Sony C100

The Sony C100 microphone covers a response curve between 20 Hz and 50 kHz . Ideal for sound recording, this condenser microphone also offers three choices of directivity: cardioid , omnidirectional and bidirectional .

This studio microphone is capable of withstanding a sound pressure of between 132 and 138 dB Spl . Which makes it a singing microphone in home studios, but also in many record labels.

But what sets the Sony C100 apart from other types of moving coil microphones and condenser microphones? Is this recording equipment a safe bet? Why choose the Sony C100 microphone rather than another?

Does the purchase of this stereo microphone really add value to the acquisition of your studio and sound equipment in the long term? Without further ado, let's analyze in detail the characteristics of this condenser microphone to test its performance and also to know its true potential!

Sony C100 Condenser Mic Overview

The Sony C100 condenser microphone has a directivity switch that allows you to configure the polar pattern according to the recording needs for vocal audio pickup. This directivity switch offers three polar pattern adjustment possibilities (your choice): unidirectional or cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional. Apparently, we are dealing here with a very versatile microphone .

The cardioid configuration allows you to tune the Sony C100 so that it only picks up sound coming from the front . Configured in omnidirectional mode, the condenser microphone will be able to uniformly perceive the sound waves coming from its four sides (front, rear, left and right).

In bidirectional mode, the Sony C100 condenser microphone can be used perfectly to capture sounds from the front and rear . The microphone also has a PAD switch which allows the sound flow gain at its input to be attenuated by 10 decibels , thus preventing distortion .

This stereo microphone features a Low Cut switch that can be configured in two modes: normal configuration and high pass filtering . The high-pass filter effectively reduces blowing noise , vibrations, sibilance and background noise. We can even equip it with an anti-pop filter to better purify the sound.

Sony C100 is a condenser microphone and, with its large diaphragm , it stands out from dynamic moving coil microphones. XLR-3-12C type output connector , the Sony C100 can also differ from a Blue Yeti or Yeti type micro-USB operating with coil.

The latter two can be connected to a computer via USB cable without the need for a driver or any sound card. The case is different for the Sony C100. Likewise, the performance of the Sony C100 far exceeds that of a dynamic microphone, a gooseneck microphone , a lavalier microphone or a simple wireless lavalier microphone.

Since we are dealing here with a condenser microphone , the Sony C100 also requires a Phantom power supply of a specific voltage (and in this case from 44 V to 52 V DC ) to be able to operate. This is not the case for a USB microphone, a moving coil microphone and for most ribbon or capsule microphones.

Sony C100 is a very demanding diaphragm condenser microphone Its power must be provided only by a compatible and appropriate external device. The sound wave captured by the Sony C100 comes out there being converted into an electrical signal.

Then, this signal continues its journey to reach the input of a preamp or a channel strip (like the Manley Voxbox) to be preamplified , compressed or equalized . This will only depend on your audio shooting, processing, mixing or recording needs.

Sony C100 microphone: complete and battleship packaging

The Sony C100 is equipped with a waterproof, robust and custom-designed carrying case to provide optimal protection for this high-end condenser microphone for professionals. The same microphone is supplied with a windscreen, allowing clear sound pickup and guaranteeing optimal audio processing.

The Sony C100 is equipped with a support suspension with stand adapter to be used to attach it to a microphone stand using a ring which is provided. In the case, we also find a specific external power supply to operate the microphone.

All you have to do is connect the microphone output connector to the phantom power connector to optimize signal transmission. Please note, however, to operate in perfect conditions, that the Sony C100 must only be connected to a balanced cable . This polarization must not be reversed under any circumstances .

Good tips for getting started with the Sony C100

All condenser microphones are delicate and fragile compared to moving coil dynamic microphones. The Sony C100 being particularly demanding remains quite sensitive to shocks. We must therefore avoid using it or exposing it to extreme temperature and humidity conditions at the risk of damaging it or reducing its performance.

When you are going to take an audio recording using this condenser microphone, be sure to place it correctly in relation to the speakers, or even isolate it from these devices so as to avoid unpleasant hissing , feedback noises and noise. audio saturation due to magnetic field interference.

The ideal would therefore be to position it in such a way as to orient it opposite the speaker or to keep it as far away from it as possible. Turning on the microphone also requires a few minutes of stabilization to allow the microphone to properly perceive the sound after having switched it to the chosen directionality (cardioid, omnidirectional or bidirectional).

The Sony C100 condenser microphone becomes fully operational once the output voltage has stabilized. Since the Sony C100 has very high impedance circuitry, setting the switch while this condenser mic is powered on may produce a slight noise emission.

Rest assured, however, because this in no way affects its proper functioning since you will only need to connect a Sony C100 type microphone in order to eliminate the ground loop effects . We will just connect it to the ground wire using a cable with connector box and the microphone will immediately stop humming.

Small note : You can also discover our Neumann U47 FET microphone test . Discover through the guide: the complete presentation of this microphone, its sound quality, its technical characteristics, as well as our opinion on the Neumann U47 FET.

Focus on the sound quality of the Sony C100 condenser microphone

The Sony C100 benefits from a two-way design . So, this microphone has a capacitor as well as an electret capacitor. This allows optimal audio capture , increased sensitivity as well as better conversion of perceived sound into an electrical audio signal.

Unlike other types of condenser microphones which generally operate on 48 volt phantom power, the Sony C100 requires a higher operating voltage which is between 44 and 52 Volts DC .

This could likely be explained by its wide bandwidth coverage which allows it to offer a response curve between 20 Hz and 50 kHz , thus covering high, mid and low frequencies.

