Mice A6PRO and Mice U24-A1L — recording microphones with a large 34 mm capsule
Ningbo AiYinMei (AYM) Electroacoustic Technology Co is the new name of the modernized Ningbo Yinzhou Tongxin (MICE) electronics factory. Founded in 2005, AYM is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in research, development, production, and sales of studio recording products. The company makes loudspeakers, high-quality studio microphones, headphones, and microphone accessories. Microphones and capsules are its main specialty and a source of pride.
Today we will look at the Mice A6PRO studio microphone and Mice U24-A1L USB microphone.
These microphones are interesting mainly for their 34 mm large-diaphragm true condenser capsules at very affordable prices. Large capsules are rare in competing microphones at this price. This is the first time we have seen such a capsule in a microphone with an integrated USB interface.
Our short video introduces the main features and shows the Mice A6PRO in professional recording use. The video is in 4K, so we recommend watching full-screen:
Mice A6PRO
The Mice A6PRO is a conventional studio condenser microphone. It needs a microphone preamp with +48 V phantom power, such as a professional recording interface or mixer. It comes in a good rigid storage case with an elastic shock mount. A foam windscreen is also included.
Mice A6PRO specifications
| Capsule | 34 mm condenser |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Maximum SPL | 135 dB |
| Frequency range | 20 Hz–20 kHz |
| Sensitivity | -34 dB ±2 dB (0 dB = 1 V/Pa at 1 kHz) |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 80 dB |
| Equivalent noise level, A-weighted | 14 dB |
| Nominal impedance | 210 ohms, ±30% |
| Nominal load impedance | 1 kohm |
| Required power supply | 48 V |
| Connections | XLR |
| Weight | 420 g |
| Package contents | Case, shock mount, foam windscreen |
The Mice A6PRO has a traditional studio microphone design: a solid cylindrical metal housing and a metal grille protecting the capsule.
The microphone has one fixed cardioid polar pattern. The active side of the capsule faces the manufacturer's logo. A cardioid symbol marks this direction on the same side, next to the operating switches.
The left switch enables the low-cut filter. According to the manufacturer, it has an 80 Hz cutoff and a 6 dB-per-octave slope.
The right switch enables a pad that reduces sensitivity by 10 dB.
The capsule has a large, gold-plated 34 mm diaphragm. As on expensive microphones, there are no extra protective screens beyond the metal mesh grille. A pop filter is therefore necessary for voice, especially at close range. It protects against breath and saliva. The foam windscreen can serve a similar purpose, but a pop filter is more effective. These microphones must never be dropped. After recording, put the microphone back in its case. This also protects the capsule surface from dust and dirt.
Inside is a full discrete circuit using field-effect transistors. Many components sit on two circuit boards securely attached to the housing chassis. Assembly is neat and reliable. The stated specifications are very good: sensitivity is -34 dB and self-noise only 14 dB.
The supplied shock mount has a strong metal structure and allows any microphone angle. A nut secures the microphone firmly in the basket. Rubber suspension elements hold it well even horizontally. An opening at the front allows a pop filter to be placed very close.
Two spare suspension rings are included for replacement if the originals wear out or become damaged.
The manufacturer's measurements show an almost linear frequency response. The graph has a very even midrange, with a small roll-off below 50 Hz and above 10 kHz. The polar plot shows a consistent cardioid pattern at all frequencies.
Mice U24-A1L
The Mice U24-A1L has an integrated USB interface. USB microphones usually use small electret capsules, saving money on both the capsule and electronics. The U24-A1L is different: its large 34 mm condenser capsule makes it very attractive.
The full-size capsule causes no extra difficulty for the user. The U24-A works like a normal USB microphone and needs no separate sound card. Connect it to a free USB port and the system detects a standard device with an input and output. Select that device in the application settings to start.
Unfortunately, the microphone has no dedicated ASIO driver for professional digital audio workstations (DAWs). For that use, install the free universal driver, ASIO4ALL.
Mice U24-A1L specifications
| Capsule | 34 mm condenser |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Maximum SPL | 130 dB (<1% THD) |
| Frequency range | 20 Hz–20 kHz |
| Sensitivity | -36 dB ±2 dB (0 dB = 1 V/Pa at 1 kHz) |
| Built-in audio interface | USB 2.0 (24-bit/192 kHz) |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (DAC/ADC) | 87 dB |
| Dynamic range | 92 dB |
| Connections | USB, Type C |
| Headphone output | Mini-jack, 130 mW |
| Dimensions | 48 × 180 mm |
| Package contents | Shock mount, desktop stand, USB cable |
The microphone connects through a USB Type-C port on the bottom. A two-meter cable is included.
Two hardware controls adjust gain and headphone volume. Headphones connect to a standard 3.5 mm mini-jack socket.
Switches also enable the low-cut filter and pad.
When the microphone connects to a computer, an LED under the grille lights the capsule. The effect looks especially good in low light.
The full 34 mm condenser capsule provides a cardioid polar pattern.
The electronics use a new-series CMedia CM6533 integrated chip. This combines a USB controller, headphone amplifier, and DAC/ADC. Recording specifications are a dynamic range of 88 dB and THD+N of -85 dB.
The heavy desktop stand raises the microphone to 20 cm. Its heavy alloy base holds the microphone much more securely than typical desktop tripods. The elastic shock mount follows the A6PRO design. It is all metal and grips the microphone firmly. Its standard thread also allows use with any other microphone stand or boom arm.
Recording quality
We tested the microphones on different sources in studio conditions. Their high professional sound quality pleasantly surprised us. We were especially interested in the studio A6PRO, because it can use a high-quality preamp and any professional recording interface. Our tests showed that it is a very successful design. At its affordable price, it is a strong contender for a leading position.
We consider the large diaphragm fully justified. The microphone provides high detail and a well-defined midrange. Affordable microphones often have a characteristic hollow resonance at 100–300 Hz that cannot be removed with EQ without harming the wanted signal. The A6PRO has no such problem. Voice sounds natural in the lower midrange. The treble is also good: fairly smooth, without the unwanted sounds and artifacts typical of cheap models. The A6PRO does not quite match a Neumann TLM 102, but it comes close. It sounds far better than all the affordable Asian microphones we tested before. We strongly recommend considering the A6PRO when choosing an affordable studio microphone. You should be pleased with the result.
The Mice U24-A1L USB model is also interesting and can give good results. In our view, the U24-A1 is better suited to streaming and video blogging applications than studio work. It is also an excellent replacement for a webcam or headset microphone. Direct hardware monitoring, a pad, and a low-cut filter are important benefits for live broadcasts.
Conclusions
Discovering Mice introduced us to another excellent affordable microphone. The A6PRO is very interesting and deserves close attention. We can confidently recommend it as an alternative to affordable models from established brands. The U24-A1L USB microphone is also interesting for bloggers. Both microphones have very good accessory packages and useful features: a low-cut filter and a pad for loud sources.
Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/mice-a6pro.shtml.