Technical Differences:

AEA R44C/CE:
• Passive
• 165+ dB Maximum SPL
• 2.25 mV/Pa (-53 dBV) into unloaded circuit (Sensitivity)
• Can have multiple tonal characteristics based on the input impedance of the preamp

AEA A440:
• Active
• +18dB of extra output (compared to the passive version)
• 136+ dB Maximum SPL
• 30 mV/Pa (-33.5 dBV) into unloaded circuit (Sensitivity)
• Should pretty much sound the same regardless of the preamp

So, price and the fact that the passive versions (aka R44C/CE) can have multiple tonal characteristics based on the input impedance of the preamp connected to them, these two facts aside, is there anything else that the passive versions (aka R44C/CE) can do that the active version (aka A440) cannot do?

In other words, if both are connected to their appropriate preamps (R44C/CE to AEA's own high input impedance preamp) and (A440 to a clean preamp like Millennia or Grace), and gain matched to have the same loudness, in what situations do they have the most tonal difference? Only extreme situations like:

• Very quiet guitar finger picking (especially from a distance)
• Very close-miking (especially loud sources like a snare drum)

How close can you get the A440 to say a loud snare drum, before its hot output and its 136dB Max SPL become a problem?

Wouldn't R44C/CE (165dB SPL) be better for close-miking say a loud snare drum?

The proximity effect of close micing with any R44 variant alone will render the sound unusable. Also how heavy it is and how will you ever get in the necessary area of a drum kit" to close mic the snare?

All the R44 variants out there just sound best with some distance between the source and the mic in my opinion (even the trumpet or a vocal). If you want to close mic with a ribbon, I would look at a ribbon better designed for that purpose.

Yeah, at first I wrote “close(ish)-miking” snare drum. What I really mean by close-miking, is as close as the proximity effect allows of course. So by close-miking in this instance I mean something around 2-3 feet. I understand that's really not “close” miking.

If it were a vocal or trumpet or standup bass or even a guitar amp, it would be ok.
A solo violin or cello/viola I would still pull it further back.

But how can you get an R44 1-2ft away and get an isolated snare sound with the bleed from all of the other parts in a drum kit?

Unless its a really simple 2- 3 piece kit or if you are micing a snare solo, but if micing a snare solo, pulling it back some will give you a closer sound to what it sounds like in the room.

Its just a difficult mic to use or position for a modern drum kit. There are other ribbons you can use and still get a great snare sound at the distance you are suggesting.

Easy, I record the snare on its own.

I guess you forgot to put the rest of what I said in the quote?

Yes, apologies. I read the question in your post and wanted to respond to it first. Sorry again.

The real question though is if the passive version's massive SPL handling capability (165dB SPL) makes a difference if a snare drum is being recorded at say 3 feet compared to the active version's (136dB) SPL handling capability.

And furthermore, I want to know if the passive version has any sonic advantage over the active version. Apart from the fact that the passive version can be used with different preamps with different input impedance which will obviously change its sound. That fact aside, does the R44 have any sonic advantages over the A440 in your opinion?

No problems.
Just my opinion mind you, having used both in various situations, in my opinion the best active ribbon AEA makes is the A440. All of the others I tried in almost every case i prefered the paasive versions (R84, R88, etc). The A440 and the KU4 are the best mics that AEA makes (probably the R88 is the third).

I would use the A440 in a 3 mic setup either in front of the kit, the kick or as one single overhead, I just personally wouldn't use it a snare mic.

With that being said, if you put a real passive classic RCA 44 against an A440, in a traditional use (vocal or trumpet) i still would choose the original because it has "that sound". For standup bass, acoustic guitar or electric guitar amp, the A440 is the winner IMO.

Lastly in what situation would i choose the passive AEA R44 against the A440? If on the same instrument, probably never. But if I needed 2 or 3 of them (big band recording maybe), then finding a studio with that many A440's is almost non existent. Also lets face it the A440 is almost double the price of the regular R44, which is a lot of money and in that price range there are a lot of other mics that can be used more for all around sources.

Wow, thank you. I appreciate the comprehensiveness of your answer.

By the way, if all you get is the R44 or R44CE, it still a great microphone, that you will use. Just match it up with the right mic preamp and buy a heavy stand with a strong boom that can handle its weight for positioning.

If you gave me the choice of the R44CE or R84, I would choose the R44 CE almost every time, except if micing a full sax or brass section. Its just too big and cumbersome to try to squeeze in between that many instruments (sax). In these situations (especially if you want a smooth big band sound), the R84 is the winner.

Yes, you're right, the passive versions are still great microphones indeed.

Even the new Warm Audio WA-44 seems pretty good.
It good time to be an era when so many R44 variants are available (too bad though in this era there just aren't enough sessions or need to use them on though).

You're right, ribbon microphones sound very lovely to my ears. Very natural sounding without the excessive high frequency accentuation of a lot of LDCs.

It depends on the particular ribbon mic right?
Also on the LDC.

Ribbon mics are a great option for certain productions, but its also depends on the circumstances as well. In certain productions, its just not feasible, optimal or even recommended to sneak in a ribbon, even though it may work better when its in iso.

Also the size or the frame of the mic can make it a no go as well ( try setting up a couple of R44's above a bunch of union string section players sitting down and you'll get your a** handed back to you real fast!)

Oh definitely.

Precisely. For example, the K89 capsule is not one of them. Those three mics (89/170/193) sound smooooth to my ear.

You're right. I guess my only frame of reference is solo work in isolation and that's why bleed for example is not something I have to actively think about and account for.

Oh I'm sure you're right on that. I would not want to sit below such a heavy weight. I'd be concerned the whole time. :D

Actually when its a solo violinist sitting down I have done it many, many times (used an R44 or A440 or Coles 4038).

But I use the most serious stand i can find.

On the bleed front, its one of the cool things about using Ribbons for a sax or brass section, especially if you want that old school, big band sound.

So basically Latch Lake or Atlas MS25 then.

Sometimes i use sand bags as well, depending on the studio and what's around.

Thank you again Thrill Factor.

Speaking of Warm's version, here's a new video comparing it to none other than the 440:

I love the AEA r44ce - I had two A440s and sold them.
But each person's use will vary of course. For me, I like having some preamp vibe in the ribbon at times (not all the time), and the A440 has the preamp doing less work.
And with a clean preamp (like Forssell or Integer Audio), I found that the AEA R44ce sounded fantastic.

Oh I have no doubt.

You sold your A440's because you occasionally like having some preamp vibe? That's it?

Since I have great clean preamps and do not have long runs of mic cables, there was no need for the A-440s over the 44ce. And I pocketed the financial difference at the time. If I did not need funds at the time, I would have kept them all. And yes, there were some advantages to the 44ce mics where I could saturate a preamp for some interest recordings where I wanted even more color, thickness or the effect that the pre brought to the table.

Oh that makes total sense.

You’re right of course. That unrealistic scenario was given just as an example.