BOVA BALL

condenser microphone

$1,679.00 + tax

CA

bova ball

Have questions?

Prices do not include applicable taxes, shipping or duties.

$1,679.00 + tax

What's in the Box

Description

Spherically Mounted Condenser Microphone
  • a spherically-mounted high-intensity small diaphragm electret condenser capsule
  • all discrete class A transformer-less electronics
  • active balanced outputs
  • robust vintage-style solid brass hardware for versatile and stable positioning
  • precision Manfrotto ball and socket mechanism for versatile positioning
  • phantom powered electronics
  • hand-selected, precision-matched components
  • hand-wired and assembled
  • pickup pattern omni at low frequencies gradually transitioning to directional with increasing frequency – ie: very graceful change from on-axis to off-axis pickup

 

This electret condenser microphone is the first in a series of hand-crafted studio recording mics fondly known as the bova balls.

The SE-BB1 will appeal to those who require a stunningly open-sounding microphone ~ effective as a drum overhead, hi-hat or percussion mic, or on anything requiring extreme transient detail at high SPL.

Specifications

dimensions: 4" diameter
weight: 2.0lbs
maximum sound pressure: >140 decibels
output connector: 3 pin XLR
output impedance: 100 ohms balanced
power requirements: 48V phantom

Miscellaneous

  • robust vintage-style solid brass hardware
  • precision Manfrotto ball and socket mechanism for versatile positioning
  • a stunningly open-sounding microphone ~ effective as a drum overhead, hi-hat or percussion mic, or on anything requiring extreme transient detail at high SPL
  • designed and manufactured (by hand) in Canada
  • all modules subject to burn-in period - for maximum reliability
  • one year warranty

Audio Samples

Ultimately, all that matters is the sound
… a listen’s worth a thousand words.

Here are some samples of various instruments recorded exclusively with SE-BB1 bova ball condenser mic(s) through SE-Pre mic pres. All of these samples were recorded digitally, completely flat and dry with absolutely no eq, compression, or effects processors of any kind. You can download these samples and import them into your digital workstation. This will allow you to hear them as we intended. Listen, and enjoy!

bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

Incredible on many sources

My favorite omni microphone. A spherical omni mic like if your head was mono… Totally amazing for anything where an omni is ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

HUGE

The Bova ball is one of the most amazing omni mics I have ever used… period. Spherical omni condenser with discrete FET ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

They 'listen like a fan'

The Ball is amazing. Period. LOVE it. Everyone was freaking out about it. Used the ball with a Manley VTL tube reference ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

Grammy Nominated

Phil! I am at the Grammys!! I just got this email sitting at the Grammys. I will email you soon! I used ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

The Bova Balls shine

I am at Rick Rubins studio in Malibu. It’s called shangri la and was made great by the band and bob Dylan.I ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

Incredible on many sources

My favorite omni microphone. A spherical omni mic like if your head was mono… Totally amazing for anything where an omni is ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

HUGE

The Bova ball is one of the most amazing omni mics I have ever used… period. Spherical omni condenser with discrete FET ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

They 'listen like a fan'

The Ball is amazing. Period. LOVE it. Everyone was freaking out about it. Used the ball with a Manley VTL tube reference ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

Grammy Nominated

Phil! I am at the Grammys!! I just got this email sitting at the Grammys. I will email you soon! I used ...
bova ball
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY

The Bova Balls shine

I am at Rick Rubins studio in Malibu. It’s called shangri la and was made great by the band and bob Dylan.I ...
bova ball
Incredible microphones
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn
Hi Janet and Phil, I hope someone gets that Bova from you. they are incredible microphones! like your head, only mono…. and...
bova ball
Voraciously detailed
@beautypill
At first I didn’t like the Bova Ball because I was misusing it. You have to give it some air. Voraciously detailed.
bova ball
Final details
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Committing some final details on Josh’s jazz record. Sounds great!! ES125 captured via Phillip Victor Bova mic / Hamptone Tube pre, stellar...
bova ball
From funk to rock to classical
Tony Maimone
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY
This sounds exciting. So glad that the Sage saga continues. Last night I walked into our A room where Joel is recording...
bova ball
They sound incredible
Tony Maimone
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY
my 2 bova balls sound incredible in the new live room!!!!
bova ball
I want another one
John French
Pony Records
hi janet, the bova ball arrived safely and is great. thanks for the phone call too. i’ll want to get a second...
bova ball
The best room mics I have ever used
Patrick Donicht
The Audio Vortex
Received the Balls right on schedule and in perfect working order. Quite a stunning microphone I must say. I had lots of...
bova ball
Have a magic attached to them
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I just tried out my new Bova Balls on acoustic guitar and must say I’m very impressed. They are “kinda” Omni and...
bova ball
Thank you for the beautiful microphone
Mark Rubel
The Blackbird Academy & Pogo Studio
it’s wonderful that Mr. Bova called here to check on the microphone. Everyone has been marveling over it, and I’ve found it...
bova ball
The omni pattern worked great
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Recently I bought a couple of the Sage Mic Pre’s and two of their Bova Ball Microphones. I wasn’t sure what to...
bova ball
I want a second one
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Well, it is obvious to me that one Bova Ball mic is simply not enough. I want a second one. Lets do...
bova ball
The detail is amazing!
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
I saw a nice big picture of the Bova in EQ magazine the other day, very good! I mounted mine on a...
bova ball
Truly great people
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Oh my god, you guys are so amazing. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know how to thank you enough, I love these mics...
bova ball
Tons of personality
Matt LeMay
New York, New York
I’m in a band called Get Him Eat Him (http://www.gethimeathim.com); we’ve done two full-length albums and a handful of self-released and home-recorded...
bova ball
Instant vibey-ness
Steve Sopchak
The Square Studio, LLC
I just had the chance to mess around with the pair for a little while. I am definitely thrilled with them. I...
bova ball
Nothing less than stellar
Colin Cripps
Musician and Record Producer
I use the Bova extensively on acoustic guitars I record these days and the results are nothing less than stellar!Colin Crippsmusician and...
bova ball
Great as overheads
Keith Bird
Park Lane Recording Studio - Glasgow, Scotland
Janet, just thought i should send you a quick line about the Bova Balls now that I have had a bit of...
bova ball
Excels across genres
Steve Sopchak
The Square Studio, LLC
This is Steve Sopchak, a Bova Ball user from NY. I think it has been about two years since I purchased my...
bova ball
Phase coherence is superb
KB
Scotland
I recently got a pair of Bova Balls from Sage. I haven’t needed to use anything else for OH’s since. Phase coherence...
bova ball
A good listener
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
And here is the Bova Head Lady herself, new and improved over the old tape box, as she stared pensively down upon...
bova ball
They are amazing
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Yes, I have three of the NT-4’s, and love them for stereo usage. You have also hit upon my other favourite “unknown”...
bova ball
Experimentally modified
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
… The congas were mic’d in two ways. For my initial tracking experiment, I had put a Sennheiser MD-402U, a hyper-cardioid microphone...
bova ball
The imaging is incredible
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
So tonite i tried my omni Bova Balls as overheads. There was a spot right over the front of the kit that...
bova ball
A cute little thing
Michael O'Connor
County Wicklow, Ireland
Hello again and congratulations on your new arrival- he’s a cute little thing.I finally had a chance to try out the Bova...
bova ball
These freakin' rock!
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I just got a duo of Bova Ball mics and i am completely hooked. They freaking rock. Kevin ‘Fibes’ Rose Elevated Basement...
bova ball
My new favorite mic
Theo Aronson
Brooklyn, NY
I finally got a chance to track some stuff with my new sage gear and it was truly music to my ears,...
bova ball
Damn those are some magic balls
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I did a cello session last night and was amazed at the combination of SM-2 up high and a set of Bova-Balls...
bova ball
The only mic NOT making any wind noise was the Bova Ball
Patrick Donicht
The Audio Vortex
I want to take the opportunity to say hello and let you know how much I love the Bova Balls. They have...
bova ball
An excellent “airy” sound in conjunction with the 47
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Recently I bought a couple of the Sage Mic Pre’s and two of their Bova Ball Microphones. I wasn’t sure what to...
bova ball
You will want more
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Be careful where you put Bova Balls. You will want more of them.
bova ball
Terrific frequency detail
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
This is truly a unique mic, it is gently omni directional, is phantom powered, captures transients clearly and has terrific frequency detail....
bova ball
It's like your head only mono
Scodiddly
