FAQ
What is NUDE Microphones?
NUDE Microphones is a small Australian Microphone brand based in South Australia. We design honest, high-quality recording tools for people who care about sound, not status. Our core promise is: Low Cost, Superb Sonic Quality Microphones.
Why buy a NUDE Microphone?
NUDE Microphones are designed in South Australia for people who love sound: recording musicians, producers, engineers, creatives, podcasters, schools and studios who want superb sonic quality without paying for logo tax.
In an audio gear world where you are bombarded with the latest and greatest “must have’s” and “mix magic bullets”, NUDE Microphones stands on a simple premise: Low Cost, Superb Sonic Quality Microphones.
CONSIDER the price Differential:
On smaller/mobile screens, scroll left to right to view the full comparison table.
| NUDE Mic / Price | Competitor Mic / Price | Increase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matched Pair – NUDE Rectangular Ribbon — $705 AUD | Matched Pair – Coles 4038 — $5,489 AUD | +679% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 679% better? |
| NUDE Stereo Blumlein Ribbon — $599 AUD | Royer SF-12 Stereo Ribbon — $4,558 AUD | +661% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 661% better? |
| NUDE 414 — $585 AUD | AKG C414 XLS — $1,869 AUD | +219% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 219% better? |
| NUDE FET47 — $872 AUD | Neumann U47 FET — $5,773 AUD | +562% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 562% better? |
| NUDE C12 — $590 AUD | AKG C12 VR — $18,999 AUD | +3,120% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 3,120% better? |
| NUDE 251 — $875 AUD | Telefunken ELA M 251E — $22,499 AUD | +2,471% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 2,471% better? |
| NUDE M49 — $1,999 AUD | Neumann M49V Set — $13,499 AUD | +575% | Ask yourself, is the sound outcome 575% better? |
Where is NUDE Microphones based?
NUDE Microphones is a South Australian based Pty Ltd E-Commerce Company and sells online to customers world-wide.
What brands are sold in this store?
NUDE Microphones sells NUDE Microphone products only. We do not operate as a multi-brand retailer.
Do you sell second-hand or pre-owned items?
No. NUDE Microphones sells new NUDE microphones and accessories. We do not currently sell second-hand, used or pre-owned items.
Are NUDE microphones clones?
Some NUDE microphones are inspired by classic microphone designs and familiar studio workflows, but NUDE products are not presented as original vintage models. We specify, voice and sell microphones under the NUDE brand with honest descriptions, practical engineering and a strong value proposition.
What is included in the box?
Box contents vary by model and are listed on each product page. Typical inclusions include the microphone, protective case or box, shock mount or clip, power supply and cable for tube models, or split box/cable for the Stereo Ribbon. Check the relevant product page for exact inclusions.
Are These Microphones Chinese?
Yes. Many NUDE Microphones are made in China – proudly, carefully and with long-term manufacturing agreements in place with partners we know and trust.
NUDE Microphones are designed and developed in South Australia and produced to our specifications by specialist manufacturing partners, with selected parts suppliers from China, Vietnam and Europe depending on the model.
The important question is not where a microphone is made, but how well it is made, how it is specified, and who stands behind it. We choose our partners based on good engineering practice, quality control, and passion for sound. Together, we’re creating microphones that rival the world's best – built by people who, like us, love microphones.
Do you have retail store locations or a showroom?
No. NUDE Microphones is an online store. We do not currently operate a retail shopfront, showroom or distributor network. This helps us keep costs low and pass value back into the microphones.
Which NUDE microphone should I choose?
Choose by source and sound goal. Ribbon microphones are excellent for natural tone, stereo images, drums, guitar amps, brass, strings and room mics. FET condensers are fast, clear and versatile. Tube microphones add depth, colour and vocal intimacy. Contact NUDE with your source, room and interface if you want help choosing the right microphone for your application.
Will I need a specific preamp for NUDE ribbon Microphones?
No special preamp is required for NUDE ribbon microphones.
Passive ribbon microphones are naturally lower-output than condenser microphones, so a clean audio interface or preamp with around 60+dB of gain is a good starting point. Loud sources such as drums, brass and guitar amps usually need much less gain because they are acoustically loud.
For quiet sources or extra clean gain, an inline booster such as a Cloudlifter can be useful. For more colour, many engineers enjoy pairing ribbon microphones with character preamps such as TRP or Neve.
For more guidance, see our Matching Microphones and Preamps page and online calculator:
https://www.nudemicrophones.com/pages/matching-microphones-and-preamps
Do you offer local pickup?
Local pickup may be available by prior arrangement for customers in South Australia. Please contact NUDE before ordering if pickup is important to you.
Do NUDE Microphones ship with spare ribbons?
No. NUDE ribbon microphones do not ship with spare ribbons because ribbon replacement is a precision service job, not a simple DIY part swap.
The ribbon element must be correctly fitted and tensioned to preserve the sound and performance of the microphone. If you believe your ribbon has been damaged, contact NUDE first and we’ll help you assess the best repair path.
Our ribbons are optimally tensioned at the factory and field-tested in studios world-wide for over eight years. The feedback? Consistently glowing reviews on both build quality and sonic performance. Check out our User Reviews & Videos
How should I store and care for a ribbon microphone?
Store ribbon microphones somewhere dry and protected from dust, moisture and strong air movement. Avoid blowing into the microphone, placing it in front of direct air blasts, dropping it, or exposing it to unnecessary phantom-power risk. Upright storage can’t hurt, but modern well-built ribbon microphones do not automatically need to be stored upright to survive normal use.
Do NUDE microphones need phantom power?
It depends on the model. NUDE FET condenser microphones generally require 48 V phantom power from the preamp or interface. NUDE tube microphones use their own dedicated external power supply and should be connected exactly as supplied. NUDE passive ribbon microphones should be used with phantom power switched off.
Are Passive Ribbon Mics safe to use with Phantom Power?
As a rule-of-thumb, switch phantom power off when using passive ribbon microphones. NUDE Passive Ribbons use transformer-isolated, balanced output stages, so phantom power should not reach the ribbon motor in a correctly wired balanced setup. However, real studios are full of patchbays, older desks, global phantom switches and mystery cables. The risk is real-world fault conditions: patchbays, global phantom power, older desks, damaged cables or miswired balanced-to-unbalanced leads can direct 48V DC where it should never go.
Best practice: turn phantom power off and always use properly wired balanced XLR cables.
The NUDE Stereo Ribbon carries two ribbon microphone signals through a single 5-pin XLR cable. The passive split box breaks that connection out into two clearly labelled 3-pin XLR outputs:
Early NUDE Stereo Ribbon microphones shipped with a Y-split lead. It worked, but over time the lead proved to be the signal chain’s weak link. Since moving to the dedicated split box, we have not had interconnect faults reported.
The split box gives better strain relief, clearer routing, a more robust connection, and less stress on the cable loom. It is passive and does not change the sound.
For anyone wanting to roll their own lead, the 5-pin XLR pin-out is:
- Pin 1: Right +
- Pin 2: Right -
- Pin 3: Ground
- Pin 4: Left +
- Pin 5: Left -
How can I tell which is the front of my NUDE Microphone?
For NUDE condenser microphones, the front is the side that sounds clearest, fullest and most direct when the mic is set to cardioid. If you are unsure, speak or play into each side and listen.
For the NUDE Stereo Ribbon, use this starting point: point 👉 the 5-pin XLR latch toward the source, then rotate the mic slightly left or right to adjust the stereo image.
Everyone’s looking for a magic bullet but trust your ears – they are the great arbiter – the correct orientation is the one that gives the most useful sound in your room.
Many folks find this short video super helpful: How rotating the NUDE Swiss Army Microphone changes the stereo panorama.
How will my microphones be protected during shipping?
Every NUDE Microphone order is packed for real-world freight. Each microphone is protectively wrapped, boxed in a strong recycled corrugated carton, sealed securely, and shipped with tracking, insurance and signature on delivery. Our packaging strategy and Shipping Policy provides the most effective functional outcome at the lowest price point. It is not luxury packaging theatre. It is practical, protective packaging designed to get superb microphones safely from our place to yours while keeping costs sensible.
By keeping the cost low across every aspect of the product lifecycle from manufacturing through to delivery to NUDE users we support our core commitment to providing – Low cost, Superb Sonic Quality Microphones – while tipping our hats to environmentally responsible business practices.
What are NUDE Microphones' sustainability practices?
