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Querelle « In the lineage from the M 49 ? »
Published on 08/20/11 at 07:42Tube microphone appearing together with the M 147 in 1995 to meet the aspiration for coming back to the warmth of the sound of tube microphones, abandoned 20 years earlier (the M 49 was discontinued in 1974) because of of the advantages from FET microphones: no external power supply, lower noise level, less maintenance. The capsule K 47/49 is acoustically identical to the K 47 and K 49 capsules that most of the U 47 and M 49, those produced from 1956, are fitted with.
In contrast to M 49, M 149 has no output transformer. The nine directivity patterns, from omni to figure eight, are accessible through a sliding switch located on the front of the microphone.(End of the revised translation, follow-on is automatic translation.)
They typically result from combinations of signals from the half-capsules in and out. For the cardioid, there is a small contribution of the half-capsule back contrary to the rule that maps this position to operate the single signal of the half-capsule before. Neumann has taken into account so the user experience in excess of 49 million just cardioid position towards the omni on the continuous adjustment of the directivity in the power supply to achieve a minimum level of uptake in the opposite direction of maximum sensitivity. In the M 147, the single directivity resulting from the operation of the single signal of the capsule before half corresponds to the directional link between cardioid and hypercardioid M 149's. The two microphones are also electrically identical, except resistance added to the M 147 to decrease the sensitivity in response to complaints from early users of the M 149 with high sensitivity can cause problems with some pre-amps (start the pad is almost a mandatory Fearn for example), their difference in sound reproduction possible directivity for this could be due to the different shape of the M 147, especially his head. The shape of the grid the M 149 is identical to that of M 49, but according to the instructions it is more acoustically transparent, which is likely because it reveals the capsule easily unlike that of M 49 (see photo). A switch on the rear panel to select the cutoff frequency of the low-cut filter from 7 values of 20 Hz to 160 Hz Some specifications (omni / cardioid / figure eight): Sensitivity 34/47/62 mV / Pa Equivalent noise level 16/13/11 dB Noise level to less than 0.5% THD 120 dB SPL Noise level to less than 5% THD 136 dB SPL Maximum output level 18 dBu Weight 730 g Diameter 70 mm Length 201 mm Note the high sensitivity, allowing to bypass preamp on high-level sources, such as a battery, and the noise level quite low for a tube microphone. Between the three versions EU, US and the United Kingdom, there is the power cord that is changing as the N 149 A power supply that came with the microphone is compatible with all mains voltages (https://www.neumann.com/ lang = en & id = & cid = current_accessories db_current_accessories &) dbid = 83: The Three available versions of the N 149 A just Differ in Their Hands enclosed power cable.)
OVERALL OPINION
I did some piano taken home with a pair of M 149. Neumann M 149 recommended especially for piano (https://www.neumann.com/?lang=fr&id=current_microphones&cid=m149_applications). It is also the case of M 49, the microphone of choice Tacet label, including listening to the recordings of Yevgeny Korolyov.
The fact that the sensitivity is high does not preclude using this microphone in a non-treated and non-soundproofed. The sensitivity is the ratio between the output voltage and noise picked up by the microphone. If the microphone has a lower output level, must be compensated by a higher gain preamp, but it does not mean we will hear less noise and small defects of room acoustics. At that rate there would have to say below how mV / Pa microphone can be used at home. An original M 49 7 mV / Pa can he agree? But a Prodipe LSP to 20 mV / Pa, is probably better not? This is ridiculous!
Obviously I'd rather save the Salle Pleyel, rather than at home, regardless of the microphones ... Like here where we see a pair of M 149 on the piano Eschenbach:
Abbey Road, it would suit me well too:
But ... I play well enough for that.
But back to my experience as an amateur records in a common living room. So if you're pro, go your way, this can not interest you (thank you for reading so far, however). About 149 M, Neumann speaks of warmth and transparency. What is heat? Here are two takes, recorded a week apart, same piano, same piano, same Chopin nocturne, even mic placement, even cardioid (and Fearn VT-2 preamp, but it did not matter much , preamps built the Fireface 400 would do the following as well), which will give you an idea of how the M 149 has the heat that no other microphones, however, very high quality but with a more " modern "here Brauner Valvet:
Brauner Valvet:
Neumann M149
And compared to 49 million, what happens? I can not say because I do not have access to 49 million. I could compare this pair of M 149 to a pair of 49 FLEA on the same socket (see photo), 4 microphones (specifically their power through which pass the signals) are connected to an interface MR816X Steinberg. The FLEA 49 is a clone of M 49, very faithful to the sound level according to the privileged few who were able to compare (and Plush fragilo on Gearslutz). The ones I have used one capsule F7, a replica of the capsule FLEA M 7 polyester membrane (see above for the historical legitimacy of the capsule). But the tube is not the AC701's 49 million tube became scarce and expensive.
