I’ve reviewed a ton of JZ microphones, and I have yet to come across one that was not a well-built and useful tool in the recording studio. Amethyst was first released in 2006 by the Violet brand (a venture of JZ founder Juris Zarins after his time as an original team member at Blue Microphones). Amethyst is now part of the JZ Microphones lineup, and, like all their products, it is attractively priced and performs well in multiple applications. Amethyst’s design is striking and different, with a hefty rectangular body and a smaller square basket on top housing the microphone's diaphragm. It is vaguely reminiscent of classic “lollipop” designs like the Neumann M1-1a or the Blue Baby Bottle, but its square shape is uniquely its own. The mic's body is heavy, well-machined, and has a snug XLR connection. The basket on top has a woven metal windscreen with no rough edges. The included shock mount is also a clever and unique design.
Like all the mics in the JZ catalog, Amethyst’s large diaphragm capsule is built with JZ’s trademarked Golden Drop sputtering technology. The solid-state, fixed-cardioid pattern microphone has a claimed frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, a max SPL rating of 134 dB (2.5 kΩ, 0.5% THD), and requires +48V phantom power. The published frequency chart shows a slight rise starting around 1.5 kHz and a 1.5 dB peak around 5 kHz, gradually returning to flat around 10 kHz and gently rolling off from 12 kHz to around -1.5 dB at 20 kHz. There is also a slight boost (around +1 dB) from 40 Hz to 200 Hz and a gentle roll off from 30 Hz to about -3.5 dB at 20 Hz.
I first used Amethyst for recording background vocals. I paired it with a BURL B1D preamp [Tape Op #111] and placed a standard fabric pop filter in front of the mic. The result was a finished sound that had a gentle air and presence without being hyped or fizzy in the top end. With some gentle compression and a little low-end reduction to get them out of the way of the lead vocal, the vocals sat nicely in the track.
I had seen some comments like, “Use Amethyst where you would use a Neumann U 67.” Honestly, where wouldn’t I use one of those? The U 67 is one of my favorite mics and has all sorts of fantastic applications, ranging from vocals to acoustic guitars, drum overheads, and electric guitars. I like the U 67 a lot. I have a vintage Neumann U 67 and a first-series version of the Mojave Audio MA-200 [#55]. They are, of course, a bit different sounding from one another, but both are great. Amethyst also sounded good when used in the above scenarios. It was different from the classic Neumann and Mojave Audio mics but certainly fit in the sonic character realm of both. Amethyst was solid on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, as a drum overhead and a front-of-kit mic, and even in front of a moderately cranked guitar amp.
To conclude my tests, I built a simple acoustic guitar, vocal, and percussion track using only the Amethyst. I tried to be meticulous about the placement of the mic to minimize the need for EQ (always a good idea) and was impressed by the imparted character. I also just liked the “feeling” of the track. Amethyst is a pleasingly natural-sounding microphone with enough body and a slight sheen in the highs. Based on my tests, and what I know about JZ Microphones in general, I think Amethyst will be perfect to have up on a stand around the studio for a variety of grab-and-go overdubs, and I may find it suits a particular singer's voice better than other available options.
I recommended Amethyst a few years back to a friend looking to upgrade to a new level of microphone performance. I recently checked in on how the mic was treating him. He loves it. It gets used regularly with good results – mainly on lead vocals and acoustic guitars, but also for voiceover work – and has been trouble-free. I was not surprised to hear that the mic was still performing flawlessly, as I have JZ mics that have been in use for over 20 years without any service needs. I continue to recommend JZ’s line of mics, and I use them myself in some capacity on almost every session. For the performance, price, and aesthetic of Amethyst, I recommend it to those looking to step up to a new level and to those who already have a solid collection in their mic locker but want to add a workhorse that will excel in many recording situations.