Audio Technica AE2500
Cardioid condenser and dynamic dual-element instrument microphone
Description
The Audio-Technica AE2500 is built around a genuinely uncommon idea for a single microphone. It houses both a condenser element and a dynamic element in one cardioid capsule, capturing two very different characteristics of a sound source at once rather than forcing an engineer to choose between them.
Marketed by Audio-Technica as a purpose-built kick-drum microphone, the dynamic element is positioned to pick up the aggressive transient attack of the beater hitting the head. On the other hand the condenser element captures the fuller, rounder low-frequency tonality of the shell resonating behind it.
Since both elements sit inside the same housing rather than being two separate mics aimed at the same source, they stay in a tight phase relationship that's difficult to reproduce by physically placing two standalone microphones. This helps sound engineers blend the two outputs at the console to dial in exactly how much attack versus body they want in the final sound.
Each element outputs independently through the AE2500's integral 5-pin XLRM connector and included Y-cable. This allows a mixing engineer to use two separate signals with one dynamic and one condenser, treated as two individual microphone channels instead of having a single blended feed.
The condenser side includes its own 80 Hz high-pass filter and 10 dB pad, giving engineers control over low-end rumble and headroom before the signal even reaches the console. The microphone can handle up to 158 dB SPL with the pad engaged.
Specifications and Construction
Frequency response spans 20 Hz17 kHz on the condenser element and 30 Hz10 kHz on the dynamic element, with the condenser requiring 1152V phantom power.
Layered resistive mesh over the dynamic element's side-entry ports shapes off-axis rejection with precision. The condenser diaphragm is aged and tensioned for long-term consistency under repeated studio and stage use.
The mic ships with an AT8471 isolation clamp, a threaded stand adapter, a protective pouch, and a 16.5-foot dual-shielded output cable.
