• Sounds Excellent - Nice bass response
• Transformer has been upgraded to the latest Cinemag CM-23724 1:70, which provides the lowest noise signal possible
• New XLR Cable, it will not need to be replaced for a long time
• Similar to the Aiwa VM-18 although this NHK variant of the Toshiba Type H offers the best possible protection for the ribbon
• RCA stand adapter will be included since this mic uses the same thread size

Up for sale is a stunning and incredibly rare ribbon microphone made in the 1960s crafted by Toshiba, and produced for NHK. NHK is Japan's largest national broadcaster and they often had microphones specifically designed for them to meet higher specifications. As a result, this is a variant of Toshiba's Type H although it looks quite different, the NHK's RU-4 was a higher end beast!

The Toshiba Type H offers an improved frequency response resulting in a more faithful capture of sources compared to the BK5. The sound is much more natural whereas the BK5, has bigger peaks which you may love or find abrasive. If you have experience with this microphone, it is an improvement over the original BK5 sound wise and the parts used are top notch as well.

Cosmetically, this microphone is in good shape, the most noticeable thing is wear to the paint in small sections which is quite common. Internally, the ribbon functions perfectly and the transformer inside was upgraded to Cinemag's lowest noise transformer. As a result, the HPF is not functional although simple EQ corrections can be made in software after the fact.

If you've wanted a rare microphone that was built to a high standard, this NHK RU-4 is a beautiful option!