Aston Microphones Aston Origin condenser microphone: features and spec-based rating

Aston Microphones’s Aston Origin is a cardioid condenser microphone with XLR connection.

A condenser microphone records small sounds in fine detail. It is often used to record singing and narration.

In this article we rate it on 5 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 32 microphones we compare.

Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.

Figure: SoundBounty

Summary

Among the 32 microphones, Aston Origin is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 2.8.

Strengths

• Sensitivity (23.7 mV/Pa, 4 points): You get a solid level even from a softer voice.
• Features (2 of 3, 4 points): You can adjust to the sound you are recording with switches on the body.

Things to keep in mind

• Quietness (18 dB(A), 2 points): The microphone itself makes a little more noise, which can be noticeable in quiet songs.
• Handling of loud sound (127 dB, 1 point): Take care with very loud voices, which can distort.

Lightness is not scored because the manufacturer does not publish the number.

Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people with a softer voice who still want a solid recording level; people who want to adjust the recording with switches on the body, such as the pad and low-cut.

Main features of Aston Origin

Built so it can be mounted directly on a stand

According to Aston’s official page, it is a cardioid condenser microphone with a 1-inch gold-vapor-deposited capsule. It can be mounted directly on a stand, and because the body is built to soften shocks, the page says it may be usable as it is in places with little vibration.

A pad and a low-cut filter built in

You can switch a −10 dB pad and an 80 Hz low-cut filter. The sensitivity is 23.7 mV/Pa, the maximum SPL is 127 dB and the self-noise is 18 dB (A-weighted).

For how the sound compares, see the official “Origin vs Spirit” page

Aston has a page on its official site comparing the Origin with the multi-pattern Spirit. This site scores only numerical specifications and does not include taste in sound.

Video: “Introducing: Aston Origin” (official Aston Mics YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Recording cover songs and narration
• Recording instruments such as guitar

Rating by criterion

Quietness: 2 / 5

How little of the small hiss the microphone itself makes (self-noise). The smaller the number, the quieter.

Aston Origin: 18 dB(A). That is a modest rating among the products we compared. The microphone itself makes a little more noise, which can be noticeable in quiet songs.

Sensitivity: 4 / 5

How large a signal the same voice produces (sensitivity). The bigger the number, the easier it is to get a good level from a quiet voice.

Aston Origin: 23.7 mV/Pa. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You get a solid level even from a softer voice.

Handling of loud sound: 1 / 5

How loud a sound it can record without distortion (maximum SPL).

Aston Origin: 127 dB. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. Take care with very loud voices, which can distort.

Features: 4 / 5

How many of the pad (lowers loud sound), low-cut (reduces low noise) and pickup-pattern switch it has.

Aston Origin: 2 of 3. That is a high rating among the products we compared. You can adjust to the sound you are recording with switches on the body.

Lightness: not scored

The weight of the microphone. The lighter it is, the less load on the microphone stand.

The manufacturer does not publish this number for the Aston Origin, so it is not scored.

The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 32 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.

How we score (Microphones)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Quietness	Self-noise	≤7	≤12	≤16	≤20	>20
Sensitivity	Sensitivity	≥25	≥20	≥15	≥10	<10
Handling of loud sound	Maximum SPL (without the pad)	≥148	≥144	≥140	≥135	<135
Features	Pad, low-cut and pickup-pattern switch	All 3	2	1	—	None
Lightness	Weight	≤300	≤350	≤400	≤450	>450

Scored only on the body specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. Items that are not disclosed are not scored, and the rank is based on the average of the remaining items. Where a model publishes only the signal-to-noise ratio and not the self-noise, the self-noise is converted as "94 minus the signal-to-noise ratio".

Aston Origin connection and getting started

Connection	XLR (3-pin). Connect it to the microphone input of an audio interface or mixer (it cannot connect to a computer directly by USB)
Power	Phantom power (48 V) is required
In the box	The accessories described on Aston’s official page differ by model and bundle (an XLR cable is not included)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 18, 2026.

Compared with other microphones

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Before you buy

• It needs phantom power (+48 V). This is an XLR condenser microphone, so connect it to an audio interface or mixer that can supply phantom power.
• Check what comes in the box. The manufacturer lists: The accessories described on Aston’s official page differ by model and bundle (an XLR cable is not included). Anything not on that list (a shock mount, a pop filter, cables and so on) you need to prepare separately.
• It has a pad and low-cut switch. When loud sound would distort, or when you want to reduce low noise (such as an air conditioner), you can adjust it on the microphone itself.

Read next

• TLM 102: features and rating (rank B)
• AT4050: features and rating (rank B)
• C414 XLII: features and rating (rank S)
• C414 XLS: features and rating (rank S)