ES905CL

Cardioid Condenser Rigid-Pipe Microphone engineered sound® microphones

Installation and Operation

The ES905CL requires 11V to 52V phantom power for operation.

Output is low impedance (Lo-Z) balanced. The signal appears across Pins
2 and 3; Pin 1 is ground (shield). Output phase is “Pin 2 hot”— positive
acoustic pressure produces positive voltage at Pin 2.

The microphone is intended for mounting to a hard surface, such as

a table, desk, or podium using the isolation base plate. ATTENTION!
Do not remove ball-in-socket assembly from the base plate. The
microphone is supplied with three #8 x 1" black oxide wood screws
for mounting the microphone. The cable can exit out the back of the
microphone or be routed through a hole in the mounting surface. To
install the microphone with bottom-routed cable: Drill a 4 mm (5/32") hole
centered in the area where the microphone mount is to be positioned.
Pass the cable extending from the microphone mount through this hole
and mount the microphone into position using the screws provided.

Features The attached wire mesh windscreen with internal pop protection
• Rigid-pipe design with ball-in-socket base permits flexible effectively reduces noise from plosives, wind and ventilation air currents.
positioning
• Sturdy metal base mounts to table, desk or podium with An integral 80 Hz high-pass UniSteep® filter provides easy switching
included hardware from a flat frequency response to a low-end roll-off. The roll-off position
• Low-profile element provides uniform cardioid polar pattern reduces the microphone’s sensitivity to popping in close vocal use. It
with 120º acceptance angle also reduces the pickup of low-frequency ambient noise (such as traffic,
• Superior off-axis rejection for maximum gain before feedback air-handling systems, etc.), room reverberation and mechanically coupled
• UniGuard® RFI-shielding technology offers outstanding rejection vibrations. To engage the UniSteep® filter, use the end tip of a paperclip or
of radio frequency interference (RFI) other small pointed instrument to slide the switch toward the “bent” line.
• UniSteep® filter provides a steep low-frequency attenuation to
improve sound pickup without affecting voice quality Avoid leaving the microphone in the open sun or in areas where
• Available interchangeable elements permit angle of acceptance temperatures exceed 110° F (43° C) for extended periods. Extremely high
from 100º to 360º humidity should also be avoided.
• RoHS-compliant—free from all substances specified in the EU
directive on the reduction of hazardous substances (RoHS) Note: Audio-Technica has developed a special RFI-shielding mechanism
that is an integral part of the connectors in the Engineered Sound® line. If
Description you remove or incorrectly replace the connector, you may adversely affect
The ES905CL is a wide-range condenser microphone with a cardioid the unit’s RFI immunity. Audio-Technica offers a crimp tool (ATCT) and RFI
polar pattern. It is designed for quality sound reinforcement, professional shields that enable you to shorten the cable and correctly reinstall the
recording and other demanding sound pickup applications. connector while maintaining the highest level of RFI immunity.

The rigid-pipe design with ball-in-socket base permits flexible positioning Architect’s and Engineer’s Specifications
while maintaining a clean appearance. The microphone shall be a fixed-charge condenser designed for
permanent installation tabletop mounting. It shall have a cardioid polar
The microphone requires 11V to 52V phantom power for operation. pattern with a uniform 120° angle of acceptance and a frequency
response of 60 Hz to 20,000 Hz. It shall be capable of accepting
The microphone is equipped with UniGuard® RFI-shielding technology, optional interchangeable elements for additional polar patterns. The
which offers outstanding rejection of radio frequency interference (RFI). microphone shall operate from an external 11V to 52V DC phantom
power source. It shall be capable of handling sound input levels up
The microphone’s cardioid polar pattern provides a 120° angle of to 138 dB with a dynamic range of 111 dB. Nominal open-circuit
acceptance. Additional interchangeable elements with omnidirectional output voltage shall be 12.5 mV at 1 V, 1 Pascal. Output shall be low
(360°) and hypercardioid (100°) pickup patterns are available. impedance balanced (250 ohms). It shall offer outstanding rejection
of radio frequency interference (RFI). The microphone shall be RoHS
The microphone includes a 2.9 m (9.5') permanently attached miniature compliant.
cable. Its free end connects to the provided AT8538 power module via
a special TA3F-type connector designed to optimize RFI immunity. The The microphone shall have a 2.9 m (9.5') permanently attached miniature
output of the power module is a 3-pin XLRM-type connector. cable, terminating in a special TA3F-type output connector designed
to optimize RFI immunity. The output connector shall connect to a
A recessed switch in the power module permits choice of flat response TB3M-type jack on the included power module. The power module shall
or low- frequency roll-off (via integral 80 Hz high-pass UniSteep® filter) to contain a recessed switch to permit choice of flat response or 80 Hz
help control undesired ambient noise. low-frequency roll-off. The output of the power module shall be a 3-pin
XLRM-type connector.
The microphone comes equipped with a power module and hardware
for table-mounting the microphone’s (attached) isolation base plate. Mounting screws shall be provided with the microphone. The microphone
The microphone is enclosed in a rugged housing with a low-reflectance shall be equipped with an attached wire mesh windscreen with internal
black finish. pop protection.
 ES905CL

Specifications
The microphone shall be a small-diameter ball-in-socket, rigid-pipe design, Element Fixed-charge back plate, permanently
with an isolation base plate for table mounting. The microphone shall be polarized condenser
523.4 mm (20.61") long and have a head diameter of 24.6 mm (0.97"). Polar pattern Cardioid
Weight shall be 330 grams (11.6 oz). Finish shall be low-reflectance black. Frequency response 60-20,000 Hz
Low frequency roll-off 80 Hz, 18 dB/octave
The Audio-Technica ES905CL is specified. Open circuit sensitivity –38 dB (12.5 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
Impedance 250 ohms
Maximum input sound level 138 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
Dynamic range (typical) 111 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Signal-to-noise ratio1 67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
Phantom power requirements 11-52V DC, 2 mA typical
Switch Flat, roll-off
Weight Microphone: 330 g (11.6 oz)
Power module: 81 g (2.9 oz)
Dimensions Microphone: 523.4 mm (20.61") long,
24.6 mm (0.97") head diameter
Power module: 92.9 mm (3.66") long,
18.9 mm (0.74") diameter
Output connector Power module: Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
Cable 2.9 m (9.5') long (permanently attached
to microphone), 3.2 mm (0.13") diameter,
2-conductor shielded cable, terminated
with TA3F-type connector
Optional interchangeable elements ESE-O omnidirectional (360°)
ESE-H hypercardioid (100°)
Audio-Technica case style M37
Accessories furnished AT8538 power module; three #8 x 1"
black oxide wood screws for microphone
mount
In the interest of standards development, A.T.U.S. offers full
details on its test methods to other industry
professionals on request.

1 Pascal = 10 dynes/cm2 = 10 microbars = 94 dB SPL

1
Typical, A-weighted, using Audio Precision System One.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

frequency response: 60 – 20,000 Hz

Response in dB

10 dB

50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k

Frequency in Hertz
LEGEND 12" or more on axis
Roll-off

polar pattern
0˚
330˚ 30˚

300˚ 60˚

270˚ 90˚

240˚ 120˚
LEGEND
200 Hz
210˚ 150˚ 1 kHz
180˚
5 kHz
SCALE IS 5 DECIBELS PER DIVISION 8 kHz

Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224

Audio-Technica Limited, Old Lane, Leeds LS11 8AG England
©2009 Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. audio-technica.com P52103