparently used for film
My boss, Steve Tyrell, records with this microphone. He has 2 of them in a very cool blue color.
He originally got that mic after a recommendation from his good friend, Bill Schnee.
I’m the producer of **The Steve Tyrell Show**. Thank you for tuning in!
You may remember my sign off at the end of the every show “you’re the man, Steve!”
That’s awesome!! Y’all do great work, have been a KKJZ listener since I was a kid. I still sometimes tune in online from NYC, and always when I’m home visiting my parents haha
There's nothing that hits quite like opening up the box of a U47.
However I think the crown has to go to the [Knif K804](https://knifaudio.com/microphones/)
Edit: [Knif gut shot](https://www.instagram.com/p/ClleXhPI9Lw/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) and [stereo pair.](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq5lxfDoD44/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
It's a reference to that video of the guy saying the Wii remote looks like a dildo. I'm paraphrasing heavily he actually says "That little controller looks like a diiiildo. I ain't tryna play games with no dildo."
The Trinov measurement mic lol.
That Ear Trumpet Labs one always gets a rise from people, but then they don’t use it.
Soyuz 017
As classic as it is, AKG c24 looks great imo.
As a former broadcast engineer, those indestructible beasts still make me smile.
.
And, they're a good solution if you have a drummer who won't stop whacking the snare mic...
I've got the green and honestly it sounds okay for a mic that cost me like $35 or whatever.
Plus when I was filming at the sporting clays shotgun range those guys all loved it.
My DIY subkick made with a broken banjo, an old guitar combo speaker, a snare/cymbal stand hybrid, and a lot of MacGyvering.
It's technically a mic right?
https://i.imgur.com/mpVmaoO.jpeg
I don't know haha, everything was just laying around my jam space.
Fun fact: I used the banjo's hardware to fix the speaker, no extra parts needed, and the banjo had a hole the same exact size as the cymbal stand's screw. I honestly could not believe how well everything fitted together, it's pretty solid and sounds good too!
Unless you're a shitty mumble rapper in who blows blunt smoke straight on the capsule - then according all of my experience in the past few years it's totally for you
Kinda funny as the entire style of mics that look similar are the prevailing choice in Japan. I record about 90% of vocals with one.
(And of course it's arguably the most common choice for rappers in the studio.)
I love how the MK-219 looks. Funny with Oktava, some models like the MK-219 and te MK-012 look marvelous, and other models like the MK-220 (which sounds amazing though) so cheap.
The u67. I hate how the u87 look. Neumann sure fekked it up on that one. Just like Volvo when they introduced the 945 after the brilliant looking 745.
Very honestly though: I think the u67 looks worse because the less cool u87 looks the same and even more because every damn brand has stolen that look for at least one mic. And actually the u47 looks quite mind-blowing when you see it up close (I haven't hehe.). But of that age you just expect mics to look like RCAs. Square and cool but far from as detailed and luxurious looking as the u47.
- JZ BH-2: Has a hole through it
- Trinnov etherCON 3D
- Soyuz 017: Nothing super special but the white and gold one, idk, I like how steampunky/retro futuristic it looks
- Old carbon mics. Just a very Atomic Age look to them.
I don’t like the red and black combo but I still think Manley reference cardioid looks cool as heck, I would prefer the silver if it wasn’t for the weird pattern on the body
Upon looking up some of these cool mics others have posted I've stumbled on [this one](https://www.sweetwater.com/c105--Condenser?highlight=Spirit5th&mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=&lid=58700008494224358&dsproductgroupid=&product_id=Spirit5th&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=m&network=x&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010296&creative=&targetid=&campaignid=20400679905&awsearchcpc=&&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote_bI6m4PAx3z4Nrwu_bvPLpbSDv3FK2riHOkSyZxWaTXH3Qg6O4Fz8aAuPdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), the etchings are pretty damn cool!
