The Royer Labs R-121 is a ribbon microphone designed for use in professional recording studios. Being that it is a ribbon microphone, it is pretty delicate and I definitely wouldn't recommend using this outside your studio. It has the classic look and design made famous by the old Bang and Olufsen microphones. Since it is a ribbon microphone it is suitable for a number of different applications, but it also has some limitations when it comes to what it can handle. This being said, this ribbon microphone is pretty sturdy and can handle more sound pressure level than most other ribbons. The shape of the microphone is unique and makes it easy to place in tight places and to get interesting microphone placements in general.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Royer Labs R-121 for about three years. To me, it is one of, if not the best ribbon microphone that is still made new today. Royer has a reputation for making great ribbon microphones, and the R-121 is one of their best models. I have used this in a number of different situations, mostly using it for recording guitar amps and acoustic instruments. It has a unique tone that cannot be achieved with a dynamic or condenser microphone. Besides some of the old RCA ribbon microphones, like the DX77, this is really one of the best ribbon microphones you can get. I would also compare it to another Royer model, the R-122 as they are similar in look and overall sound. Both are great options, it just depends on your budget and what you envision yourself using this for. Of course it isn't cheap as it is made at an extremely high quality and has an awesome tone to it. For the professional engineer, these can be a must have and are a reasonable price for a microphone of this caliber.