Sontronics ZETA: hand-built JFET condenser with Lundahl transformer

Sontronics announced the ZETA, a large-diaphragm condenser microphone for studio work, at NAMM 2026. It is built and hand-tuned in England, and its signal passes through a boutique Lundahl transformer. The company names vocals, voiceover, acoustic guitar, piano and string instruments as its main applications.

Circuit and voicing

The ZETA uses a high-sensitivity JFET circuit designed to capture transient and dynamic detail. Its self-noise is about 9 dB(A), which Sontronics says allows clean recordings even of quiet sources and in rooms without acoustic treatment.

The voicing is described as a smooth top end, a defined midrange and a controlled low end. Sontronics stresses that it aimed for a modern character rather than copying a vintage microphone. The company says the microphone is tuned to give a balanced sound that is ready to record without much processing, and calls it a versatile studio model.

Specifications

• Type: large-diaphragm condenser, cardioid
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 33 mV/Pa
• Maximum SPL: 125 dB (0.5% THD at 1 kHz)
• Equivalent noise level: 9 dB, A-weighted
• Power: 48 V phantom power required

According to Sontronics, the pairing of the JFET circuit with the low self-noise is what keeps recordings clean across different sources, including quiet ones.

The ZETA is hand-built in England. The housing is black with engraved details and gold accents. The ZETA is available now at £949. At NAMM 2026 Sontronics exhibited in Hall C at booth 6613 and in ACC North at booth 17710.