Neumann

• Which technical specifications motivated your choice? Irreproachable German construction. The fact that Neumann uses such strict technical specs that they consider all KH120 to be matched. And you can see and hear that right out of the box. The frequency response (even if it's only one factor, the other and no-less important ones are the listening space and position). The three frequency correction controls (which are stepped, so stable) have a well-chosen response, in relation to other speakers at the same (and even higher) price point. • Use: Professional. Album mixing and premastering, as well as audio post-production. Protools HD SOUNDS Is the frequency response neutral enough? The frequency response curve seems incredibly neutral to me. If you focus on each frequency range, on each instrument, everything is in the right place. • Is the stereo image good? Very good. With a very clean phantom image. You can even move one feet from the center without the image being distorted. The phase coherence and flat frequency response certainly have something to do with that. • Is the sound clear and accurate across the entire frequency spectrum? YES...Within the physical and acoustical limits of speakers this size. Nevertheless, it has an extremely extended response in the high end, while remaining unaggressive up to frequencies that largely exceed our hearing range. I was also surprised by the presence and accuracy of the lows. No issues to mix the bass nor the kick, always you know where you are. However, to mix special effects or the 30Hz of large organs, you'll need bigger speakers. Personally, I think the subwoofer option isn't necessarily the best. It is very hard to place and set a subwoofer if you want to do it by the book. If you don't have enough experience, you might end up setting it in a way that harms rather than improves the natural balance of the kh120 down to around… 45 Hz, I'd say (if my ears don't deceive me!). This is only my personal opinion, obviously. These speakers either reproduce sound very well or they simply not reproduce it at all (in the low end). • Is the dynamic response faithful? ... Very large headroom. I don't hear any compression. I have already cranked them quite a bit. They have more than enough power for me. I stop before the security signal activates. It's even scary. (I'm about 5ft away from the speakers). OVERALL OPINION • How long have you been using them? 2 months. • Which feature do you like the most / the least? The most: It seems as if I'm pitching these speakers, but I really love everything about them. A good sound for a more than reasonable price. The least: It would be easier to have the power switch on the front panel, rather than on the rear. • Did you try any other models before buying it? I have known the NS10 for 20 years. I still mix with them sometimes. You need to know them to work with them ;-) Mackie HR 824: Good, but a bit soft and sound changes depending on the listening level (even if you consider the Fletcher and Munson curves) Dynaudio BM5a: Very good. Not as neutral. Genelec 8030: Very good, too. Genelec 1030a: Way too flattering. Yamaha HS8: Flattering in the low and high end. Yamaha HS7: OK, for the price. Too "mids-heavy" for me. ADAM and KRK: Very far from what I expect to be able to mix. • How would you rate its value for money? Unbeatable. • Based on your experience, would you buy this product again? ... YES, sir! They are perfect for me.

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 have used U87s for 30 years and I must say they are the best microphone for vocals (aside from the 3K bump) that you will ever find. I do like the U67 better if you have the money. It is the best mic every made. The U67 is the warmest of this mic line by far. The U87 has a specific sound. It is classic sound. Recently you are hearing more high end enhanced vocal sounds ala Katie Perry. This mic is more of a round sound whereby the low end is very present. The U87 is a mic that you will use ever day of your life and for most any application. So if you have the money BUY ONE. We use this at the studio for 20 years www.chrislieckstudios.com or at my school of recording www.comia.us. At times the high mid boost can be very annoying and I move on to an AKG 414, but I don't go by specs I go by the one thing that matters, my ears. Each vocalist is different, and each has their own issues. Some can use a U87 and it is the best sound they will ever get. Some a U87 can sound very harsh. The high mid boost is very noticeable in some situations. I mostly like it for hard hitting vocals and I only use API Pre Amps when I am using the U87. I don't use any other Pre Amps. The low end at about 50hz is smooth as can be. OVERALL OPINION The very best vocal mic (ala warm mic) that you will ever buy. Today's sound has all the low end removed so you need to study vocal sounds and compare the older more warm sounds like John Mayer verses a Rhianna sound or a sound that has all the low end removed. The U87 is the standard of professional recording. I do think if you going to spend a great deal of money on one microphone then of coarse the U87 is a the industry standard for vocals but again it does have a specific sound. Some of the newer records are going for a more high top end sound and are using a great deal of post plug ins to get the sound more punchy. I also use the 87 on room mics, sax, trumpet, room kick drum micing and at times snare or under snare. It is a very good piece to own.

