P-86S and X-86S — stereo condenser microphones, hand-built one at a time by Kotaro Asahina, an audio engineer working from a small workshop in northern Japan.
Kotaro Asahina is an audio engineer, microphone designer, and trained musician (graduate of a Japanese music conservatory). He builds these microphones in his workshop in Japan — one at a time.
The microphones exist because, as a music student, Asahina needed a way to record himself. He found nothing on the market that was simultaneously affordable, high quality, and honest. So he built his own.
“The quality of a solder joint determines the character of a microphone. Machine soldering is clean. Hand soldering has a voice.”
Choose your region — handcrafted in Japan, delivered to your door.
🌍 Visiting from elsewhere? We also ship to 30+ other countries — including USA, all EU member states, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, and more. Just proceed to checkout; pricing will be shown in US dollars.
21 recordings — piano, violin, saxophone, flute, and field recordings from Japan and Australia. All captured directly with the P-86S or X-86S.
Tenor Sax & Guitar
Tenor sax & guitar duo — two voices intertwining with natural reverb.
TASCAM
Violin Solo
Strings, bow articulation, and spatial reverb — all captured by the omnidirectional pair.
TASCAM
Grand Piano
Full concert grand — the entire dynamic range captured by omnidirectional stereo.
TASCAM
The Pianist
Polanski's masterpiece on a YAMAHA S400B grand piano — emotion and silence intersecting.
TASCAM
Chopin Waltz No.9
YAMAHA S400B grand piano — delicate touch in natural reverb.
TASCAM
Mozart Menuet
Classical elegance — YAMAHA S400B tone in natural acoustic space.
TASCAM
G.F. Handel Suite in D minor
Baroque precision — X-86S balanced output capturing delicate sonority.
Zoom F3
W. Byrd — La Volta
16th century English dance — X-86S balanced output faithfully captures keyboard clarity.
Zoom F3
Flute — High Register
High register shimmer and breath — precise transient reproduction by X-86S.
Zoom F3
Flute — Low Register
Rich overtones and warmth of the low flute register — X-86S wide bandwidth.
Zoom F3
| P-86S | X-86S | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Condenser, stereo pair | Condenser, stereo pair |
| Polar pattern | Omnidirectional (both models) | |
| Power | Plug-in power (2–10 V) | 48 V phantom (via included Mini-XLR → XLR cable) |
| Connector | 3.5 mm TRS stereo | 2× Mini-XLR (TA3F) at mic · XLR at recorder |
| Output | Unbalanced | Balanced |
| Cable included | 1× TRS stereo cable | 2× Mini-XLR → XLR (for 48 V phantom) |
| Sensitivity | –35 dBV/Pa | –32 dBV/Pa |
| S/N ratio | 60 dB or higher | 70 dB or higher |
| Origin | Hand-soldered, Japan | Hand-soldered, Japan |
Ships to 🇬🇧 United Kingdom.
Shipping included. Hand-built in Japan.
| Item | P-86S | X-86S |
|---|---|---|
| Method | AB stereo, electret condenser | AB stereo, electret condenser |
| Polar pattern | Omnidirectional × 2 | Omnidirectional × 2 |
| Sensitivity | –35 dBV/Pa (at 1 kHz) | –32 dBV/Pa (at 1 kHz) |
| S/N ratio | 60 dB or higher | 70 dB or higher |
| Output connector | 3.5 mm stereo mini plug | 2× Mini-XLR (TA3F), balanced |
| Power | Plug-in power | 48 V phantom power |
| Connects to | Smartphones, tablets, PCs, handy recorders | Audio interfaces, field recorders |
| Channels | 2ch (L/R) — stereo with a single unit | 2ch (L/R) — stereo with a single unit |
| Made | Hand-built in Japan, one at a time | Hand-built in Japan, one at a time |
* Specifications may change without notice due to ongoing improvements.
