The Pearl ELM-T is a Sound on Sound Awards 2025 nominee!Cast your vote here.

Pearl ELM-A

Pearl ELM-A Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The ELM-A releases the full power of the ELM capsule. Dual outputs allow for seamless polar pattern changes in post-production.

Pearl ELM-A Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The ELM-A releases the full power of the ELM capsule. Dual outputs allow for seamless polar pattern changes in post-production.

“We did a recording with a cello sextet and a soprano placed in a circle around a single ELM-A. It was beyond compare! What a microphone!” – Joel Bexelius, Sound Engineer, Malmö Opera

Powerful and refined, the ELM-A is the ultimate Pearl. The special properties of the ELM capsule in combination with separate outputs for each side of the capsule makes for a completely unique microphone, providing engineers with a whole new level of control over the recording environment.

The 7:1 length/width ratio of the capsule means that the polar pattern for each side of the capsule looks like a standard cardioid in the horizontal plane, while it vastly reduces high frequencies in the vertical plane, a property that can be extremely useful for reducing unwanted reflections from the floor and ceiling, providing the audio engineer with a valuable tool to handle poor room acoustics and challenging acoustical environments.

The distinctive feature of the ELM-A is the separate output for each side of the capsule. If the channels are recorded separately, the polar pattern can be adjusted – seamlessly – in post-production and different patterns can be tested on the same recording. This also means that the ELM-A can act as a 180-degree stereo microphone and that it can be used for several stereo configurations, such as M-S or Blumlein, when combined with an additional microphone.

Just like the Pearl 2800 rectangular capsule, the longer ELM capsule combines the best characteristics from large and small diaphragms, i.e. low noise, detailed transient reproduction and an extremely smooth off-axis response.

In combination, the unique characteristics of the ELM series microphones make them outstanding for orchestral and choral recordings and, as a result, they can be found with symphonies and opera houses all over the world.

The ELM-A is finished in piano black ED lacquer with a white logo, ring and engraved model number.

Package includes

  • Wooden box
  • Pearl 1930 shockmount
  • Individual frequency graph

Find a dealer Quote

Specifications

  • Product name

    Pearl ELM-A
  • Type

    Condenser
  • Article number

    B090
  • Frequency response

    20 Hz to 25,000 Hz
  • Polar pattern

    Seamlessly variable or two back-to-back cardoids
  • Max SPL (1 % THD at 1 kHz)

    126 dB
  • Sensitivity at 1 kHz

    22 mV/Pa (± 1 dB)
  • A-weighted noise level (IEC 179-A)

    11 dBA
  • Power supply

    48 V Phantom (DIN/IEC)
  • Current consumption

    3.5 mA
  • Output impedance

    100 Ω
  • Recommended load impedance

    1 kΩ
  • Connection

    5-pin XLR
  • Length

    192 mm
  • Diameter

    28/32 mm
  • Net weight

    305 g

Videos

Pie Jesu performed at Malmö Opera. 2 x ELM-A's on vocals and 2 x ELM-C's on the piano.

Six cellists and a soprano recorded by one(!) Pearl ELM-A.

The DHS Baroque Ensemble recorded by 3 x Pearl ELM-A's in a Decca Tree setup.