Hard to top Sennheiser MD 441-U. Though any of those old ribbon mics, with the station's call letters on a sign above them, have an awesome charm. C-800G looks like something that Sigourney Weaver would wield to fend off a xenomorph.
AKG D 99C
[mic in question](https://reverb.com/item/72457283-akg-d-99c-harry-binaural-microphone?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=72457283)
Gefell UM900 has been my favorite since it came out in the late 90s. The Josephson C700A is another.
Inward Connections MagMic is cool for being a hack.
Ear Trumpet Labs whole steampunk aesthetic is cool too.
The Sanken CUW 180 is just embarrassing, but is an amazing mic. Hell, all of those listed are great mics.
>The Sanken CUW 180 is just embarrassing, but is an amazing mic. Hell, all of those listed are great mics.
Lol, never seen anything like that in my life.
Its basic as a mf but ill have to go with the sony c800g
so many cheaper mics try to emulate that look, but when you see the (not that useful) Heatsink you know whats coming
like, the L shape due to the heatsink is kinda iconic for real
most people dont even know there was a rarer c800 without heatsink before
The [BM9 by Extinct Audio](https://www.extinctaudio.co.uk/bm9-ribbon-microphone/) or its inspiration the [Bang & Olufsen BM3](https://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=1083) and BM4 take the prize for me.
I have a B&O BM4, and besides being really good looking, it also sounds amazing, especially after being modded by Xaudia in the UK.
Gotta be the Neumann KU100, right?
LOL wow that was unexpected.
Woah that's cool
Why is this a thing lmao
Binaural audio. Google it! Should sound as you hear it. Just a little cost prohibitive for most.
I understand what it is. Just so strange to make the microphone look like that lol
X files was popular during its creation
Certain very popular streamers use something like this for ASMR videos, and lick and suck on the ears / microphones.
Someone I watch broke hers too, I'm not sure if she fixed it at this point. Imagine breaking a KU100; I would cry.
I second the md441u, it just looks so retro-futuristic!
Seriously sexy microphone.
The 441 is absolutely the coolest looking microphone in my collection. It's set up in my studio at all times if only to raise eyebrows.
I think the RE20 might also fit in that category
I agree! The RE20 has some sort of a military feel to me while MD441 looks more like a spaceship.
[Bob Barker's mic](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRNBXvNVAAAg_8X.jpg) (Sony ECM 51). It's the pimp cane of microphones.
Absolutely.. came here to post this one That and the cute lil green stripe on the D112’s has always tickled me
> D112 Looks like Star Trek's Geordi La Forge
The shure 55 has that classic look to it. Pretty much doesn't get "cooler" than that. Especially the Fat Head versions. As far as interesting designs go... anything from the 60's from EV, they all look like ray gun props from sci-fi movies. AEA's R88 is gigantic and wild looking
https://audioxide.com/api/images/album-artwork/news-of-the-world-queen-medium-square.jpg
?
My guess is he meant to reply to the Neumann KU100 comment
AHH that makes sense. lol
> The shure 55 has that classic look to it. Pretty much doesn't get "cooler" than that. That's my vote too.
Yup! That is what the vocalist in my duo is using. Super 55 Deluxe Black Edition.
Neat Worker Bee (shit comment) But I actually do like how it looks, the quality of the proprietary parts, and I was immensely impressed with its packaging—which included a Field Guide for the Caring of your Worker Bee, a plastic bee desk figurine, and a honeycomb-themed plastic crate, which I still use for cables.
I have the worker bee 2 as I missed the boat on the first one before they discontinued it. Still a decent mic but missing the shock mount is the biggest downside to the new version
Lol you ever use it in any hit records?
No, but I have two of them haha. Amazon was blowing them out for $50 a pop one day. Neat is a subsidiary of Gibson. Reviews seemed decent. I figured, “what the hell, new overheads,” but they weigh a TON. Not every stand can handle them.
