Desert Island Mic – Mojave MA-300

The Mojave MA-300

I love microphones. This bad boy, the Mojave MA-300 happens to be my current all around favorite. It is just awesome on everything I throw at it. That is rare. Vocals – check, electric or acoustic guitars – check, upright bass – check, electric bass cabinets – check, piano – check, should I go on? 3 words that come to mind when thinking of this mic are:

Warmth
Accuracy
Balanced

Its creamy smooth richness is something I find myself uncontrollably turning to time and time again. I’ve decided I am going to buy a second one so I have a stereo pair. Check out one of my earlier posts on where to buy, I picked mine up at Zzounds. The MA-300 just has that magical sound and feel. In the few reviews I have read (honestly, I can’t believe there aren’t a lot more out there), it has been often been grouped with the likes of the Neumann U67. The U67 is known for its versatility in the studio. Many famous engineers and producers have labeled it their desert island microphone. Weighing in at over $7k, I bet it is.

The Mojave MA-300 carries a price tag of $1399 retail. It has been on the market now since I believe 2011 or 2012. At that time it was made in black with a white etched name on the front. I love what Mojave has done since, upgrading the aesthetics. It is a step up from its brother the MA-200. Basically the same mic, but the MA-300 has a variable polar pattern selector, a -15db pad and a switchable low end roll off. If these features aren’t completely necessary to you, the MA-200’s retail price is $1199.00. A $200 difference.

In Mojave’s words:

Utilizing hand-selected, double diaphragm 3-micron capsules, high-quality Jensen audio transformers and military-grade JAN 5840 vacuum tubes, the MA-300 performs at a level reminiscent of some of the best loved classic condenser microphones. The MA-300 power supply can be set for 115V and 230V, 50 or 60 Hz, through an internal switch (100V is also available). Each MA-300 microphone, power supply and cable set is burned in for 24 hours, carefully tested and evaluated, then packaged in its protective case-within-a-case.

The MA-300 gives warm, full-bodied reproductions of vocals and instruments, with none of the shrillness and high frequency distortion artifacts that are often encountered with modern condenser microphones.

This mic is built like a beast. It comes with a very nice flight case for the microphone. That flight case fits into another flight case that holds it and all the accessories. Shock mount, cables, and a nice hand signed serial card from David Royer himself.

Mojave MA-300 Shockmount

If I had any complaints at all, and honestly this is extremely minor – it would be with the shock mount alone. Mounting it from upside down, the rotating arm that locks the shock mount down has been my only issue. The arm, when tightened down can not pass the side of the mount at that angle only. It just will not fully tighten. I have found easy enough work arounds for this. In reality this minor quirk is so low on the totem pole in comparison to the microphones performance that it makes me feel weird even mentioning it.

Here’s the Mojave MA-300’s specs:

TRANSDUCER TYPE: Externally polarized, pressure gradient capacitor – double diaphragm.
DIAPHRAGM: 1-inch diameter, gold sputtered
DIAPHRAGM THICKNESS : 3-microns
POLAR RESPONSE: Continuously variable from omnidirectional to figure-eight.
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20 Hz to 20 KHZ, +/-3 dB at “flat” setting of bass cut switch. Bass cut switch provides 6 dB per octave attenuation below 100 Hertz in “cut” setting
SENSITIVITY: -37dB re 1V/pa
MAXIMUM SPL: 120 dB with pad off, 135 dB with pad on.
DISTORTION:< 1% @ 117 dB SPL , < 3% @ 125 dB SPL with pad off, < 1% @ 132 dB SPL, < 3% @ 140 dB SPL with pad on
SELF NOISE: 14db nominal, not to exceed 16db (A Weighted)
PAD: 15 dB
BASS CUT: 6 dB per octave below 100 hertz.
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT:
Carrying case with microphone, power supply, shock mount
and cables: 13 lbs.
Microphone: 7 5/8″ X 2″, 1 lb.