Avantone Pro CV-12-BLA Tube Condenser Microphone

This mic was great for the first three sessions (although the case had a tear in the fabric right off the bat) … After that, it started getting inconsistent and going into some sort of overdrive throughout the session to an unusable point… I contacted the company right away and then hesitated to send the microphone back because I needed to pay for shipping and was skeptical after a few reviews … The responses were very slow and discomforting… They pretended like it was a surprise or an issue they had never heard of… Just by doing a little research I see that is not the case… Anyways, I sent it off and now they’ve had it for over a month… Last week they told me it was fixed and in queue to be shipped… Never shipped… They told me they replaced a resistor and the tube… And now a week later they tell me they are sending me a replacement instead… Now I’m just sitting here with a tracking ID saying FedEx has not received the package… What a shame…. If I didn’t believe in the microphone, I promise I would leave one star…. Will follow up if I ever see my mic again.

The below is my original review of the mic. I am updating it because I want to give Pixel Pro Audio a full 5 stars. I got in contact and asked about a return and they got back to me straight away and got in touch with Avantone straight away. Avantone believed the problem could be fixed at home by me and John at Pixel Pro Audio walked me through the process and lo and behold, I now have a fully functioning CV-12 Bla. And it is awesome. Crazy low self noise and a massive sounding mic! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am giving this two stars not because of the mic. I really like the mic and I think it sounded great. The reason I say "I think" is because it arrived broken. And this is the second time I have purchased an Avantone mic and it was DOA. My first was a standard CV 12 and the mic capsule wasn't attached properly. Then I thought the BLA would suit my needs better but no matter what I did, the mic would not leave the Figure 8 polar pattern. I think the knob on the power supply was broken. It just turned infinitely as opposed to the more ridged clicky knob on the original CV12. And every position was just figure 8 or maybe Omni. So, from what I heard of the mic, I really liked the sound and I think the BLA is definitely the way to go. I just have no confidence in Avantone anymore. The mic comes with a Quality Control sheet signed by the person who apparently signed off on the mic. And maybe mine was just bashed around in transit but after two mics and two duds I think I am done with this company. It really sucks having to start a return the day the mic arrives.

The mic came on time, everything works, the case was slightly damaged. The mic is great best mic I’ve ever had.