AEA R44CE Value Edition Big Ribbon Microphone AEA

The R44CE is the value edition of the R44C. It comes with a black transformer case with white emblem logo and one-piece cushion mount, satin nickel grill and formed steel yoke with a satin nickel finish. The R44CE comes with a captive three-meter starquad XLR output cable and AEA 44VC vertical carrying case for proper shipping and storage.

Question: 
What’s the difference in sound between the museum edition R44s and the value edition R44s?

Answer:
None. In a blind listening test, you would not be able to tell them apart. They are both identical inside so they both sound identical. The only differences are exterior cosmetics and include a simpler yoke (instead of cast bronze), a simpler cushion mount, simpler transformer case, and a less-expensive cable. The museum editions and the value editions sound the same because they are the same inside.

The Reinvention Of A Classic
The AEA R44 series microphones all share the authentic sound, feel and look of the 1936-38 RCA 44BX. They combine the 1930s US sound with British engineering from RCA that reduces the mic’s weight and hum sensitivity. The R44 series microphones are all hand-crafted replicas in detail, using parts that are made to be interchangeable with an original RCA 44, even featuring ribbon material originally manufactured for RCA. The R44C was designed to meet or exceed the output of an RCA 44 when it was new. The R44CX is a high-output version of the R44C especially designed for scoring and other applications demanding a wide dynamic range with the classic 44 sound. 

The R44 series microphones are passive, like an RCA 44 is, and can be used in a wider range of situations without distorting than active microphones can. The A440 has the hottest signal and therefore can boast to be the quietest (highest signal to noise ratio) of any ribbon mic on the planet!