Blue Reactor Review
Reactor promises no-compromise quality at a very competitive price. Huw Price gets in on the action.
Price: £425.00
Manufacturer: Blue
Website: http://www.bluemic.com
Even by the company’s own outlandish standards, it would seem that Blue has outdone itself this time. However, the first thing to note is that this microphone is extremely well made. There are numerous companies that specialise in similarly quirky designs, but mediocre Far Eastern metalwork often thwarts their aesthetic ambitions. Of greater concern is the fact that some of these ‘design features’ fly in the face of decades of accumulated knowledge regarding the effect of reflections and acoustic shadowing on sound quality.
There are two ways of looking at the Reactor – quite literally - because the lollipop capsule rotates through 90 degrees. If you place the Reactor with the logo aimed towards the sound source it looks slim and sleek, and the body may help to keep singers at an appropriate distance.
Alternatively, swivel the head basket and aim the flat side of the body towards the source. In an ideal world this would allow you to get the capsule closer to the source, but the suspension mount actually keeps it further away. So, in reality, the swivelling capsule is more about fine-tuning the aim of the cardioid and figure-8 patterns. It would also be useful for tweaking imaging if you were using two Reactors in stereo.
Twist in the tail
The capsule itself is a centre-tapped dual-diaphragm design based on the B6 capsule Blue manufactures for its flagship Bottle microphone. It feeds into a discrete, Class-A preamp with a transformerless output stage. The pattern selector switch rotates around a central spindle and the handle itself magnifies the pattern logos – with their LED backlights it all looks very cool.Since we’re reviewing one of the first Reactors off the production line we should point out that the suspension mount is undergoing a redesign to aid stability. Later Reactors will also be lighter, which is just as well because the review unit weighed almost 1.2kg. The whole kit is packaged in an aluminium flightcase that also contains a very impressive wire-mesh pop filter.
Pretty patterns
In cardioid mode the tonal signature of the Reactor is bright and sparkly but without being harsh. On acoustic guitar this proved ideal for capturing the complexity of harmonic overtones, while the Reactor’s quick transient response helps to provide a sense of detail. A trade-off is that the brightness makes the bass seem a little light and sibilance may become an issue.A noticeable drop in output level accompanies the switch to omni and figure-8, but since the Reactor’s noise floor is negligible, any decent mic pre should be able to compensate. When compared to cardioid mode, omni sounded slightly coloured in the midrange but the lows were more integrated. We also noticed a fair amount of treble roll-off when the capsule was addressed from the sides, so the Reactor’s omni response veers towards figure-8 in the upper range.
With budget and midrange dual-diaphragm mics, figure-8 sometimes seems like it was added for the sake of it and midrange colouration can be extreme. But we’re pleased to report that the Reactor is an honourable exception. The low end really fills out, but, even better, the treble rolls off sooner. So you tailor the high-frequency response depending on what you’re recording.
In recent years, Blue’s efforts seem to have been concentrated on hand-held and USB microphones, so this is a welcome return to the recording business. The Reactor is aimed at the semi-pro market but it looks and sounds a lot more expensive than that. At this price, Blue has made a statement of intent. MTM
9/10 Verdict - Blue’s Reactor sets a new standard for multi-pattern condensers at this price point.
WHY BUY
+ Fantastic build quality+ Unique looks
+ Three-pattern versatility
+ Clear and transparent sound
+ Low noise
+ Fabulous accessories
WALK ON BY
- Level drops in omni/figure-8- No pad and HPF switching
Score: 9/10
This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 101
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