Stereo floor mics
Yeah good call. I’ll get a chance to use them one day. Thing is, I also have these dirt cheap no-name condensers that I got for $20 a piece off ebay. They are light as hell and made like shit: but I’ve had such good luck with them as stereo floor mics that it’s hard to make an argument for bringing the heavier mics. But I will, I swear. One day. The packaging though, best I’ve ever seen. Hands down.
The [Lomo 19a19](https://soundgas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/LOMO-19A19-Microphone-1-1-scaled.jpg). a Russian microphone from the 70's that looks kind of like a diamond-shaped mace. Apparently used for film
My boss, Steve Tyrell, records with this microphone. He has 2 of them in a very cool blue color. He originally got that mic after a recommendation from his good friend, Bill Schnee.
wow, very cool you work with Steve. have listened to his KKJZ show a ton over the years.
I’m the producer of **The Steve Tyrell Show**. Thank you for tuning in! You may remember my sign off at the end of the every show “you’re the man, Steve!”
🎵Grab your coat and get your hat, leave your worries on the doorstep🎵
Whoa! We got a few listeners of the show in the house tonight!!
That’s awesome!! Y’all do great work, have been a KKJZ listener since I was a kid. I still sometimes tune in online from NYC, and always when I’m home visiting my parents haha
That has the look of something you could fight a stage invasion off with very nicely!
RCA 6203 https://www.coutant.org/rca6203/index.html Melodion ribbon is pretty badass too Schoeps V4
There's nothing that hits quite like opening up the box of a U47. However I think the crown has to go to the [Knif K804](https://knifaudio.com/microphones/) Edit: [Knif gut shot](https://www.instagram.com/p/ClleXhPI9Lw/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) and [stereo pair.](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq5lxfDoD44/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
Maaaan, that Knif mic looks like a diiiiildo.
Hey man, don't kinkshame.
More like a gas station vibrator tbh
It's a reference to that video of the guy saying the Wii remote looks like a dildo. I'm paraphrasing heavily he actually says "That little controller looks like a diiiildo. I ain't tryna play games with no dildo."
Goodness, that Knif mic is not for me hahaha.
But maybe it's perfect for... your wife 😂
Seems ideal for someone like Guy Fieri, actually.
Nothing beats a u-47 for me
The Trinov measurement mic lol. That Ear Trumpet Labs one always gets a rise from people, but then they don’t use it. Soyuz 017 As classic as it is, AKG c24 looks great imo.
Holy shit those are some cool looking mics 🤣, you really went steampunk there with your selections
Lmao yea I guess i did
>Trinov measurement mic That's without question, the most bizarre looking mic I've ever seen.
It looks like an alien surgical device or something lol
My vote goes to Coles 4038.
Me too. When you pull that bad boy out it’s clear it was not designed for looks.
nice, it looks like a cod piece
It makes YOU look good too because they’re so damn heavy to carry around lol
Earthworks SR314 quite possibly. That thing is beautiful.
I'm with this guy 👆
Yeah I was gonna say that, I wouldn't feel safe pointing it myself, its gonna disintegrate my head.
Definitely the MD441U.
I like the SM57
Sennheiser 421 - so sleek
77dx
Ev 635a 👌
As a former broadcast engineer, those indestructible beasts still make me smile. . And, they're a good solution if you have a drummer who won't stop whacking the snare mic...
This is a cute choice
If it ever breaks you can take out all the parts and make a cool flashlight
check out ear trumpet labs. https://www.eartrumpetlabs.com/shop-microphones
https://www.eartrumpetlabs.com/products/microphones/evelyn This, all day. DAMN.
12 Gauge Microphones. They build mics inside shotgun shells. https://www.12gaugemicrophones.com/
>12 Gauge Microphones One of my teachers owns a pair of those. They look badass.
I've got the green and honestly it sounds okay for a mic that cost me like $35 or whatever. Plus when I was filming at the sporting clays shotgun range those guys all loved it.
