Amethyst AMV-MKII LDC microphone

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.