01 / Service
& Repair
Who should I contact for repairs within or after the warranty period?
You can contact the Earthworks Service Department via phone or email. Be sure to include a description of the problem.
Who pays the shipping costs?
The customer pays for incoming unless the product is found defective within 15 days of purchase. In all domestic cases, we pay for return shipping. If you would like it shipped faster than UPS Ground, the customer pays the difference. Overseas customers pay for shipping both ways unless the product was found defective within 15 days of purchase.
Can I get an estimate?
The estimate would be based on the description of the problem, and a price range is provided based on that description. We cannot provide an exact estimate until the product has been examined.
What does the warranty cover?
Defects in material and workmanship. Any abuse, modification or mishandling is not covered by the warranty.
Is my microphone or preamp covered by a warranty?
Prior to January 1, 2011, the warranty period for all microphones was 3 years. For products purchased between January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2019, the warranty period became 15 years for electronics and 3 years for moving parts such as goosenecks, hinges and pivot arms. For all microphones except for ICON, ICON PRO and ETHOS purchased from January 1, 2019 until February 1, 2023 the warranty period became 10 years for electronics and 3 years for moving parts such as goosenecks, hinges and pivot arms. And for all microphones purchased after February 1, 2023 the warranty period is 2 years for electronics and mechanical issues.
How long does a repair typically take?
Generally, repair turnaround time is one week. In certain cases this period may be extended.
How do I register my product?
You can register your microphone or preamp on the Earthworks Product Registration page.
What should I do if my product’s warranty has expired?
If the product is out of warranty, contact us or the dealer you purchased from. If repairs are possible, they will be 80% of the total cost.
02 / Technical
What is the minimum supply voltage for a phantom power microphone, and how will the performance of the microphone change with a lower voltage power supply?
24V – 48V is the minimum recommended voltage. As voltage drops further, the dynamic range at the output will be reduced as well.
Why does the microphone consume 10mA?
In this design, the ability of the microphone to respond to very fast impulses is predicated on the availability of this level of supply current.
Why does the electronic calibration file cut off at 770Hz?
Through the years of testing we found the low frequency response is incredibly consistent and thus predictable per a given microphone’s specifications.
Why do you make microphones that exceed 20kHz?
Earthworks does not make microphones that go up to 50kHz because of a belief that you can hear tones at these frequencies. Due to research conducted over a long period of time, it has been determined that sound in an echoic environment has multiple pressure waves which converge on the listener nearly simultaneously. Its these wave fronts, which may only have a low kHz center frequency and bandwidth, but when they are spaced very closely in time, the human ear is sensitive to time relationships between the wavefront arrival times down to a resolution of around 20 microseconds. This time relationship corresponds to a frequency of 50kHz. Its not the pure tonal sounds you look for with a 50kHz microphone, its an accurate representation of the space the sounds you are capturing occurred in. This will result in a vastly improved, more true to life sound than traditional 20kHz band limited microphones. You really have to hear it to believe it.
Do Earthworks Microphones work with transformer coupled preamps (Neve for example)?
Yes, they do. Most transformer coupled Preamps (such as Neve) have an input impedance switch to select from 300 Ohms to 1200 Ohms. We recommend setting the switch to the maximum available impedance to avoid distortion at high sound pressure levels.
03 / Sales
Can I order directly from Earthworks?
We do not sell product direct. You can find an Earthworks dealer, distributor or sound contractor on our Where to Buy page.
Where can I buy Earthworks products outside the US?
We have dealers and distributors around the world. A list of international distributors is available on the Where to Buy page, under the International Distributors tab.
04 / Product
Do you offer microphones with on off switches?
The short answer is no, due to our philosophy of maintaining a minimal signal path at all times to preserve a pristine audio path. We do however offer the option of custom built products upon request and 50% down payment. However for an on off switch there are multiple in line devices that can be found. A simple short between pins 2 & 3 of the XLR connector will mute the microphone while leaving the phantom voltage intact.
Will a PM40 PianoMic work on a Harpsichord?
Yes, there is a fitment issue, but with the mic bar fully collapsed, and placed at an angle it worked perfectly.
Will a PM40 PianoMic work on an upright piano?
Yes it can, and we have had several touring artists report decent results mounting the PM40 on the top. A more optimal solution would be to use a couple of our QTC40s and mount deeper into the piano case.
How many Flexwands would I need for a choir?
In general our cardioid pattern Flexwands should be able to cover with accuracy and gain about three times the area of a conventional cardioid microphone. We’ve found that quite often one FW730 Flexwand can provide strong area coverage for up to 40 voices. Also note that due to our pattern, Flexwands and any Earthworks SR or ChoirMic can be placed quite close to the choir when maximum gain is needed and a more “direct” or “soloist” sounding mix is wanted.
Will Earthworks microphones work in extreme temperature and humidity ranges?
Extreme temperature and humidity will not affect Earthworks microphones performance.
What is the operating temperature range of the Measurement Series microphones?
Operating Temp Range: -20 deg C to +60 deg C ( -4 deg. F to 140 deg. F)
Storage Temp Range: -40 deg C to +80 deg C ( -40 deg. F to 176 deg. F)
05 / Web Related
Which browsers work best with this website?
Our website is supported by the five major browsers: Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera.
I’m a dealer. How do I update information in your Dealer Locator?
Email us at sales@earthworksaudio.com with your exact address and contact information.