LEWITT LCT 440 PURE XLR condenser microphone for voice, singing, instrument recording, and streaming

Product Information

Elevated Sound Quality - The LCT 440 PURE - VIDA EDITION utilizes the same premium components and capsule technology found in LEWITT's prestigious models, ensuring that your recordings are characterized by a larger-than-life sound with remarkable depth and clarity. Each capsule is meticulously calibrated and tested to meet the highest quality standards, allowing you to capture your unique personality and the emotions you pour into your performances.

Neumann has enjoyed a legendary reputation since the earliest days of the recording industry. While not a vintage microphone from the brand’s golden years, the TLM-102 large-diaphragm condenser microphone still fits in very well with the brand’s heritage both in quality and looks. The first thing I did when I received my LCT 440 PURE, one of the first production models to arrive in the country, was to compare it to the previously-reviewed LCT 640 TS in cardioid pattern. Sonically I could perceive little difference between the two. The LCT 440 PURE lives up to its name and does its big brothers proud, being ultra-clean and natural sounding. It’s very much in the “what your source sounds like is what you get” camp.The microphone features impressive specs with self noise of 7dB (A) and a sensitivity of 27.4mV/Pa which means it will not introduce any noise in the signal chain and you'll need less preamp gain. It is therefor suitable for recording quiet sources such as Foley. A real studio workhorse, AKG’s C414 comes in two modern editions, with the difference being capsule design. While the C414 XLS provides a flatter frequency response and is suited to a wide range of sources, the C414 XLII’s capsule design, based on the revered C12, introduces a 3kHz presence boost that’s particularly flattering for female vocalists. Testing the mic on speech revealed firstly that the LCT 440 is a little more sensitive than the Aston mic I used for comparison, and secondly, that I was right about that gentle lift giving the mic an airy sound. Speech sounds clear and very ‘present’ but without being harsh, while the low end remains solid, making this a good choice of vocal mic for those singers who need a little help with their clarity. The ‘airy’ character is not overstated, but if you do yearn for a warmer sound, you can always turn the mic slightly off axis to lose a little high end. Both of these microphones are useful, versatile additions to any mic collection. Despite being the cheaper of the two, the LCT 240 Pro could easily find a role in many professional-mic collections, as the voicing will definitely suit some instruments more than others; while the LCT 440 Pure is a more neutral-sounding microphone that would make an excellent choice for anyone looking to just add one detailed, high-quality condenser to their collection – there’s nothing it won’t sound at least pretty good on, and it will make many things sound great. Both of these two microphones clearly have their place: the LCT 240 Pro is more suited to guitars used alongside other instrumentation, particularly bass and drums, where the more mid-forward presence would help the acoustic guitar to sit in the mix without getting in the way of the other instruments.

The LCT 240 Pro on the other hand has a little more nice, mid-focused character to it. This means it’s great for guitars and some voices, but not quite as versatile as the LCT 440 Pure.Looking through the grille on the two mics reveals a larger, one-inch capsule in the LCT 440 Pure, compared to the 0.67 inch capsule in the LCT 240 Pro, and while the accessories in each box also differ slightly, it’s this difference in the capsule that really sets the two mics apart. Versatile Studio Allrounder - No creative boundaries here! This microphone is a true studio allrounder, suitable for recording a wide range of audio sources. With an ultra-low self-noise level of only 7 dB (A), it thrives in quiet environments, while its ability to handle ear-shattering sound pressure levels of up to 140 dBSPL results in an impressive dynamic range of 133 dB (A). Whether you're recording vocals or instruments, the LCT 440 PURE - VIDA EDITION empowers your creativity without compromise. The 1-inch true condenser capsule captures your audio source with immense detail, retaining every nuance of your sound for exceptional audio fidelity. The clarity and depth the Lewitt Pure delivers preserve the tonality and emotion of your performance. High-end clarity for a natural sound

Technically speaking, the Sennheiser MKH 416 is also a condenser microphone, but it’s MUCH more directional than the Lewitt LCT 440 PURE.

Don’t get me wrong though, the Sennheiser MKH 416 is LEGENDARY which is why the Lewitt LCT 440 PURE is adored by so many. Sonically, it sounded a little more mix-ready, balancing out the woody tones of the body with the bright strings and subtly rolling off the low end in a pleasant manner. By contrast, the LCT 440 Pure had a more honest tonality, with a stronger bottom end, flatter, less-hyped midrange and smooth, open top.

That being said, the reason you’d pay more for a condenser microphone is for the TOP-END and the fact that these more “budget” microphones compromise on that isn’t acceptable to me. Personally, I prefer condensers that sound bright and modern. That being said, the KSM32 isn’t the type of microphone I’d choose over the TLM-103, that’s for sure! LCT 440 pure is a beautiful modern designed large diagram condenser microphone with impressive electronic circuit and wonderful sounding 1 inch capsule, which can also be found in Lewitt hi-end range of microphones. I cant believe it’s been five years since we first met Austria-based LEWITT Microphones. In that short time, LEWITT has built quite the lineup, with a reputation for sonically clean, technologically innovative, and visually unique microphones. The various lines of handheld, dynamic, and digital-interface mics are headed up by the LCT line of studio condenser mics.Elevate your studio recordings with the Lewitt LCT 440 Pure, Vida Edition Microphone. Experience larger-than-life sound quality, capturing vocals and instruments with depth and clarity. This limited edition microphone stands out with its low self-noise, handling high sound pressure levels, and a dynamic range that's second to none. On the other end, it can handle the SPL of 140 dB, so you can throw it in front of the loud guitar amp or drums without worrying it will distort. However, if I had the choice between all 4… I’d go with the Lewitt. That’s partly because the TLM-103 has a high-frequency roll-off after 16 kHz. The sE2300 is the multi-pattern sibling of the hugely popular sE2200, famously adopted by vocal powerhouses such as Amy Winehouse. This smooth-sounding microphone builds upon its predecessor by adding an optimised signal path that delivers even lower noise and increased clarity. If you’re unfamiliar, the Lewitt brand is relatively - in the world of microphones - quite young. Founded in Austria in 2009, it has built a reputation for creating high-quality, beautifully designed recording microphones that offer an alternative to familiar brands like Shure and Neumann.