Universal Audio Bock 251 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

The Universal Audio Bock 251 is David Bock’s take on the vintage large-diaphragm tube condenser that is considered by legions of audio professionals to be the best-sounding microphone ever made. But how do you improve on perfection? The manufacturing processes of the 1950s and ’60s didn’t have the precision tolerances today’s products benefit from. Thus, no two vintage microphones sounded identical when fresh off the assembly line, much less after decades of (ab)use. The UA Bock 251 mic is a meticulous re-creation of a primo original unit, secured after an exhaustive worldwide search. Bock’s creation, however, is no mere clone.

The Bock 251 boasts an upgraded structural design and state-of-the-art replica components for consistent performance and rock-solid reliability. Like the original, it sports switchable cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 polar patterns, but its custom transformer has been engineered to deliver extended frequency response and more generous headroom. Complete with a beefy external power supply, a connecting cable, a shockmount, a signature wooden storage box, and a vintage-style suitcase, the Universal Audio Bock 251 is an ultra-premium microphone that works wonders on vocals and instruments of all types. It will surely be the crown jewel of your mic locker.

Inspired design by a master designer

For pro audio engineers and studio owners, the name David Bock needs no introduction. Bock fine-tuned his craft as chief technical engineer in the ’80s and ’90s at top studios such as Hyde Street, The Hit Factory, and Ocean Way. Naturally, these world-class facilities owned sizable collections of coveted vintage microphones, and a vital part of David’s job was maintaining them all in perfect working condition. This led to a deep understanding of how these mics worked and why each one sounded the way that it did — and ultimately to the next phase of David’s career. It was while working at Soundelux Studios in Hollywood that Bock became involved in microphone design. Intrigued by the concept of integrating the desirable sonic properties of vintage mics into new designs that leveraged modern manufacturing precision, David was responsible for a string of acclaimed microphones, including the Soundelux 251, E47, and E49. Building on his successes at Soundelux, he launched Bock Audio in 2007. In 2020, the design genius of David Bock teamed with the manufacturing prowess of Universal Audio, where David is a senior product engineer.

Another Bock modern classic

At UA, Bock microphones are built the way they always have been. Handcrafted in small batches using unique, high-end components, these precision recording tools are designed to a sonic target rather than a price point. This is what microphone production looked like back in the Golden Age of Analog, and the process is credited with the enduring sonic superiority of cherished vintage microphones, some of which are still in use today. But access to Universal Audio’s vast resources means that Bock microphones also leverage state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques that ensure a level of precision unimaginable back in the day. Hand assembled and hand tensioned to exacting tolerances, Bock’s proprietary all-brass capsules employ robust 6-micron diaphragms for a gorgeously transparent sound without a hint of artificial brightness. Bock-designed multi-sectioned transformers are used for a deeper and smoother bottom end than that other production microphones. Old-school inductor-based power supplies deliver beefy dynamic range for Bock’s discrete audio amplifiers, as well as increased longevity for tubes. It all adds up to a line of modern classic microphones that are essential to today’s well-appointed mic locker. Sweetwater looks forward to many exciting new microphone designs from David Bock and UA in the years ahead!

Universal Audio Bock 251 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone Features:

• Re-creation of an iconic mic from the Golden Age of Analog
• Proprietary all-brass C12-type capsule
• Switchable cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 polar patterns
• Custom transformer delivers extended frequency response and generous headroom
• Inductor-based power supply for increased dynamic range and tube longevity
• Includes power supply, 20-foot cable, shockmount, signature wood storage box, and vintage-style suitcase
• Handcrafted in the USA