AudioChainsDB
Audio-Technica

AT4040

microphone

$349

Used market: $270*

Manufacturer datasheet

Specifications

5 of 7 values have a recorded source
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male·
Has Built In ADC
no·
Transducer Type
Condenser True
Sensitivity dBV
-32
Output Impedance ohms
100
Phantom Power Required
yes
Connection Architecture
XLR-Only

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal Profile

Externally polarised cardioid with a nickel-plated brass element baffle, a 10 dB pad and an 80 Hz high-pass; 12 dB SPL self-noise and 133 dB of dynamic range.

Gain Staging Advice

-32 dB (25.1 mV) re 1 V at 1 Pa - the two halves agree to the decimal, which is rarer than it ought to be. That is 27 dB above an SM7B and 10 dB above its own AT2050 sibling. Unlike the 20 Series, this one wants a real 48 V: the datasheet says 48 V phantom, not 11 to 52 V, so a bus-powered interface with a weak phantom supply is a genuine risk here in a way it is not on the AT2035.

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~77% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026