Electro-Voice V-2A

MoMics view

Electro-Voice made a series of ribbon microphones from around 1934 onwards. - a small model called the V-1, alongside two larger brothers: the single-impedance V-2A, and the V-3 with an impedance switch at the rear. The V-2A and V-3 in particular have beautiful art-deco styling around the body and yoke. They would look good in the lobby of the Chrysler building or Empire State! 

(Marco at Vintage Microphone World also mentions a model V-4. We have never seen one.)

However, although these ribbon microphones look stunning, they sadly have some fundamental design flaws which prevent the sonic performance from reach the same heights. The V1 and V2 models have very similar ribbon motors and share the same limitations. These are...

1. The magnetic field is provided by a single cylindrical magnet at the rear of the microphone. The flux from this magnet is directed to the ribbon through thin steel and two 90 degree bends, which is an inefficient route. Needless to say that the field across the ribbon, and therefore the output level, is weak.

2. The ribbon clamps are thin and flexible when they should be rigid. To make matters worse, the electrical connection is made via a screw pushed through the centre of the ribbon. This is a point of weakness where the ribbon can start to tear.

To add to the confusion, EV made another model called the V-2, which is a totally different design, with its own set of eccentricities and design flaws.

From the Electro-Voice data sheet:

Output Level: Models V-3 and V-2A. Voltage: Hi- (25,000 ohms) (0 db = 1 volt/dyne/cm²) -53 db. RMA Sensitivity Rating -149 db. Voltage developed by normal speech .022 volt across Hi-Z output.

Internal Impedance: Model V-2A. Single impedance only. HiZ (direct to grid, 25,000 ohms) or 50, 250 or 500 ohms. Low impedances balanced to ground.

Frequency Response: Models V-3 and V-2A. 40-10,000 Hz.,substantially flat.

Polar Pattern: Bidirectional. Voltage output proportional to cosine of angle of pick-up. For all practical purposes, the frequency response remains constant at all angles of pick up.

An Xaudia blog post about servicing and updating a V2-A, with some good internal photographs.

The Coutant Website page describing EV ribbon microphones.