UThe Universal Audio Bock 251 is David Bock’s take on the vintage large-diaphragm tube condenser that is considered by legions of audio professionals to be the best-sounding microphone ever made. But how do you improve on perfection? The manufacturing processes of the 1950s and ’60s didn’t have the precision tolerances today’s products benefit from. Thus, no two vintage microphones sounded identical when fresh off the assembly line, much less after decades of (ab)use. The UA Bock 251 mic is a meticulous re-creation of a primo original unit, secured after an exhaustive worldwide search. Bock’s creation, however, is no mere clone.The Bock 251 boasts an upgraded structural design and state-of-the-art replica components for consistent performance and rock-solid reliability. Like the original, it sports switchable cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 polar patterns, but its custom transformer has been engineered to deliver extended frequency response and more generous headroom. Complete with a beefy external power supply, a connecting cable, a shockmount, a signature wooden storage box, and a vintage-style suitcase, the Universal Audio Bock 251 is an ultra-premium microphone that works wonders on vocals and instruments of all types. It will surely be the crown jewel of your mic locker.