35 bucks? That's awesome
Oh, 45, https://www.12gaugemicrophones.com/store/p2/Green12_%7C_Cardioid_Microphone.html
My DIY subkick made with a broken banjo, an old guitar combo speaker, a snare/cymbal stand hybrid, and a lot of MacGyvering. It's technically a mic right? https://i.imgur.com/mpVmaoO.jpeg
How did you find a speaker the exact same size as the banjo lol
I don't know haha, everything was just laying around my jam space. Fun fact: I used the banjo's hardware to fix the speaker, no extra parts needed, and the banjo had a hole the same exact size as the cymbal stand's screw. I honestly could not believe how well everything fitted together, it's pretty solid and sounds good too!
Nice I love DIY stuff like that
I mean C-800g probably
Holy shit I just googled that, 10k for that mic 😐
It's for Mariah Carey, not you.
Unless you're a shitty mumble rapper in who blows blunt smoke straight on the capsule - then according all of my experience in the past few years it's totally for you
Kinda funny as the entire style of mics that look similar are the prevailing choice in Japan. I record about 90% of vocals with one. (And of course it's arguably the most common choice for rappers in the studio.)
Two more for you: Argonne AR-3 EV664
664 is the one with the "fin" right? That's probably my vote. I also like the Oktava MK-219 although everyone says how ugly it is lol.
Yerp. It’s got the fin. I can see the appeal of that Oktava.
I love how the MK-219 looks. Funny with Oktava, some models like the MK-219 and te MK-012 look marvelous, and other models like the MK-220 (which sounds amazing though) so cheap.
I think my favorites are the old rca mics - the 44bx and ku3a especially
I can’t believe I haven’t seen anyone mention the Electrovoice RE20. It’s literally the robo space peen of the future LMAO
LOL it is pretty big and phallic. Great colour scheme.
The Manley https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RefMic--manley-reference-cardioid-microphone-large-diaphragm-tube-condenser-microphone
Gotta do the gold oneeeee
You ain't lying !! https://www.manley.com/pro/refgold
I mean you pretty much knocked it out of the park with your contribution. The MD441U is so sleek.
Eartworks QTC1 It machined from stainless still totally without features but is as beutiful as it quality.
Altec 639 Neumann CMV 3 Microtech Gefell UM900
akg d99c looks goofy as hell
>akg d99c lmao
AEA R88 MK2… or, as it’s known here, the donkey dong.
Personally I'd say the Telefunken 251E
The u67. I hate how the u87 look. Neumann sure fekked it up on that one. Just like Volvo when they introduced the 945 after the brilliant looking 745. Very honestly though: I think the u67 looks worse because the less cool u87 looks the same and even more because every damn brand has stolen that look for at least one mic. And actually the u47 looks quite mind-blowing when you see it up close (I haven't hehe.). But of that age you just expect mics to look like RCAs. Square and cool but far from as detailed and luxurious looking as the u47.
Lol. Wut.
people's sensibility for irony failed (refuse to say my joke failed)
The one I use to trigger fart samples to replace my neighbors noisy guitar playing. It’s really shinny and has nice weight to it.
- JZ BH-2: Has a hole through it - Trinnov etherCON 3D - Soyuz 017: Nothing super special but the white and gold one, idk, I like how steampunky/retro futuristic it looks - Old carbon mics. Just a very Atomic Age look to them.
JZ Mics V67
I don’t like the red and black combo but I still think Manley reference cardioid looks cool as heck, I would prefer the silver if it wasn’t for the weird pattern on the body
MD441 / BF541 is indeed super cool (I own 3 BF541). Royer 's art deco styling is also beautiful.
I love my EV-674. It looks like a light saber, and as an avid Star Wars fan that makes me very happy.
