AKG D30

$42.46 Price Tier: Budget

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using AKG D30

0 wishlisted

1 saved

Page last updated Jun 05, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 5, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

$42.46 3 available Used

View Deal

Average Price: $42

Budget/Beginner

$75

$201+

Price Tier

In the Dynamic Microphones category, AKG D30 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

Budget

Standard

High-end

^* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Edit description

The AKG D30 is a vintage dynamic microphone celebrated for its unique sound quality and durability, making it a favored choice among recording professionals and musicians alike. Originally released in the mid-20th century, this microphone has stood the test of time, becoming a staple in studios for its ability to capture rich, full-bodied sound. Its robust construction and classic design make it not only a functional piece of audio equipment but also a conversation starter for those who appreciate historical audio gear.

Designed to excel in capturing bass instruments and kick drums, the AKG D30 is equipped with a large diaphragm and a cardioid polar pattern, ensuring focused sound capture with minimal background noise. Its ability to handle high sound pressure levels makes it an excellent choice for both live performances and studio recordings. Whether you're capturing the deep resonance of a bass guitar or the punchy tones of a kick drum, the D30's versatility is unmatched.

Musicians and engineers appreciate the AKG D30 for its reliability and its ability to add character to recordings. It pairs well with a variety of preamps and audio interfaces, ensuring seamless integration into any recording setup. Its vintage appeal combined with modern performance capabilities makes it a must-have for audio enthusiasts.

Key Features:

Large diaphragm dynamic microphone
Cardioid polar pattern for focused sound capture
Suitable for bass instruments and kick drums
Handles high sound pressure levels
Vintage design with modern performance
Ideal for both studio and live settings

Product specs

Brand	AKG
Model	D 30 Dual Diaphragm Dynamic Microphone
Finish	Matte
Year	1960s
Made In	Austria
Categories	Microphones
Electronics	Analog, Passive
Microphone Type	Dynamic
Polar Pattern	Multipattern
Wired/Wireless	Wired

FAQs

What is the primary application of the AKG D30 microphone?: The AKG D30 is a dynamic microphone known for its versatility, often used for recording kick drums, bass instruments, and broadcast applications due to its robust low-frequency response and ability to handle high sound pressure levels.
What polar pattern does the AKG D30 offer?: The AKG D30 features a multipattern polar design, allowing it to adapt to various recording environments by capturing sound from different directions, making it suitable for diverse studio applications.
Is the AKG D30 microphone suitable for live performances?: Yes, the AKG D30 is suitable for live performances, especially for capturing bass-heavy instruments, thanks to its dynamic build and capability to handle high sound pressure levels without distortion.
How does the AKG D30 compare to other dynamic microphones for studio use?: The AKG D30 stands out with its dual diaphragm design, offering enhanced low-frequency response and multipattern versatility, making it a preferred choice for studio settings where capturing detailed bass is crucial.
Does the AKG D30 require phantom power to operate?: No, the AKG D30 is a passive dynamic microphone and does not require phantom power, making it easy to integrate into various recording setups without additional power requirements.

Videos

Add video

Vintage King

Vintage AKG D30 Microphone | VintageKing.com

Vintage King

The ultra-rare AKG D30 microphones in the Abbey Road collection #akg #microphone #studio

Sound On Sound magazine

Reviews

Add review

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about AKG D30.

Use cases and applications

0 0

The AKG D30 is favored for its ability to capture the natural sound of a drum kit, bringing out the low-end resonance outside the kick drum.
Source
0 0

The AKG D30 can be beneficial in jazz or vintage setups where capturing the whole drum sound is prioritized over isolated attack sounds.
Source

Features and functionality

0 0

The AKG D30, often used alongside a ribbon mic like the RCA 44, captures low-end frequencies more effectively than sub-kicks, adding character to the drum sound.
Source

User experience

0 0

Users report that the AKG D30, when positioned correctly, can effectively focus on the low-end boom, which is difficult to achieve with inside kick mics.
Source

Comparisons

0 0

AKG D30 is compared to the FET47 and praised for its ability to provide depth and low-end resonance, making it a preferred choice over sub-kick microphones.
Source

Add review

Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

Artist usage

Add artist

Jimmy Page

Guitarist

Led Zeppelin

Verified via Photo

Jimmy page can be seen in that image using a AKG 30 while recording ramble on

John Bonham

Drummer

Led Zeppelin

Verified via Business Insider Singapore

Used for the bass drum on "When the Levee Breaks", as mentioned by sound engineer George Chkiantz in this excerpt from Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B, and Pop.

There were two studios at Olympic – one large and one small. Management had installed our sixteen-track recorder in the small one with hopes of luring rock bands in there and away from the larger sixty-by-forty-foot space with twenty-eight-foot ceilings, where we recorded mostly classical works and film scores. But Jimmy chose the larger one – even though it had only an eight-track recorder. He wanted the extra space so the drums could be miked properly for stereo.

I was a relative novice then, and what Jimmy wanted was a stretch, given Olympic’s traditional way of miking drums. So I invented a new way. I didn’t mike the snare, since that would have reduced the size and space of the drum sound. Instead, I used a stereo mike on an eight-foot boom above the drums, along with two distant side mikes to give the tom-toms edge, and a huge AKG D30 mike positioned about two feet from the bass drum. Jimmy knew that high-end mikes didn’t have to be up against an instrument to maximize the sound.

Keith Moon

Drummer

The Who

Verified via Soundonsound

Used for the kick drum on "Who Are You", as mentioned by producer Jon Astley in this Sound on Sound "Classic Tracks" interview.

"On the bass drum I used an AKG D30; I had a Neumann KM84 on top and underneath the snare; I used a Shure SM58 with a pad in it for the hi-hat; overheads were Neumann U87s; and for toms I used anything I could find that matched, such as Sennheiser 421s. Then, the day after I'd set all this up, Keith came in and went around the kit for me. I just wanted to make sure the stereo imaging was OK, so he played and then asked 'Is that all right?' I said 'Yeah, that's fantastic,' at which point he stood up and walked straight through the bloody kit. He obviously was aware that I'd put a lot of work into it, balancing the whole thing, but I just thought 'Oh, well, welcome to the Who. Here we go..."