Which modern Neumann ?

[bobwarren]

Originally Posted by TheSweetener

TLM193, natural to dark sounding LDC. Works great when you're after a round tone.

I beleive it to be a Medium diaphragm condenser at 3/4". Most LDC are 1". Personally, I don't like the sound of the TLM193 versus the TLM103 for vocals especially.

[Flying_Dutchman]

I´m sorry to say this, but forget it, no kiddin´ (im german)
neumann lost its magic... sad but true
If you name band and song of the last statement ill send you an old stock u87 for free ;-)... but whats the statement ???

[carloff]

sadly said but best Neumann is Gefell

[Crash]

Originally Posted by Flying_Dutchman

If you name band and song of the last statement ill send you an old stock u87 for free ;-)... but whats the statement ???

Uh....can I have an easier question for less money?

I would definitely look into the Microtech Gefell line. You should look into the history of the company if you are not familiar with them. I think what you discover will fascinate you.

[ricknroll]

The older Neumann designs are the only ones I really like, although I do have a TLM193 that I think sounds okay. I've owned 3 different Microtech Gefell mics and I definitely prefer the older Neumanns to the Gefells. If you really want to get a new Neumann, I would buy a U87 and have Klaus Heyne modify it.

Rick

Flat with slight recess in 2-6kHz : TLM193, TLM170, U89 (similar capsule) -- most neutral

Flat with 10kHz wide boost: TLM103, TLM127, U87 (similar capsule)

Vocal mic with added presence in 2-6kHz band: KMS104, U87, M147, TLM49, U47

Miniature multipurpose (also vocal), flat with 10kHz wide boost: KM180 series (omni, cardio, hypercardio) or SKM100 modular series

Acoustic recording: M150, TLM50 (both special small diaphragm on diffraction sphere), KM183 or KM185, SKM100 modular series

High quality capsule (design, tolerances, reproduceability) fitted with suited companion electronics are key requirements for high-end audio capture.

Clearly and instantly audible with high-end large monitors...

[ScottTunes]

Love my pair of TLM193s.

[klaukholm]

I am still unclear as to what you are saying.
do you mean to say that all mics released after 1992 are lower quality, or do you feel their designs since then are inferior to those designed prior to the takeover?

For the sake of discussion, it would be interesting to hear excactly what you feel has changed.

Which models are affected, how are they affected?

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

To name a few, the U47, U67, km84, M49, ect. have all been affected. They are no longer made.

That happened long before sennheiser took over, so it has little to do with them.

[d_fu]

Neumann KM 131 is an excellent (free-field) omni. And there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the KM 140, either...

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by klaukholm

On what are you basing this statement?
Can you please site specific examples?

Originally Posted by peeder

There's a dealer that has repeated this so often in the last five years that it simply must be true. There's no question about it. The dealer has said it, and that's the end of it.

Yep, I agree with you peeder...... "The Dealer" said it so it has become gospel. What a bunch of crap.

The problem with new Neumann mics is not that they are bad sounding tools it's that they cost 2 times more than other manufactures products of the same sonic and build quality. Every kid in a band knows the name "Neumann" and you pay for that name.

As tools they are fine products it's just that I can get another product with the same sonic qualities for much less.

[sedohr]

The original poster created a monster and then, took off.
A nice thread though.

[marshallplexi]

Na, still here...

Well it's interesting to see the debate between the old and new Neumanns...

More precisely, i am looking for a Mic with VERY detailed Highs without sounding harsh. I used a Brauner (can't remember which one, worth about 8K or somethin) which had that detailed top end. I'd like something similar without the price tag...

I read the p12 and the 251 where bright without being harsh.

To be honest, i don't really mind about the brand... How about these cool looking bottle ish modern mics ?

I just would like to narrow my search and then find a way to try each of them...

Cheers !

[carloff]

Now I will say one big mistery:
mr.Andreas Grosser is working on his own design bottle microphone.
I expect will be the best bottle mic what you can buy for money, compactible with CMV and Blue standart

[peeder]

Originally Posted by marshallplexi

More precisely, i am looking for a Mic with VERY detailed Highs without sounding harsh.

In my locker, that's the Mojave MA-200. The dude from Nu-47 posted a shootout that included one vs. the Pelusos and old Neumanns, search for it.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by klaukholm

I am still unclear as to what you are saying.
do you mean to say that all mics released after 1992 are lower quality, or do you feel their designs since then are inferior to those designed prior to the takeover?

For the sake of discussion, it would be interesting to hear excactly what you feel has changed.

Which models are affected, how are they affected?

All of the KLM and TLM series have gone surface mount construction. These incorporate low cost, poor audio quality metal oxide resistors and mono ceramic signal capacitors, equally bad for audio. They used to use polystyrene film caps off the capsules, now it's mono ceramics. Yes, they are now made on the cheap with automated assembly and other cost cutting like no output transformers.

Even the new 87's have a surface mount preamp installed into them.

Back in 1968, all the deaf, doped up acid dropping hippies picked up on the changed Fender amp designs, the first silver Fenders with the aluminum strip around the grill cloth. It took all of 3 months for Fender's rep to be damaged, still to this day.

So much for all the golder ear audio recordists that still haven't picked up on the changes brought by Sennheiser to a once quality mic maker.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades