MXL Genesis HE Microphone Price, Specs, Reviews & Discussions

About the MXL Genesis HE mic

The MXL Genesis Heritage Edition (HE) is a large-diaphragm tube condenser mic that leans into a classic sound approach while still being practical for modern studios. At its heart is a hand-selected Mullard 12AT7 tube, a choice that gives the mic a distinct tonal character: slightly warm, smooth through the top end, and with enough low-end body to flatter most vocalists. It’s designed around a single cardioid polar pattern, which means it’s focused on front-address sources and helps reduce unwanted room reflections when used in less-than-ideal spaces.

One thing to note about the Genesis HE is its size and weight—at just over a pound and more than nine inches long, it’s not a small mic. That makes the included shockmount more of a necessity than an optional extra. MXL ships the mic with a full kit: a heavy-duty shockmount, a custom pop filter that attaches directly to the mic body, Mogami cables (both the 7-pin tube cable and a standard XLR), a dedicated power supply, and a hard case. In practice, the Mogami cabling is a nice touch; cable quality can matter more than people expect with tube microphones, and it helps ensure the mic performs quietly.

The Genesis HE has a reputation for excelling on vocals, particularly female singers, but it isn’t locked into that role. In testing and in the manual, MXL highlights how it can be applied to piano, acoustic guitar, drums, and even electric guitar cabinets. The mic includes both a high-pass filter (set at 150 Hz) and a -10 dB pad. These switches extend its usefulness: the pad lets it handle louder sources like drum overheads or guitar amps (up to 140 dB SPL), while the filter helps tame low-end buildup when close-miking vocals or acoustic instruments. Without engaging these, proximity effect can be noticeable, so placement matters if you want a natural balance.

Noise performance is good for a tube mic, with an equivalent noise rating of 18 dB (A-weighted). It’s not as silent as a modern FET condenser, so if you’re recording whispery sources in a very quiet room, you’ll notice a bit of tube noise floor. On the flip side, that low-level tube character is part of its charm—it tends to “sit” vocals in a mix in a way that’s flattering without heavy EQ. From my own experience, the Genesis HE takes EQ well, but doesn’t always need much; rolling off a little low end and giving a gentle lift above 10 kHz usually brings out its best.

There are a couple of quirks worth being aware of. First, as with all tube mics, you need to let it warm up before tracking—give it at least 10–15 minutes for the tube to stabilize. Second, the dedicated power supply is non-optional. It’s switchable between 115 V and 230 V, but it has to be matched to your local mains voltage before powering up, otherwise you risk damaging the mic. Also, don’t “hot plug” the 7-pin cable; always power down first. These aren’t unusual cautions, but if you’re coming from solid-state condensers, it’s a bit more gear-handling overhead.

In terms of aesthetics, the Heritage Edition adds a silver frost finish with a chrome grille. That’s cosmetic, but in the studio world, presentation sometimes matters—this mic looks as “serious” as it sounds. The included pop filter deserves a special mention: it not only knocks down plosives, it also helps prevent condensation on the capsule, which is one of the biggest killers of tube mic reliability. Leaving it off during a vocal session is a quick way to shorten the mic’s lifespan.

Overall, the MXL Genesis HE is best thought of as a dedicated vocal mic that can double on other acoustic sources when needed. It’s not a one-mic-does-everything workhorse, and it won’t give you a hyper-detailed, ultra-clinical capture like some modern condensers. Instead, it provides a usable, musical tone straight out of the box with the added character of its Mullard tube. If you’re looking for something that captures performances with a touch of classic warmth—while still coming as a complete package—the Genesis HE is a solid, practical option.

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Technical Specs

MXL Genesis HE Mic user manual

MXL Genesis HE Prices*

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Amazon USA

499.95 USD

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