Ohma World is known for its colourful, modular microphones, recognisable at a glance. The small East Los Angeles brand shifts gears with the Ohmie, its first transformerless condenser — and it slips in an idea you rarely see at this price: a switch that changes the capsule’s polarisation voltage.
In practice, the Ohmie is a cardioid condenser with an edge-terminated capsule, mounted in an internal shock mount to cut stand noise. The low-noise, high-output circuit skips the output transformer. Nothing exotic so far. The twist is the little switch that makes it sound two ways.
48V or 80V: two mics in one
The Dual Voltage switch changes the voltage applied to the capsule without asking anything special of your preamp: both modes run from standard 48V phantom power, with internal circuitry generating the 80V when needed.
- 48V: described as natural, smooth and relaxed.
- 80V: more immediate, punchy and defined, with about 5 dB more sensitivity.
Ohma makes one point clearly: these are not presets for specific sources but two distinct voices you pick by ear. On vocals, you might reach for 48V and its roundness; on acoustic guitar or percussion, 80V will chase the detail. It is a clever way to get two colours without swapping capsule or mic — a different logic from multi-pattern condensers, which work the polar pattern rather than the polarisation.
The numbers that matter
| Spec | At 48V | At 80V |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity (1 kHz) | 32 mV/Pa | 57 mV/Pa |
| Max SPL (0.5% THD) | 138 dB | 133 dB |
| Self-noise | 8 dB-A | |
| Frequency range | 20 Hz – 20 kHz | |
| Output | transformerless, 3-pin XLR, 90 ohms | |
The mic stays compact (157 x 56.5 x 25 mm, 218 g) and draws just 8 mA from phantom power. It ships with a shock clip; an optional magnetic pop filter that snaps onto the front without a clamp or gooseneck is offered separately.
Where it sits
The Ohmie is not trying to beat the big studio condensers on their own turf: it is a character mic whose personality comes from the switch rather than interchangeable accessories like the brand’s other models. If you are still weighing dynamic, condenser and ribbon, our guide to microphone types in the studio lays the groundwork. And since a good condenser deserves a good front end, the preamp question will come up fast behind it. For voice work, our rundown of radio and podcast voice mics rounds out the picture.
Price and availability
The Ohmie lists at 349 dollars (around 265 pounds), sold through the brand’s site and dealer network, with shipping in the coming weeks. The official page is at Ohma World.
My take
The voltage switch is no gimmick: working the capsule’s polarisation touches the core of the sound, not just a tone filter. At 349 dollars, getting two credible colours in a single tracking mic is a real argument for a home studio that can’t line up three different condensers. Ohma’s bet is that the two modes are distinct enough to truly earn their keep, rather than being cosmetic variations. The design, meanwhile, is a win — and a mic you actually want to put in front of a source matters more than we like to admit.