NUDE focuses on practical sustainability: durable microphones built for long service life, direct online sales, efficient freight packaging, recycled corrugated cardboard. We avoid unnecessary luxury packaging. Our goal is to put value into sound and product life, not disposable presentation.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. NUDE Microphones ships worldwide using live shipping rates at checkout. Available services, timeframes and costs depend on destination, order size and carrier availability.
What countries do you ship to?
NUDE ships to most countries worldwide. The most accurate way to confirm service to your address is to enter your delivery details at checkout and view the live shipping options.
Do you offer express shipping?
Yes, where carrier services are available. Express and standard shipping options are shown at checkout with live rates and estimated delivery information.
Do you offer free shipping?
No. NUDE uses live shipping rates at checkout rather than building freight costs into every microphone price. This acknowledges the complexity of our global marketplace, keeps product pricing honest and lets customers choose the service that suits them.
Who pays import duties, taxes and customs charges?
International customers (with the exception of USA where duties & tariffs are pre-paid) are responsible for any local import duties, customs charges, VAT or carrier fees charged by their country. These charges are not controlled by NUDE and may be payable before delivery.
Do NUDE Microphones come with a warranty?
Yes. All NUDE Microphones are covered by a 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects. If something fails that should not fail, contact us and we’ll help make it right.
Accidental damage, drops, dents, misuse, moisture exposure, wind blasts and phantom-power damage and recording a jet engine at 1m are not manufacturing defects, but we’ll still do our best to help you find a sensible repair path.
What payment methods do you accept?
NUDE accepts the payment methods shown at checkout, including all major credit cards as well as ShopPay, ApplePay, GooglePay payment options available in your region. Available methods may vary by country.
What if I drop my microphone?
Stuff happens.
If your mic takes a tumble and you think it’s not sounding right, reach out – we’ll try to help. We've got networks world-wide, we love chatting mics with folks.
Do NUDE Microphones work well for podcasting or voice-over?
Yes. NUDE microphones are well suited to podcasting, voice-over and spoken-word recording.
Our ribbon microphones are popular for voice because they sound warm, natural and smooth without exaggerating sibilance. NUDE tube microphones are also a strong choice when you want more colour, depth and intimacy. With NUDE you’ll get broadcast-ready results straight into your interface.
Can I use NUDE microphones live on stage?
Yes, with care. Many engineers use NUDE microphones in live, field-recording and outside-broadcast contexts. In controlled live settings such as jazz, acoustic music, strings, choir and orchestral work, they can sound spectacular.
How long will my NUDE microphone last?
With normal care, NUDE microphones will last for decades. Avoid moisture, strong blasts of air, accidental drops. Store them somewhere dry and protected, use good cables, and let your ears tell you if anything has changed. We still have NUDE microphones from earliest production runs in regular use.
Where can I hear NUDE microphones in action?
You can hear NUDE microphones in real-world use on the NUDE Microphones YouTube channel, customer videos, owner shootouts and social posts.
Do you accept store credit?
Store credit may be issued in specific support, warranty or customer service cases, but it is not a general replacement for refunds required by law. Contact NUDE if you have a specific request.
Do you have active discount codes or promotions?
We occasionally run promotions and share discount codes through the NUDE email subscriber list and social channels. If a promotion is live, the code, eligibility and end date will be stated clearly.
Do you offer bulk, education or wholesale orders?
Yes, bulk, education, studio and wholesale enquiries are welcome. Contact NUDE with the models, quantities, destination country and intended use so we can advise availability and pricing. We highly recommend that folks subscribe to our email newsletter as this is where we share "NUDE News" regularly with our community.
What is the return policy?
NUDE’s Returns Policy is aligned with Australian Consumer Law. Customers are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and to compensation for reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. Goods may be repaired or replaced if they fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure. Please contact NUDE before returning any item.
Can customers request and manage their own returns?
Customers must contact NUDE before sending a return. This allows us to confirm the issue, provide the correct return instructions and make sure the microphone is handled safely.
What languages is the store available in?
The NUDE Microphones online store is written in English. Customers are welcome to contact us in another language and we’ll do our best to help.
Does NUDE provide support after purchase?
Yes. NUDE provides direct support after purchase. If you need help choosing a mic, setting up, troubleshooting, warranty support or repair guidance, contact us with your order number and microphone model.
How can I contact customer service?
Contact NUDE via our listed website channels. Our contact preference is via our WhatsApp channel widget on the website. Include your order number, microphone model, and a short description of what you need help with.