Incredible Ribbon Sound at an Amazing Price Among studio professionals, ribbon microphones are praised as the most natural sounding mics available. That said, their amazingly open response and tendency to capture clear highs and detailed low end often mean a higher price point. For those seeking a more affordable gateway into the world of ribbon mics, the ART AR5 Active Ribbon Microphone represents a can't-miss opportunity. An integrated phantom-powered preamp module provides significantly higher gain than a traditional ribbon mic, while protecting the ribbon from potentially harmful voltage. The low-tension 2-micron aluminum ribbon forms the core of this mic, here at GearNuts, we are impressed by the astonishingly true-to-life sound that comes courtesy of the AR5's asymmetrical figure-8 pattern and extended-range frequency response. Ribbon mics are well known for being inherently fragile, but the AR5's stainless steel wire-mesh windscreen, high SPL range, and included shockmount and hard case mean that