Micro 1: https://www.mediafire.com/?l1la0ndyuc0w2e3
Micro 2: https://www.mediafire.com/?8zs8f52clucjs21
Based on these few tests, I find the Neumann M 149 affirmed a relationship with the M 49. However, he draws the piano with a slightly finer line: If the M 49 is a pencil mine B, the M 149 would have a wealth HB. But the colors inside the line are surprisingly close.
In contrast to M 49, M 149 has no output transformer. The nine directivity patterns, from omni to figure eight, are accessible through a sliding switch located on the front of the microphone.(End of the revised translation, follow-on is automatic translation.)
They typically result from combinations of signals from the half-capsules in and out. For the cardioid, there is a small contribution of the half-capsule back contrary to the rule that maps this position to operate the single signal of the half-capsule before. Neumann has taken into account so the user experience in excess of 49 million just cardioid position towards the omni on the continuous adjustment of the directivity in the power supply to achieve a minimum level of uptake in the opposite direction of maximum sensitivity. In the M 147, the single directivity resulting from the operation of the single signal of the capsule before half corresponds to the directional link between cardioid and hypercardioid M 149's. The two microphones are also electrically identical, except resistance added to the M 147 to decrease the sensitivity in response to complaints from early users of the M 149 with high sensitivity can cause problems with some pre-amps (start the pad is almost a mandatory Fearn for example), their difference in sound reproduction possible directivity for this could be due to the different shape of the M 147, especially his head. The shape of the grid the M 149 is identical to that of M 49, but according to the instructions it is more acoustically transparent, which is likely because it reveals the capsule easily unlike that of M 49 (see photo). A switch on the rear panel to select the cutoff frequency of the low-cut filter from 7 values of 20 Hz to 160 Hz Some specifications (omni / cardioid / figure eight): Sensitivity 34/47/62 mV / Pa Equivalent noise level 16/13/11 dB Noise level to less than 0.5% THD 120 dB SPL Noise level to less than 5% THD 136 dB SPL Maximum output level 18 dBu Weight 730 g Diameter 70 mm Length 201 mm Note the high sensitivity, allowing to bypass preamp on high-level sources, such as a battery, and the noise level quite low for a tube microphone. Between the three versions EU, US and the United Kingdom, there is the power cord that is changing as the N 149 A power supply that came with the microphone is compatible with all mains voltages (https://www.neumann.com/ lang = en & id = & cid = current_accessories db_current_accessories &) dbid = 83: The Three available versions of the N 149 A just Differ in Their Hands enclosed power cable.)
OVERALL OPINION
I did some piano taken home with a pair of M 149. Neumann M 149 recommended especially for piano (https://www.neumann.com/?lang=fr&id=current_microphones&cid=m149_applications). It is also the case of M 49, the microphone of choice Tacet label, including listening to the recordings of Yevgeny Korolyov.
The fact that the sensitivity is high does not preclude using this microphone in a non-treated and non-soundproofed. The sensitivity is the ratio between the output voltage and noise picked up by the microphone. If the microphone has a lower output level, must be compensated by a higher gain preamp, but it does not mean we will hear less noise and small defects of room acoustics. At that rate there would have to say below how mV / Pa microphone can be used at home. An original M 49 7 mV / Pa can he agree? But a Prodipe LSP to 20 mV / Pa, is probably better not? This is ridiculous!
Obviously I'd rather save the Salle Pleyel, rather than at home, regardless of the microphones ... Like here where we see a pair of M 149 on the piano Eschenbach:
Abbey Road, it would suit me well too:
But ... I play well enough for that.
But back to my experience as an amateur records in a common living room. So if you're pro, go your way, this can not interest you (thank you for reading so far, however). About 149 M, Neumann speaks of warmth and transparency. What is heat? Here are two takes, recorded a week apart, same piano, same piano, same Chopin nocturne, even mic placement, even cardioid (and Fearn VT-2 preamp, but it did not matter much , preamps built the Fireface 400 would do the following as well), which will give you an idea of how the M 149 has the heat that no other microphones, however, very high quality but with a more " modern "here Brauner Valvet:
Brauner Valvet:
Neumann M149
And compared to 49 million, what happens? I can not say because I do not have access to 49 million. I could compare this pair of M 149 to a pair of 49 FLEA on the same socket (see photo), 4 microphones (specifically their power through which pass the signals) are connected to an interface MR816X Steinberg. The FLEA 49 is a clone of M 49, very faithful to the sound level according to the privileged few who were able to compare (and Plush fragilo on Gearslutz). The ones I have used one capsule F7, a replica of the capsule FLEA M 7 polyester membrane (see above for the historical legitimacy of the capsule). But the tube is not the AC701's 49 million tube became scarce and expensive.
Micro 1: https://www.mediafire.com/?l1la0ndyuc0w2e3
Micro 2: https://www.mediafire.com/?8zs8f52clucjs21
Based on these few tests, I find the Neumann M 149 affirmed a relationship with the M 49. However, he draws the piano with a slightly finer line: If the M 49 is a pencil mine B, the M 149 would have a wealth HB. But the colors inside the line are surprisingly close.