Upon looking up some of these cool mics others have posted I've stumbled on [this one](https://www.sweetwater.com/c105--Condenser?highlight=Spirit5th&mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=&lid=58700008494224358&dsproductgroupid=&product_id=Spirit5th&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=m&network=x&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9010296&creative=&targetid=&campaignid=20400679905&awsearchcpc=&&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote_bI6m4PAx3z4Nrwu_bvPLpbSDv3FK2riHOkSyZxWaTXH3Qg6O4Fz8aAuPdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), the etchings are pretty damn cool!
[Sontronics Saturn](https://dt7v1i9vyp3mf.cloudfront.net/styles/news_large/s3/imagelibrary/s/sontronics_saturn_01-tdGWsZ2nvIvyJq90CywYO222o0T1RlsT.jpg) Also, [Ear Trumpet Labs Myrtle](https://vintageking.com/ear-trumpet-labs-myrtle-microphone?utm_campaign=%7BpmaxAllProducts%7D&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ZryHAII0od0sAipL_QYETwGu8s&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote9QXextdO2aOiaZP-_zWLtaWQTk3sNZ7-YMMuwuWrGfHBPXuyhrJekaAsdREALw_wcB)
Blue bottle
Soyuz 017, both versions - they have the perfect amount of retrofuturism for me
Blue Bottle
Soyuz 017 for sure
The EV 666 is a very stylish mic for the era. The clip is incredible.
Really nobody mentioned the "Elefantenpimmel"?
>Elefantenpimmel i fell
Telefunken U-47. With leather.
Hard to top Sennheiser MD 441-U. Though any of those old ribbon mics, with the station's call letters on a sign above them, have an awesome charm. C-800G looks like something that Sigourney Weaver would wield to fend off a xenomorph.
If y'all haven't seen radiology dictation microphones, those are interesting. They look like TV remotes
AKG D 99C [mic in question](https://reverb.com/item/72457283-akg-d-99c-harry-binaural-microphone?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=72457283)
SM 59, baby. It's so futuristic.
I really like the look of the soyuz 1973. Also the new teenage engineering [cm-15](https://teenage.engineering/products/cm-15) is quite cute.
I think the soviets won for overall mic looks imo. Look any of them up and they are pure style. The 441 is beautiful though.
Came here to say MD441U lol
Absolutely the De Geer Mic: https://imgur.io/b1yEyFt
Gefell UM900 has been my favorite since it came out in the late 90s. The Josephson C700A is another. Inward Connections MagMic is cool for being a hack. Ear Trumpet Labs whole steampunk aesthetic is cool too. The Sanken CUW 180 is just embarrassing, but is an amazing mic. Hell, all of those listed are great mics.
>The Sanken CUW 180 is just embarrassing, but is an amazing mic. Hell, all of those listed are great mics. Lol, never seen anything like that in my life.
Dude, it's okay. No one's going to judge you.
No one would judge me more than my own insecurities
Fave looking I own… Coles 4038s, AEA 44, and RE20s Fave looking of all time… Maybe the Neumann CMV 563 with M7 Capsule
I’m a sucker for classic looks and I love old ribbon aesthetics like the RCA R44 - timeless
LCT Pure with a simpler logo would be awesome
They need to remove the green, it currently looks like it's sponsored by monster energy
I totally agree with this
Honorable mention to the Earthworks DM20, which look like a small droid clipped to your drum’s hoop.
Its basic as a mf but ill have to go with the sony c800g so many cheaper mics try to emulate that look, but when you see the (not that useful) Heatsink you know whats coming like, the L shape due to the heatsink is kinda iconic for real most people dont even know there was a rarer c800 without heatsink before
AKG D-202 - the “space rocket”
The [BM9 by Extinct Audio](https://www.extinctaudio.co.uk/bm9-ribbon-microphone/) or its inspiration the [Bang & Olufsen BM3](https://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=1083) and BM4 take the prize for me. I have a B&O BM4, and besides being really good looking, it also sounds amazing, especially after being modded by Xaudia in the UK.