Neumann TLM 103

Hello curious wanderer,
Owned and used a Neumann TLM 103 for about a year now.
I've paired it with various preamps including a LA-610 mKII.
Primarily used w/ acoustic guitars and vocals.
There does tend to be a lot of artifacts when using this mic at close sources -- these artifacts i have not experienced with other mics and concluded that the microphone is causing the problem. These 'artifacts' are distortion in nature of the source and tend to be difficult to edit out or make EQ correction. That's why I only give this a 4 star instead of 5 star review.

BUT, like always, take every review with a grain of salt.
You can hear it paired w/ other microphones here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjTCh4WO_Q

cheers,
bainmack

I borrowed a pair of these to record an acoustic piano at my studio. They looked great, nice and light and easy to place.
There seemed to be something missing at the top end. Sure you can eq to hell and back but I like my source sound to be awesome. After many adjustments and a bit of eq I still couldn't get that top end without it sounding muddy. I even tried just using one in case of P.C. But nope. That flat spot was still there.
In the end I used my pair of NT2's. The difference was incredible.
I'm sure the name will sell many and maybe I'm just too pedantic. I love my Rodes even more now.
Sorry Neumann, doesn't do it for me.

This is everything and more you would ever expect from Neumann. A great condenser recording mic with a broad and clear frequency response. Perfect for recording studio vocals and professional broadcasting. Every studio needs a good vocal mic and this one definitely sets the bar high. 100% recommended.

It is a very sensitive mic so I would definitely recommend buying the shock mount accessory which let's the TLM do it's job without interruptions.

OVERALL OPINION

It is a very precise microphone that delivers reliable and clear recordings. Although it is an expensive purchase, it is one that you won't regret making. Worth every penny!!!

Microphone Type: Condenser
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Max SPL: 138 dB
Output Impedance: 50 ohms
No low cut/pad.
Shockmount NOT included.
Wooden, padded, box included.

OVERALL OPINION

I'm going to start off by saying that, if I were in the market to buy this mic new ($1100), there are many others I'd be looking at in its price range; however, for the price you can get them on the used market, they're fairly well priced.

People complain a lot about how these have a brittle high end - I get that. I'm not going to sugar coat it and say that it sounds AMAZING, but it's also not anything a tad of EQ can't fit. What I love about this mic, is the fact that it IS fairly bright. It brings out the character and definition in vocal performances. Beware - This mic WILL show your mistakes, it can be flattering if you're good, and be VERY unforgiving, if you're bad.

For the price these things cost, I would really expect for it to come bundled with a shockmount, and not have to pay an extra $50 for it, but I suppose it's not a huge deal.

This mic will NOT get you the classic Neumann U series sound, but it's a very nice mic for any studio to have around. In its used and new price ranges, there's other mics that can certainly compete well with it, but being the trusted name Neumann is, it's a fairly safe bet for most.