Golden Age Project GA-8000 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

This Mic is the Secret to Platinum-selling Vocals
Based on a top-dollar 1990s-era tube mic, the Golden Age Premier GA-8000 epitomizes the modern vocal sound. Armed with an active semiconductor cooling system, this tube condenser microphone highlights silky breathiness and airy nuances without a hint of shrillness. That's why industry A-listers like Dr. Dre and Kanye West favor this design — it brings out the high-frequency detail in rap vocals with zero need for artificial-sounding EQ. This revered design has also been used to capture Mariah Carey's stratospheric vocal range. Golden Age’s iteration of this classic large-diaphragm tube condenser re-creates the original mic's topology with meticulous detail, and the sound is spot-on. That's why the GA-8000 is a must-have for modern hip-hop, pop, and R&B productions — it's the secret to platinum-selling vocals.




Includes significant upgrades
Although it’s based on a 1990s classic, the GA-8000's circuit board has been upgraded to a Rogers ceramic board used in high-end aerospace communication products, with more stringent insulation parameters for more stable performance. The coupling and bypass capacitors have also been upgraded, resulting in deeper and more exacting low-frequency performance and more delicate and transparent high-frequency reproduction.






World’s only active semiconductor cooling system
The original mic’s classic semiconductor active cooling and external cooling system design is also used in the Golden Age GA-8000 to ensure the highest possible signal-to-noise ratio. The tube — a 6AU6 — is mounted in an aluminum casing, with the semiconductor cooling chip attached to the bottom. The temperature of the tube in the GA-8000 is effectively kept stable when the GA-8000 is in use; the heat generated by the tube being effectively dissipated. The heat that the tube generates is transferred to the reverse side of the semiconductor and onto the outer aluminum alloy heat sink at the rear of the microphone. This heat sink then dissipates the heat from the semiconductor cooling chip into the environment.




Custom capsule design
By disassembling an original 1990s-era mic and supplying the capsule to a manufacturer with more than twenty years of microphone capsule production experience, that company was able to produce a capsule that matched the characteristics of the original. While it has a nearly identical sonic character, the capsule used in the GA-8000 can handle higher sound pressure levels than the original. And with both cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns, you'll have plenty of flexibility when it comes to recording techniques.






NOS 6AU6 from France
In order to ensure long life for the tube, Golden Age chose a new-old-stock (NOS) GIFTE 6AU6 tube from France with a maximum anode voltage rating of approximately 300 volts. The tube in this circuit has an anode voltage of 90V and will generate more heat than tubes in many other tube microphones that typically use voltages between 35 and 50V. The higher voltage used in the GA-8000 increases the heat dissipation, so the active semiconductor cooling system is a critical element of the design.
Capacitors, resistors, wire, and solder from Germany and Japan
The GA-8000’s metal resistors and electrolytic capacitor are special audiophile audio types sourced from Japan. The coupling capacitors are Siemens EPCOS from Germany. The connecting wires inside the GA-8000 are oxygen-free copper, again from Japan. The solder is Felder silver/copper-containing solder from Germany.




The power supply
The 1990s-era original uses two 6AU6 tubes as rectifiers for the high voltage rail — they work as pseudo diodes by connecting all grids to the anode that outputs about 290V. On the other hand, the Golden Age GA-8000 employs a modern power supply with solid-state rectifiers and a FET-based stabilization circuit for its high-voltage rail. After many subjective listening tests comparing a tube rectifying circuit with the solid-state one, Golden Age found that they actually preferred the sound of the latter, so this is what they used in the GA-8000. The bonus is that you never need to worry about replacing tubes in the included power supply! The Golden Age GA-8000 also comes with a premium Rycote USM-VB shockmount, multi-pin power supply connecting cable, and a rugged flight case with padded compartments for the mic, shockmount, cables, and accessories.






The Golden Age Project
The Golden Age Project was founded in 2005 on the belief that vintage gear sounds best, and the desire to pass on this sonic legacy to a new generation of musicians, engineers, and producers. All-discrete, Class A signal paths with no integrated circuits; the use of transformers, stepped controls, and military-grade build quality: these are the cornerstones of the legendary British equipment deployed in world-class recording and broadcast studios in the 1970s — the Golden Age of Analog. Fat, warm, punchy, and authoritative: this is the sound heard on countless hits for nigh unto half a century. Locating, purchasing, restoring, and maintaining vintage gear is time-consuming and costly. Fortunately, this small, family-owned Swedish company makes gear the same way it was made back in the day — at an amazingly gentle price.
A distributor of high-end studio equipment for many years, Golden Age Project founder Bo Medin wanted to be able to offer products with much of the same exclusive sound in a price range that made them available to a larger audience. Inspired by original designs, Golden Age uses modern technology to re-create that lush, opulent sound, making it surprisingly affordable. They use some modern ingenuity to add new functionality to superb classic designs and produce them in a cost-effective way, which allows them to be both optimized and affordable. Sweetwater's advice: From outboard equipment to condenser, dynamic, and ribbon mics, you can outfit your entire studio with vintage-inspired Golden Age gear without exceeding your budget.




Golden Age Premier GA-8000 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone Features:

Based on the top-dollar 1990s-era tube mic that's revered by rap, pop, and R&B producers
Re-creates the original mic's topology with meticulous detail
High-end Rogers circuit board and upgraded capacitors offers improvements over the original design
2 polar patterns — cardioid and omnidirectional — offer lots of flexibility
Active semiconductor cooling system highlights silky breathiness and airy nuances without shrillness
Custom-designed capsule replicates the original's sound while providing greater SPL handling
Long-lasting French NOS GIFTE 6AU6 tube with a hot-running anode voltage of 90V
Audiophile-grade Japanese-built metal resistors, electrolytic capacitor, and oxygen-free copper connecting wires
Top-shelf German-built Siemens EPCOS coupling capacitors and Felder silver/copper-containing solder
Modern external power supply with solid-state rectifiers and a FET-based stabilization circuit for the high-voltage rail
Premium Rycote USM-VB shockmount, multi-pin power supply connecting cable, and a rugged flight case with padded compartments for the mic, shockmount, cables, and accessories








Tech Specs

Microphone Type:Tube Condenser
Mono/Stereo:Mono
Polar Pattern:Cardioid, Omni
Frequency Response:20Hz-20kHz
Max SPL:137dB SPL (cardioid), 140dB (omni)
Output Impedance:100 ohms
Signal to Noise Ratio:76dB
Sensitivity:-33dB/Pa
Self Noise:18dBA
Tube:NOS CIFTE 6AU6
Features:Built-in Cooling System
Color:Black
Power Source:External power supply
Included Accessories:Rycote Shockmount
Manufacturer Part Number:GA-8000




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