Its XLR-3-12C type output connector provides a symmetrical connection which perfectly allows the electrical signal and therefore the sound flow to pass through the input channel of a high-performance amplifier or a sophisticated mixing desk.

All while significantly reducing any ground loop effect likely to interfere with listening to recording via monitoring or gaming headphones. Since the Sony C100 is switchable in three directivity modes, it also offers greater versatility .

We can thus use the cardioid or unidirectional directivity to capture a sound source such as the voice of a solo singer for example. As an option, if the same singer is accompanied, you will only have to switch to bidirectional mode for a duo musical production.

In omnidirectional mode, by placing the microphone in the very center, the Sony C100 can even record sound from four different sound sources uniformly and homogeneously. It may well be a singer accompanied by three musicians (acoustic guitarist, acoustic bassist and percussionist) or an instrumental quartet with various possibilities of choice of acoustic instruments and not only guitars, but also: the violin, cello, double bass, flute, saxophone, xylophone, acoustic piano, harp, etc.

With the Sony C100, we can also be satisfied with the voices of singers in a quartet in omnidirectional microphone mode. The sensitivity of the Sony C100 condenser microphone is -31 dB in cardioid or unidirectional mode, -37 dB in omnidirectional mode and -35 dB in bidirectional mode.

This way, you will be able to take better advantage of proximity effects depending on the chosen directionality and your audio recording needs. As for inherent noise, this is strictly less than 19 dB Spl in cardioid or unidirectional mode. It is below 24 dB in omnidirectional mode and remains below 22 dB in bidirectional mode.

The maximum sound pressure level at the input also plays a big role regardless of the type of microphone, but is even more important when dealing with a hyper-sensitive condenser microphone like the Sony C100.

For the case of the small Sony C100 microphone in fact, this pressure level rises to 132 dB Spl in cardioid mode. This microphone is therefore designed to capture a powerful voice , but also the sound of a violin, a cello, an acoustic bass, a double bass, and even a snare drum or a bass drum.

Its ability to withstand sound pressure increases when it is set to omnidirectional mode. Moreover, it is particularly on this point that the Sony C100 stands out from its peers since it is capable of supporting an acoustic pressure greater than 138 dB for each sound emanating from its four sides, whether percussion , a powerful acoustic piano, a trumpet, or even a bugle.

In all cases, it always offers the possibility of switching its attenuation PAD either to zero or to -10 dB . And this, whatever the directivity configuration. In bidirectional mode, the microphone can, at its two inputs, withstand an acoustic pressure Spl greater than 136 dB .

All of course with a dynamic range greater than 113 dB in cardioid mode, more than 114 dB in omnidirectional and bidirectional mode. The microphone is equipped with a switchable low-cut filter, allowing you to filter the sound as well as possible and purify the sound quality to fine-tune the recording as required regardless of the directionality chosen.

Technical characteristics of the Sony C100 microphone

General specifications:

• Brand: Sony
• Model: Sony C100
• Microphone type: 2-way condenser mic (condenser + electret condenser)
• Power supply: external 44 V to 52 V DC
• Power consumption: Less than 4.5 mA
• Output connector: Type XLR-3-12C
• Dimensions: 40mm × 175mm
• Weight ≈ 290 g

Performance:

• Frequency response: between 20 Hz – 50 kHz
• Directivity: Unidirectional / Omnidirectional / Bidirectional (switchable)
• Output impedance: 90 Ω ±15% , balanced
• Sensitivity: -31 dB (in cardioid mode), -37 dB (in omnidirectional mode), -35 dB (in bidirectional mode)
• Inherent noise: less than 19 dB Spl (in unidirectional mode), less than 24 dB Spl (in omnidirectional mode), less than 22 dB (in bidirectional mode)
• maximum sound pressure at the input: greater than 132 dB Spl (in unidirectional directivity), more than 138 dB Spl (in omnidirectional mode), greater than 136 dB Spl (in bidirectional mode)
• Dynamic range: greater than 113 Dpa (in unidirectional mode), more than 114 Dpa (in omnidirectional and bidirectional mode)
• Attenuation PAD: switchable from 0 dB or -10 dB
• Low cut filter: Flat / 70 Hz (switchable)

Accessories supplied:

• Carrying case (1)
• Support hanger (1)
• Support adapter (W3/8 – NS5/8) (1)
• Windscreen (1)

Our opinion on the Sony C100 microphone

Sony C100 is the perfect condenser microphone choice for those who want to produce impeccable studio quality recording. The response curve between 20 Hz and 50 kHz makes it possible to cover wider frequencies and above all to accentuate the details of sound perception in the mids, high-mids and low-mids.

This is what characterizes this type of microphone from Se electronics type condenser microphones which offer a limited frequency response of between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The microphone's connection, which is carried out by symmetrical XLR-3-12C connection at its output, also makes it an ideal stereo microphone which guarantees smooth sound transmission without signal loss.

Its versatility provides very high precision sound reproduction in three directivities (cardioid, omnidirectional and bidirectional). Not only is the Sony C100 switchable according to these three directivities, but also displays different sensitivities depending on these settings.

In addition, it reacts differently to acoustic pressures depending on the polar diagram chosen. This allows you to take great advantage of the benefits of the proximity effect depending on the sound rendering you want to obtain when taking the audio.

Its two-way design (with condenser and electret condenser) makes it a very efficient studio microphone, perfectly designed for large recording studios. Equipped with a microphone of this type, we ensure impeccable audio recording quality compared to the use of a simple dynamic microphone.

This is why we recommend purchasing the Sony C100 to all audiophiles who wish to produce quality recordings that meet their listening requirements.

Sony C100 microphone demo

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