Nordic Audio Labs NU-24K

This highly impressive new large‑diaphragm FET mic brings a touch of Nordic noir to the studio.

Finnish engineer Martin Kantola has been building microphones for more than 30 years. Like many ‘boutique’ makers, he was initially inspired by the classic Neumann valve mics, but in 2019, he started building a new large‑diaphragm capsule to his own design. The D100K is a 30mm, edge‑terminated capsule for which Nordic Audio Labs claim “excellent off‑axis phase response, super realistic transient response and [a] very smooth top end”.

So far, this capsule has been offered in the multi‑pattern NU‑100K and the NU‑880K, which uses two D100K capsules mounted at a 90‑degree mutual angle to offer stereo and horizontal B‑format output. Nordic Audio Labs also manufacture the unique NU‑314K, a large‑diaphragm pressure mic with a pure omni pattern, and the NU‑47V, which aims to match the sound of the immortal Neumann U47 but without using valves. Apart from the NU‑47V, all Nordic mics share a similar look and feel, and they’re very much premium products, typically costing several thousand pounds.

For those who want to explore the advantages of the D100K capsule in a somewhat more affordable package, Nordic Audio Labs have now launched the NU‑24K: a no‑frills, fixed‑cardioid mic that has neither a valve nor an output transformer, but uses a proprietary solid‑state circuit called FloFET that is claimed to sound “smooth and flattering”.

Hey, Good Lookin’

The NU‑24K ships in a small Peli‑type case, with a Rycote InVision shockmount. To say that this is an attractive mic to look at is a serious understatement. The proportions are spot‑on, build quality is absolutely impeccable, the understated black finish with gold legending is classy without being tacky, and the open headbasket with its super‑fine gauze is a work of art. The aforementioned D100K capsule is clearly visible through this gauze, but does not give up its mysteries easily. In some large‑diaphragm capsules, the membrane is transparent enough that you can see the pattern of holes in the backplate, but not so here.

As I’ve already mentioned, the...