The capsules of condenser microphones can't be connected directly to microphone cables or inputs, a microphone amplifier is required in between. Thus a complete microphone of the Colette series comprises any of the twenty available types of capsules combined with an amplifier. The CMC 6 U is designed for standard 48- and 12-Volt phantom powering. Its circuitry recognizes the supply voltage and adjusts itself automatically. Its performance characteristics remain essentially the same either way, the difference is that the current drawn at 12 Volts is greater than at 48 Volts. However, the 12-Volt mode consumes less power and might be preferred for battery-powered recording.

The microphone amplifier is responsible for providing the necessary electric charge to the capsule, without which it would be unable to generate a signal. Since the capsule's output signal is very weak (Hi-Z), it must be amplified. In order for the microphone's output to cleanly reach the next stage in the signal chain, it must undergo balancing and impedance matching before transmission. The CMC 6 incorporates a balanced, direct-coupled class-A amplifier, yielding a low output impedance, high RF shielding and minimal distortion.

The CMC 6xt is the HiRes version of the CMC 6. It extends the frequency response of all axially-addressed capsules (MK 2 H/S, 21, 22, 4, 41, 5) up to 40 kHz. Especially useful when recording with a high sample rate, particularly with the intent to slow down the recording and reduce its pitch by one or more octaves at a later point (e.g. for sound design).

Attention was paid to a low self-noise above 20 kHz. This maintains a high level of dynamics when recording at high sampling rates. Thus, the often very small signal above 20kHz is not covered and the noise is still low even after the down pitching.

• flat frequency response
• very low harmonic distortion and noise
• works with 12V and 48V phantom power
• balanced, low-impedance output
• high suppression of interference on the microphone cable
• excellent protection against high-frequency radio interference with "RFI shield"
• frequency-independent impedance
• signal transmission possible over very long cables
• reliable operation even with weak phantom power
• symmetrical, transformer and capacitor-free output stage with a class-A amplifier
• extends the frequency response of the MK capsules up to 40 kHz