Smooth, warm and accurate! Super quiet with a floor noise of -130dB (according to AEA). However, because this incredible passive microphone does not benefit from 48V phantom power, it needs lots of preamp gain, which *can* lead to excessive noise...not from the mic, but from the preamplifier. I am using a PreSonus Studio Channel preamplifier matched to a Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface. In this configuration, both of these units introduce noise, because I have to turn up the gain. How did I ELIMINATE the noise issue? With a Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator! The Cloudlifter, with its noiseless JFET transformer, essentially turns the passive R84 into an ACTIVE ribbon mic, similar to AEA’s newly introduced R84A. While the CL-1 provides an additional 25dB of noiseless gain, it also prevents phantom power from reaching the mic. And that means I can now turn DOWN the gain on both the Studio Channel and the Scarlett, to the point that there is zero perceptible noise being introduced. Nothing but a VERY clean and accurate recording. It’s a great-looking ribbon microphone with impressive recording capability. Because the R84 shares the same internal components, for the most part, as AEA’s flagship ribbon mic (R44), it carries much of the same sonic signature, but at a fraction of the cost and weight. It is hands down the best ribbon mic for the dollar!R84 ($1,099) + CloudLifter CL-1 ($149) provides 25dB of additional noiseless JFET gain for $1,248R84A provides 12dB of additional noiseless JFET gain for $1,349