Gefell's M 990 art is a special anniversary edition of the M 990 microphone. Both are large-diaphragm tube condenser mics with a fixed cardioid pattern. Both employ the EF86 pentode tube in a triode configuration.
The primary difference between the mics is the capsule. Whereas the M 990 uses a Mylar diaphragm, the 'art' edition uses a handmade PVC capsule. The 'art' edition also features a custom output transformer.
The new capsule delivers a stunning sensitivity rating of 30 mV/Pa and drops the low-end response to 30 Hz. The frequency response graph reveals ruler-flat performance (less than 1/4 dB variation) from 40 Hz to 4000 Hz, with a presence peak (+4dB) at 7000-8000 Hz.
The mic ships in a metal suitcase and includes a dedicated power supply, power cable, and elastic suspension mount. The M 990 art is available now at a retail price of $4288.