What does boundary-layer microphone design mean, and why is it relevant for my setup?

Boundary-layer mics mount flush against a surface (table, wall, or ceiling) and use phase coherence to minimize reflections and off-axis noise. This design is ideal for conference tables, broadcast desks, and institutional installations where you need clean speech capture without visible mic stands.

Is the PCC160 suitable for music recording or instrument miking?

No. The PCC160 is engineered specifically for speech capture and institutional audio; it is not recommended for music recording or instrument miking.

What phantom power does it need, and will it work with my audio interface?

The PCC160 requires 12–48 V phantom power, which is standard on most audio interfaces, mixing consoles, and professional preamps. Confirm your interface or mixer supports phantom power before purchase.

What is the bass-tilt switch for?

The bass-tilt switch adjusts the low-end response to compensate for different room acoustics and proximity effects, helping you dial in clean, natural speech capture in various environments.

What connector does it use, and how long can the cable run be?

The PCC160 uses a Switchcraft TA3F (3-pin) connector and balanced 150-ohm output, which supports longer cable runs reliably—typical for professional installations in larger venues or conference spaces.

AKG PCC160 Professional Boundary Layer Microphone

The AKG PCC160 is a compact boundary layer microphone engineered to capture clean, intelligible vocal and speech recordings in confined or multi-source environments. Its slim 20 mm profile mounts flush to surfaces—tabletops, walls, or ceilings—minimizing acoustic reflections and room coloration while staying visually discrete. The supercardioid polar pattern and PCC (Phase Coherent Cardioid) technology with miniature diaphragms provide focused sound collection with excellent rejection of off-axis noise, making it ideal for isolation recording, roundtable sessions, and dialogue capture in less-than-ideal acoustic spaces.

Recording Performance & Noise Floor

This mic delivers a frequency response of 50–18,000 Hz with sensitivity of 22 mV/Pa, preserving voice clarity and articulation without unwanted coloration. The maximum SPL of 120 dB ensures headroom during louder takes, while an equivalent noise level of 22 dB-A and signal-to-noise ratio of 72 dB-A keep electrical hum and room noise well below the primary signal—essential for clean mix-ready tracks and minimal post-production cleanup.

Integration & Workflow

Measuring just 170 mm long × 80 mm wide × 20 mm deep, this boundary microphone fits into tight recording setups without obstructing sightlines or occupying stand space. A bass-tilt switch tailors low-end response to compensate for different room acoustics and proximity effects, while 12–48 V phantom power operation integrates seamlessly with standard audio interfaces and mixing consoles. The balanced 150-ohm output with Switchcraft TA3F connector maintains signal integrity over longer cable runs to your recording chain.

Key Features

Boundary layer microphone design—mounts flush to tabletops, walls, or ceilings
Supercardioid polar pattern for focused pickup and off-axis rejection
PCC (Phase Coherent Cardioid) technology with miniature diaphragms
Frequency response: 50–18,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 22 mV/Pa
Maximum SPL: 120 dB without distortion
Equivalent noise level: 22 dB-A; Signal-to-noise ratio: 72 dB-A
Bass-tilt switch for low-end response adjustment
Output impedance: 150 ohms (balanced)
Recommended load impedance: 2000 ohms
Switchcraft TA3F (3-pin) connector
Requires 12–48 V phantom power

The PCC160 shines in production scenarios where tight rejection, low self-noise, and transparent speech capture are critical—a go-to tool for home studio dialogue recording, podcast sessions, video production audio, and any project requiring clean, focused source material with minimal post-processing.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	China