I use this microphone daily at my studio www.chrislieckstudios.com. Here is my assessment of this mic. Clean, but not a U87 or even close. There are some major differences with this mic as opposed to other Neumann microphones. I like it for certain vocalists that have a great deal of dynamic control. If a singer is trained around a microphone and in a recording booth and has worked for many years with studios and recorded a great deal, I will pull this mic out of my collection. I don't use it if the singer is new, or a rapper, or a up and down vocalist that does not have experience or a great deal of knowledge about how to hit a mic the right way on high notes or louder notes. It has a real sensitive spot when it has a hot signal and it distorts way to easily. If you have a hot signal to the mic that is in any way cracking up, it does not take a beating on the input stage like a U87 or a U67. Great for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar. It is what we call a medium sensitive mic. Meaning if your vocalist is loud, it is rather sensitive. So if you are using this without a compressor on the front end, you will have to ride the input gain. I like this microphone a great deal but I am not sure for the money you could not pick up a few other mics that do the trick and have some money left over for a few other pieces of gear or plug ins that you would need. The sound overall is very warm with low level input. OVERALL OPINION I use this mic daily but it is not our go to microphone. I do like it for vocals but only if the singer that you are using is trained and knows how to work a microphone correctly. There are better dummy proof mics out there and to be honest if I were on a limited budget try finding the hand made Superlux on Ebay which is a copy of the U87. I do like it for Acoustic Guitar. I don't use it for much else. As for bumps in the EQ, it has one in the high mid. There are several uses for the mic but I only found it useful for vocals and acoustic guitars. I did not use it for anything else.

The Neumann U77 is a vintage electret microphone that is made for use in the recording studio. Never bring this outside the recording as it is a vintage and delicate microphone that needs to be treated with care at all times. The mic comes with a power supply and I believe it can also be powered with a battery if needed. This is a major difference when compared to the other Neumann mics that look like this one like the U87, but as long as you have the original power supply, you shouldn't have any problems with powering this mic properly. OVERALL OPINION I've first used the Neumann U77 a couple of months ago and I was instantly impressed with the crystal clear sound quality and clarity that I heard while using the mic for recording vocals. It has a really rich tone and an extreme amount of detail, making it perfect for recording all sorts of vocals that you would want a lot of clarity with. This mic is pretty rare and is hard to find if you want to buy one. This doesn't mean that you can't find one, they are just hard to come by since they weren't made for all that long of a time. These are somewhat similar to the other mics in the 'U' line like the U87, but there is definitely a different tone that you get with each, even if the difference is subtle. For some things I would prefer to use the U77 as it tends to have a little rounder of a sound and is probably better suited for male vocals because of this, while with a U87 this might not always be the case. If you are looking to buy a Neumann U77 you will be able to find one at a reasonable price even if it is steep by a lot of home studio owner's standards. This is a great vintage mic that doesn't get enough credit probably because of its scarcity.

The Neumann U 89 is a very universal microphone that can be used in many recording environments. It has a dual diaphragm capsule and a rotary switch that can give you a choice of 5 different polar patterns. When I say this microphone is versatile I mean it. You can even record things with this microphone from a farther distance then you would think. You don’t have to be standing right directly in front of the microphone in order to have the U 89 pick up audio. You can be a good distance away and it can still pick it up, which leads me to think they created this microphone more for recording things from a distance. I have used many other Neumann microphones in the past and none of them can really compare to the U 89 I. OVERALL OPINION The quality of recordings you will get with the U89 matches the price point that it sells for. This microphone will cost , it is not cheap. But it is worth every dollar that it cost, I am very happy with the choice we chose to use this microphone. With the wide angled cardioid pattern, it surpasses the basic standard patterns. The U 89 can record huge recordings very clean. Meaning like a whole section of people or a group of instruments. There are a lot of uses for the Neumann U 89. I have used the Neumann U 87 and there are some similarities between this U 89 and the U 87 but the U89 is better built and smaller than the U 87. Both of them are great microphones though. I highly recommend the U 89 and the U 87. The U 89’s built in amplifier can take sounds up to like 140 decibels without having in issues or distortion. That is un heard of!