Hey Joel, how’s the Bova Ball worked for you so far? Building a sphere mic is on my (now incredibly overstuffed) to-do...
bova ball
Incredible microphones
Joel Hamilton
Studio G, Brooklyn
Hi Janet and Phil, I hope someone gets that Bova from you. they are incredible microphones! like your head, only mono…. and...
bova ball
Voraciously detailed
@beautypill
At first I didn’t like the Bova Ball because I was misusing it. You have to give it some air. Voraciously detailed.
bova ball
Final details
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Committing some final details on Josh’s jazz record. Sounds great!! ES125 captured via Phillip Victor Bova mic / Hamptone Tube pre, stellar...
bova ball
From funk to rock to classical
Tony Maimone
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY
This sounds exciting. So glad that the Sage saga continues. Last night I walked into our A room where Joel is recording...
bova ball
They sound incredible
Tony Maimone
Studio G, Brooklyn, NY
my 2 bova balls sound incredible in the new live room!!!!
bova ball
I want another one
John French
Pony Records
hi janet, the bova ball arrived safely and is great. thanks for the phone call too. i’ll want to get a second...
bova ball
The best room mics I have ever used
Patrick Donicht
The Audio Vortex
Received the Balls right on schedule and in perfect working order. Quite a stunning microphone I must say. I had lots of...
bova ball
Have a magic attached to them
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I just tried out my new Bova Balls on acoustic guitar and must say I’m very impressed. They are “kinda” Omni and...
bova ball
Thank you for the beautiful microphone
Mark Rubel
The Blackbird Academy & Pogo Studio
it’s wonderful that Mr. Bova called here to check on the microphone. Everyone has been marveling over it, and I’ve found it...
bova ball
The omni pattern worked great
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Recently I bought a couple of the Sage Mic Pre’s and two of their Bova Ball Microphones. I wasn’t sure what to...
bova ball
I want a second one
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Well, it is obvious to me that one Bova Ball mic is simply not enough. I want a second one. Lets do...
bova ball
The detail is amazing!
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
I saw a nice big picture of the Bova in EQ magazine the other day, very good! I mounted mine on a...
bova ball
Truly great people
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
Oh my god, you guys are so amazing. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know how to thank you enough, I love these mics...
bova ball
Tons of personality
Matt LeMay
New York, New York
I’m in a band called Get Him Eat Him (http://www.gethimeathim.com); we’ve done two full-length albums and a handful of self-released and home-recorded...
bova ball
Instant vibey-ness
Steve Sopchak
The Square Studio, LLC
I just had the chance to mess around with the pair for a little while. I am definitely thrilled with them. I...
bova ball
Nothing less than stellar
Colin Cripps
Musician and Record Producer
I use the Bova extensively on acoustic guitars I record these days and the results are nothing less than stellar!Colin Crippsmusician and...
bova ball
Great as overheads
Keith Bird
Park Lane Recording Studio - Glasgow, Scotland
Janet, just thought i should send you a quick line about the Bova Balls now that I have had a bit of...
bova ball
Excels across genres
Steve Sopchak
The Square Studio, LLC
This is Steve Sopchak, a Bova Ball user from NY. I think it has been about two years since I purchased my...
bova ball
Phase coherence is superb
KB
Scotland
I recently got a pair of Bova Balls from Sage. I haven’t needed to use anything else for OH’s since. Phase coherence...
bova ball
A good listener
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
And here is the Bova Head Lady herself, new and improved over the old tape box, as she stared pensively down upon...
bova ball
They are amazing
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Yes, I have three of the NT-4’s, and love them for stereo usage. You have also hit upon my other favourite “unknown”...
bova ball
Experimentally modified
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
… The congas were mic’d in two ways. For my initial tracking experiment, I had put a Sennheiser MD-402U, a hyper-cardioid microphone...
bova ball
The imaging is incredible
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
So tonite i tried my omni Bova Balls as overheads. There was a spot right over the front of the kit that...
bova ball
A cute little thing
Michael O'Connor
County Wicklow, Ireland
Hello again and congratulations on your new arrival- he’s a cute little thing.I finally had a chance to try out the Bova...
bova ball
These freakin' rock!
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I just got a duo of Bova Ball mics and i am completely hooked. They freaking rock. Kevin ‘Fibes’ Rose Elevated Basement...
bova ball
My new favorite mic
Theo Aronson
Brooklyn, NY
I finally got a chance to track some stuff with my new sage gear and it was truly music to my ears,...
bova ball
Damn those are some magic balls
Kevin 'Fibes' Rose
Elevated Basement Studio
I did a cello session last night and was amazed at the combination of SM-2 up high and a set of Bova-Balls...
bova ball
The only mic NOT making any wind noise was the Bova Ball
Patrick Donicht
The Audio Vortex
I want to take the opportunity to say hello and let you know how much I love the Bova Balls. They have...
bova ball
An excellent “airy” sound in conjunction with the 47
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Recently I bought a couple of the Sage Mic Pre’s and two of their Bova Ball Microphones. I wasn’t sure what to...
bova ball
You will want more
Terry Manning
Compass Point Studios, then Nassau, Bahamas
Be careful where you put Bova Balls. You will want more of them.
bova ball
Terrific frequency detail
Andy Snavley
Bendy Music
This is truly a unique mic, it is gently omni directional, is phantom powered, captures transients clearly and has terrific frequency detail....
bova ball
It's like your head only mono
Scodiddly
Hey Joel, how’s the Bova Ball worked for you so far? Building a sphere mic is on my (now incredibly overstuffed) to-do...