Lewitt LCT 840 – Authentica

Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone

The Lewitt-Audio LCT 840 is a large-diaphragm multi-pattern tube condenser microphone.

Like its FET counterparts, the LCT 540 and LCT 640, the 840 uses a 33mm capsule with dual, center-terminated 25mm diaphragms made of 4-micron Mylar.

The LCT 840 features five switchable polar patterns: Omni, Wide Cardioid, Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Figure-8. The pattern switch is located on the external power supply; it is a “jog dial” control with lighted selection indicator.

The pad and filter options are selectable via noiseless pushbutton controls on the PSU. Pad options include 0dB, -10dB, -20dB; the filter offers either a -12dB cutoff at 40Hz, or a -6dB rolloff at 300Hz, when enabled.

At 9dBA, the mic’s self-noise is remarkably low considering its tube-and-transformer topology.

The tube is a dual-triode 12AX7B, visible through a plexiglass cover on the front of the microphone body. Because tubes are susceptible to EMI, Lewitt developed a thin film of highly conductive material that is all but transparent; this material coats the inside of the plexiglass window, effectively blocking electromagnetic interference.