The Neumann M 149 is a tube condenser microphone designed and used in the recording studio setting. It comes with a power supply and a special cable that can only be used with this mic. It has a switch for a 9 different polar patterns and has seven position bass roll off. These both come in handy as it increases the versatility of the mic. I'm not sure what type of tube it has but it adds a tremendous bit of warmth to the mic. It is also nice to have the shockmount as it is a heavy microphone and needs to be protected and held up strong. OVERALL OPINION I've been using the Neumann M 149 for a little bit under a year and it is really a great sounding mic. It is full sounding and works with a number of different instruments. I like it best on stand up bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, and cello. It really picks up the low of a stand up bass or cello and is definitley is my go to mic for these applications. It also sounds great when placed near the resonator of an acoustic guitar as it picks up the low mids and the mids well. It has a rich tone to it and its versatility with rolloff and polar patterns makes it a great all around mic. The warmth that the tubes give off gives this mic a special quality. While I wouldn't say that it colors the sound as it is a pretty clean tone, it picks up a wide range of frequencies and acts with the tube to create a unqiue sound. While it costs a pretty penny if you're looking for a high end tube microphone. Neumann's reputation is well known throughout the recording industry and this mic is as good as any I have used!

This is not an electret microphone, as it is categorized on this website. It is in fact a small diaphragm condenser mic designed by Neumann. It is a small, tiny microphone that is great for picking up faint sounds and ambiance. I only have experience using them in the studio as I've never taken them out to a live gig, but I know full well that they can be used not only for concerts but for field recordings, theater, etc. Therefore they are an incredibly versatile microphone as they can be used in all types of recordings, whether for music or foley effects or sound design. Part of the reason for this versatility rests with the seven different capsules that can be placed over the mic, thereby changing the tone of the mic considerably. OVERALL OPINION I really like using these microphones as a room mic, particularly when recording a drum kit. I have found that the space and air that these mics pick up is one of their most salient features. I have tried using them as overhead mics but I found that they didn't do the kit justice compared to some of my other go-to small diaphragm condensers. I think that in general they are better used from a distance. I have heard recordings that used them for theater (placed in the rear of the theater). I have also seen them used in recording orchestral performances, which I was also extremely impressed with. These are a pretty expensive microphone (about 1,500 apiece, 3,000 for the stereo pair). I highly recommend using them in a stereo pair, as I have honestly only used them in that capacity. They are a great way for an engineer to capture ambiance and give a feeling of space to their recordings.

The Neumann BCM 705 is a large diaphragm dynamic microphone that is designed for use in the recording studio. It shouldn't be brought out for live shows even though it is a dynamic microphone because it is still quite fragile and expensive. This is a fairly new microphone and I believe it is the first and only dynamic microphone that Neumann has ever made, so naturally I was intrigued about it from the start. The microphone comes with the swivel mount that is shown in the picture... OVERALL OPINION I've only used the Neumann BCM 705 a handful of times as I do not own one but I feel I have a good amount of experience with it to have been impressed with it. Being that it is the first and only dynamic microphone made by Neumann, I was eager to hear the tones that I could get for recording things that normally would require a dynamic microphone because of the pressure level that they are at. Applications like this include electric guitar, kick drum, and anything else like this. The Neumann BCM 705 will also work great for other applications that you would want a condenser as this is a very detailed microphone that will still pick up a lot of subtleties. This is also a great microphone for recording vocals, especially rock male vocals as I find dynamic microphones like this one are often the best way to go, depending on the voice. The Neumann BCM 705 isn't as expensive as a lot of the condenser microphones that Neumann has to offer, as is the nature with dynamic microphones. This is overall probably one of the best sounding dynamic microphones out there and is definitely a microphone I would recommend trying out if you are looking for a great dynamic microphone.

