Electro-Voice RE50-B
An omnidirectional dynamic that weighs 269 grams, survives being dropped on a press riser, and quietly became the mic you see in the corner of every news conference.
Overview
The RE50-B shows up in the frame even when it isn't the story - the long black body jammed under a reporter's chin, the omnidirectional dynamic element that's been the same basic idea for decades. Electro-Voice built it for interviews, and the construction shows it. A high-mass zinc acoustic chamber floats shock-isolated inside a machined-aluminum outer case, so handling noise never gets up the body and into the diaphragm. The internal transducer uses a mechanical nesting concept, each part seated inside another until the head assembly is nearly a solid structure.
The frequency response runs 80 Hz to 13,000 Hz. That's a broadcast-range curve, not a studio-bright one. The element is dynamic and self-generating, so no battery or phantom power is required. That helps when you're standing in a parking lot at a press event with a wireless transmitter strapped to your belt. Nominal impedance is 150 ohms, matching 50-, 150-, and 250-ohm inputs. Output level is 1.6 mV/pascal. The magnetic circuit is nonwelded and uses Alnico V and magnetic iron.
Owners and reviewers tend to describe the tone as midrange-forward rather than flat. One Reverb listing notes "it has more of a mid range tone," which fits a mic designed to cut through crowd noise and room ambience rather than flatter a vocal. The omnidirectional pattern is the other half of that. It picks up consistently from all directions, so a subject who turns their head or leans away mid-sentence doesn't drop off the way they would on a cardioid. Podcastage's review calls it an omnidirectional dynamic meant for Electronic News Gathering and reporting, "and it does that rather well." Reporterstore calls the RE50B line "the industry standard in the world of broadcasting, reporting, and TV production" - though that page is technically titled for the RE50L, so take the superlative with some salt.
Key Features
The Shock-Isolated Zinc Chamber Inside an Aluminum Case
The isolation system is the defining feature of the RE50-B. A high-mass zinc acoustic chamber, integral with the head assembly, is shock-mounted within the machined-aluminum outer casing. Handling noise, clothing noise, and cord shock are all isolated from the element before they can become mechanically induced noise in the signal. Electro-Voice's own documentation calls it "an advancement in shock-mounting techniques." In practice you can grip the body firmly, wave it around, and hand it back and forth between interviewer and subject without the low-frequency thumps that plague lesser handhelds. The internal transducer is nested so tightly that the head assembly is nearly a solid structure, highly resistant to damage from shock.
The Four-Stage Pop Filter and Acoustifoam Windscreen
A four-stage pop filter sits between the grille and the diaphragm, keeping dust and magnetic particles out of the element. The integral windscreen and blast filter handle wind noise, excessive sibilance, and the "P-popping" that ruins close-miked speech. B&H's listing says the built-in Acoustifoam filter keeps wind and P-pop noise "to an absolute minimum, indoors or out." The grille bounces back to retain its shape, which helps when the mic lives in a gear bag and gets pressed against faces for a living.
Ruggedness and Environmental Tolerance
The diaphragm is unaffected by temperature extremes and atmospheric conditions, and Adorama describes the aluminum build as durable. B&H's feature list puts it as "withstands extreme temps & humidity." That matters for the ENG and reporting work the mic was designed for, like a rain-soaked assignment.
Omnidirectional Pickup for Interview Work
The omnidirectional polar pattern is why the RE50-B behaves the way it does on a two-person interview. Response is consistent from all directions, so the subject can move, turn, or gesture without the level swinging. It also means the mic hears the room. That's the tradeoff, and field reporters accept it in exchange for not having to aim.
Physical Format
The microphone measures 197 mm (7.75 in.) in length, with a maximum diameter of 49 mm (1.94 in.) and a shank diameter of 25 mm (1.0 in.). It weighs 269 grams (9.5 oz.) net, 539 grams (19 oz.) shipping. Finish is semi-gloss black, nonreflecting, which is why it disappears on camera. The connector is a built-in type similar or equivalent to the Switchcraft A3M. A black stand adapter is included. Optional accessories include the 376 charcoal windscreen, the 379-1 black and 379-2 red windscreens, and the 422A desk stand.
Historical Context
Adorama's copy groups the RE50 and RE50/B together as "specially shock-isolated, omnidirectional, dynamic microphones created for the most exacting professional applications." The B-suffix variant sits at the center of a small family. The RE50 N/D B is based on the RE50 B and swaps in a neodymium magnet for a much higher output signal. The RE50L is the longer version, at 9.5 inches, and offers the same sound quality as the RE50B. Reviewers have measured the RE50-B against the Electro Voice 635A, the Rode Reporter, and the Mono HM-M2, which places it in the handheld-interview category rather than the studio or instrument-mic world.
Production years for the RE50-B are not documented in available sources, and no original launch price has surfaced. A vintage metal microphone case for the 666, 676, and RE50 family turns up on the used market, which suggests the RE50 lineage predates the current B-suffix version. The exact transition date isn't recorded.
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