Akg Professional C104 Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone

AKG C104 Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The AKG C104 is a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone from AKG’s C-Series, designed for the way recording happens now: vocals, speech, podcasts, streaming and instruments captured at home, in project studios and on camera. It uses a 22 mm electret condenser capsule with a nickel-sputtered diaphragm and a transformerless FET circuit, a combination aimed at low self-noise, fast transient response and a clean, uncoloured capture across the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range.

Key features

• 22 mm large-diaphragm electret condenser capsule
• Cardioid polar pattern for voice and instrument isolation
• Frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Low self-noise of 14 dB(A) with an 80 dB signal-to-noise ratio
• Handles up to 143 dB SPL for loud sources
• Transformerless FET circuitry for fast, clean transients
• Standard 48V phantom power and 3-pin XLR output
• H81 stand mount included

The 22 mm capsule and FET circuit

The C104’s capsule is a 22 mm electret condenser design with a nickel-sputtered diaphragm, chosen for stable, consistent performance. Behind it, the transformerless FET circuit keeps the signal path short and clean, preserving the fast transients of plucked strings, piano and percussion and the fine detail of a voice without adding transformer colouration. Sensitivity is 13.5 mV/Pa (-37.5 dBV), a healthy output that lets typical interface preamps run at moderate gain, which keeps the noise floor down in quiet rooms.

Cardioid pickup for voice and instruments

The cardioid pattern concentrates sensitivity in front of the microphone and rejects sound from the rear, which is the working pattern for single-source recording: a singer, a spoken-word performer, an acoustic guitar or an amplifier, each isolated from the room and from other instruments. Position the C104 a short distance from the source, aim the front of the microphone at it, and the combination of proximity and rejection gives a close, present recording even in spaces that are not fully treated.

Quiet enough for speech, strong enough for drums

Two figures define the C104’s working range. Self-noise is 14 dB(A), low enough that quiet speech and fingerpicked guitar are captured without audible hiss at normal gain, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 80 dB referenced to 1 Pa. At the other extreme, maximum SPL is 143 dB at 0.5% THD, so the same microphone can sit in front of a guitar amplifier or close to percussion without distorting. That span, from whisper to drum kit, is what makes it a practical single condenser for a small setup.

Powering, connection and handling

The C104 runs on standard 48V phantom power (48V +/-4V to IEC 61938), drawing 5 mA or less, and connects with a 3-pin XLR. Output impedance is 200 ohms or less, with a recommended load impedance of 1000 ohms or more, which any microphone preamp satisfies. The body measures 158 mm long, 47 mm wide and 35 mm deep and weighs 375 g. AKG builds the body from 100% recycled PIR metals, and the microphone’s styling, made to look right on camera, nods to AKG’s heritage designs. The included H81 stand mount handles positioning on a stand or boom.

For creators and musicians who need one condenser that covers voice, speech and instruments with a low noise floor and serious SPL headroom, the C104 brings AKG’s C-Series design to a straightforward, single-pattern microphone.