The Neumann M 150 is a tube condenser microphone that is designed for use in the recording studio. As this is an extremely expensive microphone, I wouldn't recommend using it for anything other than applications inside of the studio. As it is a tube condenser mic, it comes with a power supply for it and also comes with the shock mount that is shown. OVERALL OPINION Overall, the Neumann M 150 Tube is a very impressive microphone. It just sounds awesome for just about any application that you use it for, but is especially great for recording vocals. The mic has a rich a full tone that covers all of the details of a sound while maintaining a fat tone. When compared with some of the other tube mics that Neumann has to offer like the M 149 it definitely holds its own as it is one of the best Neumann and the market in general has to offer. While the mic excels best for recording all sorts of vocals, it will also work on just about anything that you would want a combination of great detail and warmth and is great for acoustic piano and guitar as well as other acoustic instruments. The extreme detail that this microphone will provide makes it a versatile mic that can be used in all sorts of situations and is a great all purpose microphone. Beyond the great sound that this mic has, the price makes it unattainable for most people as it is a extremely expensive. For this reaosn I can really only recommend it for professionals or for those who have a lot of money to put into a new tube mic! If you ever get the chance to use the Neumann M 150 Tube it is a great experience and it will get you some great recordings when used properly.

This mic is a an old large diaphragm condenser that has been around forever. I think they are no longer made, but they are still around in relatively large numbers. These mics have been used on the lead vocals of countless huge recordings, and not to mention as instrument mics on many others. This is an extraordinary mic, and there are very few things that don't sound good through one. It is a condenser, so it does require power in order to work. It also connects with a standard XLR mic cable. The pickup pattern is a cardioid. These are very expensive, so don't let them out of the studio unless you are super rich and can afford to replace it. These do have a high allowance for SPL, so people frequently stick them in front of a kick drum to get more definition on it. OVERALL OPINION These have been around since before I was born, and I've been using them for years. Everything about this mic smacks of quality, from the build to the sound quality. These are one of the finest condenser mics available. Vocals tend to sound perfect through them, so you can worry a lot less about EQ. I have tried a wide range of condenser mics, and this one is fantastic. The value is only okay, because they are so expensive. You definitely get an amazing mic for your money though. Another great use for these is for room mics. These are very sensitive, so you can hear the small articulations in your room, which is a great thing if it's a good sounding room to begin with. There's a reason that these have been around for so long - they really do work magic on most anything you record with it. I don't own one, but I have used them many times. I wish I could get one!

The KMS105 is a great microphone to use for live situations, it is more on the higher priced side of microphones but it is well worth the money. It has very low noise and uses a super cardioided polar pattern. This microphone is intended to be used with vocals only and trying to use it on instruments will only make it come up short. The frequency range is great especially for live shows and it does a great job of not picking up other sounds and vocalist in the background. OVERALL OPINION Neumann came out with this microphone about 5 years ago and I have been using it since the day it came out. For the longest time this would be the only microphone that I would use for live show. Though I did not do many live shows at the time (2007) but any time that I did, I made sure this was the microphone that I was using. Looking at this microphone will not make you think it is an expensive higher end microphone. It looks very basic and cheap by its plain black color and black mesh grill with a small diamond logo on it. That is the only thing that I don’t like about it. I feel that because it cost so much and it is a stage mic meaning a lot of people will be seeing it. It would have been nice for it to have a little more flare to it with maybe some or something that would make it pop and stand out on a bright stage. But if looks do not bother you then this microphone is pretty much perfect for the live musician. I have not tried to use it in a studio but I would think that it would not be as good as it is on a stage. This condenser rocks the stage!