Review: The Aston Origin condenser microphone

Today we will have a closer look at the very promising Aston Origin!

The relatively new brand Aston is storming the market with incredible products, build in the UK for an interesting price. The team behind Aston has experience in various fields of pro-audio and building their products with feedback from the community such as artists and audio engineers. We can see that they aim for high-quality, sustainability and efficiency at an affordable pricing-range. We’re expecting a lot more good products from this company in the future!

After testing the Aston Spirit and Aston Halo, we’re having a look at the smaller brother of the Aston Spirit – the Aston Origin. The Aston Origin is the first mic of Aston and the world’s best seller for Aston. The big difference is that the Spirit has a better recording-quality in the headroom and switchable recording patterns and is just a more complete and professional microphone – within a different price-range of course.

Most interesting is that the store price of the Origin microphone is €249, -, would that be budget or high-end quality? Can you even build a microphone in the UK that sounds good with a price tag like that? We had a closer look.

The box

When the box arrived, there were a couple of interesting things to see. The wrap on the brown box is filled with pictures and the most important information. It’s simple and recyclable which reflects the durability of the Aston products. In the box is a booklet with all the information you need, Aston sticker and Aston pin-badge.

Specs and product

On the box are already a couple of highlights and specs like

• Wave-form mesh head shock absorption for capsule protection
• Built-in pop filter using stainless steel knit-mesh technology
• Direct stand microphone mounting
• The Aston Sound – developed by professional artists, engineers, and producers
• Hi-Specs. PCB & components

The Aston Origin has a default cardioid condenser microphone with one inch (1″) gold evaporated capsule. All Aston Origins have a built-in pop filter and an internal shock mount system – all built in. In most occasions, you can use the Origin just how it comes in the box - plug-and-play. If you want to have a better recording set-up you can extend with accessories like the Aston Swift shield to increase performance. Just like the Aston Spirit, the Aston Origin has the wave-form spring head, this looks stunning and offers protection for the most important part of your microphone.

The built-in mesh-knit pop filter around the wave-from head is randomly waved which make sure unwanted frequencies are filtered. The Aston Origin is a cardioid-pattern microphone with a one-inch diaphragm diameter and has a -10dB switch and an 80Hz LF Roll-off switch. The Aston Origin responds to a frequency range between 20hZ and 20kHz

• Frequency Response:20Hz – 20kHz (+/-3dB)
• Equivalent Noise Level:18dB A-Weighted
• Sensitivity at 1kHz into 1kohm:23.7mV/Pa
• Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%:127dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (rel. 94dB SPL):76dB A-Weighted
• Pad Switch:10dB
• Low-Cut Filter:80Hz

Our experience

We already have some experience with the Aston products, and it’s always a pleasure when a box arrives. Quality from the box until the recording. The general look and feel of the Aston Origin is incredible, a small metal microphone that is capable of so much. You would not expect high-end quality at this price-point but… Yes, Aston gives you high-quality.

‘Is it even possible with this price-tag? Aston brings you the living proof of affordable recording and quality: the Aston Origin’

When comparing it to more expensive microphones it does a really good job in making detailed frequencies hearable. The character of the microphone is beautiful and perfect as an all-around studio microphone for either vocals or recording guitars – it does the job. The highly natural sound gives so much dimension when recording and mixing audio. The Aston Origin is a low-priced microphone but way better than its competitors in build-quality, audio quality, natural sound, and sustainability.