iCON Pro Audio Space 87 Multi-Pattern Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

iCON Pro Audio Space 87: Classic FET Versatility on Plain 48V Phantom

The iCON Pro Audio Space 87 is a multi-pattern large-diaphragm FET condenser mic voiced after the classic large-diaphragm studio standard, with switchable cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 patterns, a -10 dB pad, a low-cut filter, and 127 dB of SPL handling with the pad engaged. The pitch is simple: it delivers that famous all-around FET character and full pattern flexibility while running on the standard 48V phantom an interface already puts out, at roughly 0.8 mA. No tube supply, no 7-pin cable, no warm-up - just a switchable studio condenser that powers up the moment phantom does. For an engineer who wants the classic solid-state sound without tube-mic logistics, that is the whole argument. It arrives with a suspension shock mount and pop filter, ready to track.

Cardioid, Omni, and Figure-8

A pattern switch lets one Space 87 stand in for several mics as a session demands. Cardioid isolates a lead vocal from the room, omni captures the ambience of a space or an ensemble, and figure-8 supports mid-side and Blumlein stereo. Because the choice lives on the mic, the same body follows the source from a solo take to a room capture without a swap. That versatility is a lot of microphone packed into one purchase.

A Classic FET-Voiced Large-Diaphragm Capsule

At its core is a large-diaphragm capsule voiced after one of the most recorded solid-state studio mics ever made. The large diaphragm pulls in a full, detailed tone with the low-end weight that flatters vocals, while the FET reference points to a balanced, all-purpose character rather than a colored one. Engineers get a sound that is instantly familiar and drops into a mix with little fuss. It is the kind of neutral-but-flattering voice that never feels wrong on a source.

-10 dB Pad and Low-Cut Filter

Loud sources and low-end buildup both get handled right on the mic body. The -10 dB pad lowers sensitivity so the capsule stays clean in front of a belting vocalist, brass, or a loud amp, and the low-cut strips out rumble and proximity-effect boom. A producer flips both switches to land a usable signal before it ever hits the preamp. That means fewer surprises baked into a take that a mix would otherwise have to fix.

127 dB of SPL and Studio-Grade Parts

With the pad engaged the Space 87 handles 127 dB SPL, and its signal path runs on WIMA capacitors, Fairchild resistors, and a Cinemag transformer. That headroom keeps the mic composed on demanding sources, while the higher-grade parts hold the tone clean and consistent take after take. The result stays polished on a quiet vocal and unruffled on a loud one. It is the component recipe of a serious mic, applied to a solid-state design anyone can power.

Plug-and-Play 48V Operation

Setup is as short as it gets: the Space 87 runs on standard 48V phantom at about 0.8 mA over a balanced 3-pin XLR output. Because it needs ordinary phantom rather than a tube supply, going live is just a matter of plugging into any phantom-capable interface or mixer. Anyone stepping up from an entry-level mic gets a real leap in tone with no new power hardware to buy. The upgrade costs a cable and a switch, not a rewiring of the setup.

Ready-to-Record Accessories

Each Space 87 includes a suspension shock mount and a pop filter, the two pieces serious tracking actually needs. The shock mount isolates the capsule from stand and floor vibration, and the pop filter breaks up plosive bursts on close vocals. Nothing else has to be ordered before the first serious take. A home or project studio can mount it, plug in, and cut a professional-sounding track the same day.