Royer R-10 vs R-121 Quick Comparison Demo Video by Shawn Tubbs

The new R-10 ribbon mic is an excellent more affordable option from Royer but how does it compare to the R-121?

[ShawnTubbs]

Wow!!! You guys have great ears! Thanks so much for chiming in on this mic comparison demo!!

[RhettShull]

All I want in life is a 121 and 57 combo. Great video dude!

[theppband]

The only discernible difference I can hear over YouTube is an EQ factor. The R-10 seems a bit brighter and the R-121 has a bit more lower mid. The 121 sounds warmer to my ears. So for about the 3rd of the cost and an EQ adj on the front end, home studio guys like me, it's a no brainer. Both capture all the detail of the signal. To my ears that is, what's left of my hearing :P

[banjobones]

In the clean track I noticed the 121 presented subtle nuances in the tail of sounds that I did not hear in the 10. In the dirty tones nor so much. I would be happy with either...

[JedWunderli]

I have the R-10 and LOVE it. I usually use the R-10 and an SM-57 along with running a line out from my Torpedo Captor to my interface and then using a Celestion IR. Three guitar tracks for each part. Love the tone.

[PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I'm a very old man with ears my age and listening on my laptop speakers so I am amazed to be able to say a difference was audible. High gain the 10 sounded darker. The cleanest sounds were very similar but if I can put it in an artsy fartsy way rather than technically, the quality of the product was equally good but the 10 delivered in a better quality box or maybe even just slightly nicer wrapping paper. the best thing here was, as always, your playing.

[JohnCastillo]

Very interesting. They certainly sound different. I would say the R121 has a bit more "bite" to it, and a more clear dynamic response - the reverb continues being audible while you play the next parts. What was interesting to me was the more distorted part. There is significantly more low end to the R121. The "bite" I mentioned is also interesting, because it seems they have a different high-frequency boost.

[RobCarrollMusic]

First, awesome playing and tones! Both mics sound really great and you did a great job comping to showcase the mics. I am hearing something completely different from all these comments though so I had to look up the frequency responses of both mics to make sure I wasn't crazy lol.

The R-10 actually has a substantial DIP in the upper mids at around 2.5/3k and a smaller dip around 5.5/6k. The R-121 has a small boost around 1.5k and 3k and a dip in the mids around 600/700hz. There's also a significant cut and rolloff in the R-10 starting at what looks to be around 13k or so.

I definitely preferred the R-121 for cleans hands down but was really torn for the higher gain settings. The R-10 is darker for sure but sometimes the R-121 was too bright for me. I guess mic placement could change the R-121 but this is the brightest the R-10 will get. I think if you can afford it, it would probably be better to save for the R-121 to get a fuller frequency spectrum. Unless you prefer the R-10 response!

Very helpful video, thanks!

[adamcaveproject]

The R10 is brighter in the top end and upper mid range (which I like actually), the r-121 is smoother sounding and warmer compared to the R-10. Price wise, the R-10 seems like a great value.

[EricLyke]

I would agree with others here that the r-10 has a nice upper mid air thing to it that is really nice. The 121/57 combo covers this too, but it seems the r-10 is pretty good all on its own. Cool comparo video man!

[luizamusic]

Great comparison! I also loved what you played in the first sample. It somehow captured exactly the way today feels: cloudy, cold and longing for the pre-covid days.
Also, I still prefer the R121 in general, but the R10 def gives it a run for its money, maybe I even prefer it on clean guitar.

[gnguyenb]

Very useful Shawn! I wanted to buy a R-10 for the studio but the R-121 sounds much better to my ear. Thanks for the info! ;)

[steveg]

Obviously, the differences are very small!!

It is impossible to put two microphones in the same exact spot, but side-by-side they still are about an inch apart relative the speaker cone. A couple of possible alternatives might be

1) place one above the other top to top of mic, as if you were doing a Blumlein pair but face them forward toward the cone

2) Loop or re-amp the guitar part and replace the first mic with the second, lining of the ribbon to be in the same spot. Since they use the same ribbon, they can be an almost exactly the same spot, but just not at the same time.

Excellent comparison – thank you

Thanks

[TaylorSchlupp]

Less highs on the 121 maybe. I think I actually like the R-10 a little more. Thanks for comparing them dude. I'm looking for a new microphone for recording

[BV_Beve]

Good comparison Shawn. Listened on hphones & monitors & surprised how well the r10 stood up to r121. r121 still king for clean sound handled low end better so great warm sound, but the r10 bc it lacked bit of low end was great with the driven sounds - just my 2 cents :) Overall tho the r10 is very good & especially when you look at the price comparison !

[L.Scott_Music]

To YouTube land, remember to set to HD and wear headphones to hear any difference.
Hey Shawn, I was recently at Royer Labs.  What a cool little operation it is.  When I say little I mean it is not a big factory.  Both the R121 and the R10 are hand assembled and tested there.  The quality you are getting in the R10 is impressive.  On the road I don't think the difference Is discernable in a live situation except the R10 will stand up to the rigors of the road much better.  Likewise in the small studio where conditions could cancel out the tiny differences in tone.  I REALLY want an R10!

[JesusOtinChannel]

For cleans I think the R121 is nicer. Like everything for that little difference you have to pay a lot more so it is great to have R10 as an option if one cant afford the R121 or 122. Amazing playing as always!

[rikshredder]

R121 definitely sounds warmer to my ears.

[dinoschachten]

For obvious price reasons looking at getting two R-10s. Cool to see they hold up pretty well for distorted sounds, sometimes sound quite a bit beefier even.

[DavidGriffis]

They both sound excellent. I'm guessing Youtube processed the sound and unfortunately a lot of the detail is gone.