According to the Vienna, Austria-based company, the capsule’s three-micron-thick gold-coated polyethylene napthalate (PEN) diaphragm is much more robust than conventional mylar alternatives. The OCC7’s filter fabric guarantees a constant broadband cancellation, resulting in cardioid characteristics with exceptional attenuation of sound coming from the sides and rear.
The capsule and transformerless output give the CC8 an extremely linear frequency response. It can handle extremely high sound pressure levels of up to 156dB SPL without distorting. Combined with a very low self-noise of only 16dB SPL (A), this results in an exceptional dynamic range. "The CC8 sounds natural and open and never becomes harsh or spiky, even at extreme volumes. The mids and highs are silky smooth, never exaggerated," Austrian Audio describes.
"The CC8 is excellent for recordings in which fast transients and spatial information needs to be captured as accurately as possible, for example for the detailed recording of acoustic instruments like in jazz ensembles, orchestras, acoustic guitars, pianos, and more," they add.
Thanks to the built-in switchable attenuation of 0 dB, -10 dB, and -20 dB, the microphone can be positioned very close to loud sound sources such as trumpets without fear of distortion. Rumble and impact noise are effectively eliminated with the switchable high-pass filter (60 Hz 2nd order, 120 Hz 2nd order).
When things get quiet and the finest nuances of, for example, a soft stringed instrument or a voice are recorded, the CC8's low self-noise comes into its own. The CC8’s small dimensions allow targeted positioning even in tight and difficult places, both in the studio and on stage.
The Austrian Audio CC8 is hand-built in Vienna. Before leaving the factory, each microphone is measured and tuned in the company's in-house anechoic chamber to a maximum tolerance of only +/- 0.5 dB sensitivity at 1 kHz. This means that any CC8 can be match-paired with any other, regardless of their production dates.
The new Austrian Audio CC8 Cardioid True Condenser Microphone will be available starting in October 2021 in Europe, priced at €399 EUR (MSRP, incl. VAT) and starting November in the US and Asia, for $479 USD (plus tax). Encased stereo sets (pictured below), containing two CC8 microphones, two OCH8 mic-clips, twp CCW8 windscreens and stereo bar, will also be available for €799 EUR / $949 USD.
Austrian Audio opened its doors in 2017 following the closure of the AKG offices in Vienna and set out to create something new, challenging, and respectful to its heritage. The new company started with a core team of previous AKG personnel from management, acoustics, electronics, test and measurement, mechanical design, RF/wireless and software/firmware, bringing 350 years of cumulative engineering experience to the new company.
www.austrian.audio
