The properties of ferrites are affected by the microstructural problems which have become the most serious obstacles in obtaining high quality reproducible ferrites. In this study, the nickel-zinc ferrites were prepared via two different methods: the conventional classical ceramic method known as the solid-state reaction, and the newer sol-gel method. The electromagnetic and microstructural properties of both different samples were also discussed. A higher electrical resistivity and controlled initial permeability with a smaller loss were found in the sol-gel samples. Consequently, the homogenous rnicrostructure and the advantages in terms of powder and sample preparations have been discovered by means of sol-gel technique. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.