neumann TLM-103

[espen askelad]

mebbe Pearlman's TM2? I'm liking mine more and more as time goes on.

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by robertshaw

with the exception of shure and AT mics
what is a better alternative to a TLM-103?
In a similar price range as the 103
thx

lotsa 103 haters around here.
run a search. theres alot of 103 banter/options discussion in the backlog.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by robertshaw

with the exception of shure and AT mics
what is a better alternative to a TLM-103?
In a similar price range as the 103

thx

AT 4060





ps - yes - i know you said no AT. I just dont know of anything better about $1000 (or $850 even)

[goldenlotus]

TLM 49

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by robertshaw

with the exception of shure and AT mics
what is a better alternative to a TLM-103?
In a similar price range as the 103

thx

Well, Robert,
If you're disposed to believe what you'll read around here (and I presume you are, since you are asking the question), the GS answer to your particular question is exceedingly simple, though it takes about ten forum pages to express. I believe you will find that what the truth according to GS boils down to is that *everything* in a similar price range (and a good deal else besides) is a better alternative to the much-maligned TLM103. The chic passtime of 103-bashing has been honed to the finest of arts on GS.

When you set fashion (and a certain amount of group-think) aside, however, there is another story to tell. The trend is, at present, for colored mics that take a not-so-great performance and tone down its excesses, adding some "gloss" and "character" or "mojo" of their own along the way. If that's what you want then the 103 is not a great choice because what it does well is almost the opposite - transparency. In my experience the 103 does a superlative job of sounding like the source you put in front of it. Alas, transparency has lost favour to "shooting the messenger" - at least on GS.

Personally (shocking though it is to utter such heresy - here of all places), I prefer the "mojo" to come from the singer - or other source, not the microphone, if at all possible. I guess that makes me frightfully out of touch, but so be it ... (dons asbestos jacket).

We have a locker of over 50 mics here (including Schoeps, AKG, Neumann, AEA, AT, Peluso etc) and it includes a pair of 103s that we won't be trading any time soon. One of them we have had for around ten years, we bought a second 103 two years ago (even after reading what so many GS buddies have had to say about them). What they do, they do better than many other mics IMO, including some in higher price brackets.

If you've tried the 103 and have concluded that it's not for you, then by all means opt for something more to your taste. However to get meaningful advice about what might be a better choice *for you*, you'd first really need to say what your taste is and what it is you don't like about what you hear when using a 103. IOW whatever you choose can only be a "better choice" subjectively, at which point the opinions of any number of GS windbags (myself included) are not very useful to you.

[christmasjones]

ma 200!

[Daniel Antix]

i use a TLM 103 all day everyday at work on voice overs. no complaints.

[PRobb]

Why not AT? The whole 40 series are wonderful values. Real nice mics at real nice prices.

[robertshaw]

thanks guys

nothing wrong with an AT's or the 103 I just see many threads bashing the 103 and suggesting AT's and Shures instead. I was just curious of some other alternatives.

Im looking to get a pair of mics for overheads. Thinking Geffel 930 but wanted to get your thoughts

[Jay Kahrs]

I've had a pair of 103's for several years now and agree with DarkSky... they're not going to be sold anytime soon. They've seen use on just about every imaginable source & are a favorite for overheads... I like them as much as akg 451's & more then just about any of the various 414 incarnations... Second only to the Blue Dragonflys for that application but the 103's are MUCH more usable across a wider variety of sources.

Anyway the 103 sounds like a much hipper version of the 4033... smoother, not as brash. They're both good but I know which I'd put up first... It's a great utility "clutch hitter".

If anything, I've found the 103 can sound like a vastly different mic depending on what micamp it's plugged into... some choices are better then others.

[camerondye]

If you are getting them for overheads, do you have 414's. They seem like a great overhead solution in the $1000 range. I own the MA200 and a TLM103 and I like them both. For rock vocals, I really like the 103...it seems to cut through really well. To each his own.

[PRobb]

I like 414s for a lot of things. Drum OH is not one of them.

[YZ!]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

In my experience the 103 does a superlative job of sounding like the source you put in front of it.

agreed.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

......In my experience the 103 does a superlative job of sounding like the source you put in front of it. .......

Have you compared the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison?

just curious.

I have, numerous times.

[Brent Hahn]

My gripe with the TLM103 is the "TL" part. When you track with it, it sounds fine. Very neutral, nothing exciting but nothing bad, either. But when you go to mix, the TransformerLess-ness becomes No Bite. The voice won't cut through the music & fx, no matter how much you eq it. For me, mics with transformers always have a little more grit which helps with both intelligibility and cutting through the clutter.

[DontLetMeDrown]

I have two 103s myself. I bought one when I first started recording because I heard that "Neumann's are tha shit" and I didn't really know what the fvck I was doing. Since then, I've become pretty familiar with it's strong and weak points. I've used it on lots of sources since I didn't own many mics when I started out. The mic is very clean/transparent, but on some sources, it can be waaaaay too sibilant. That being said, I love the mic and I even bought a 2nd for recording in stereo. I have no plans to get rid of any of my mics anytime soon.

[keithrt99]

Originally Posted by christmasjones

ma 200!

+1 .

[James Lehmann]

The Gefell M930 is a very good swap-in for the TLM103 IMHO.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

The Gefell M930 is a very good swap-in for the TLM103 IMHO.

Have you compared the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison?

just curious.

[Marty J]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

Have you compared the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison?

just curious.

Why would someone who is recommending a Gefell M930 over a TLM103 want to compare "the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison"?

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

Have you compared the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison?

just curious.

I have, numerous times.

Yes. And, in fact, we've had this conversation before, Mixerguy. Here, about 18 months ago.

Other tube mikes do the tube mike mojo thang much better than the 4060 IMO. The 103 does transparency better than the 4060 IMO.

[fova]

What is a better alternative to a TLM-103?

Not sure if better but look at AKG C414 and Gefell M930

I record mostly vocals where 103 shines only on a darker and muddy voices so I do not like this mike so much. For instruments 103 can be quite usuable but I prefer to use here small diaphragms.

[JulianBrightnes]

look in the other 1000000 threads

[emkay]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

Well, Robert,
If you're disposed to believe what you'll read around here (and I presume you are, since you are asking the question), the GS answer to your particular question is exceedingly simple, though it takes about ten forum pages to express. I believe you will find that what the truth according to GS boils down to is that *everything* in a similar price range (and a good deal else besides) is a better alternative to the much-maligned TLM103. The chic passtime of 103-bashing has been honed to the finest of arts on GS.

When you set fashion (and a certain amount of group-think) aside, however, there is another story to tell. The trend is, at present, for colored mics that take a not-so-great performance and tone down its excesses, adding some "gloss" and "character" or "mojo" of their own along the way. If that's what you want then the 103 is not a great choice because what it does well is almost the opposite - transparency. In my experience the 103 does a superlative job of sounding like the source you put in front of it. Alas, transparency has lost favour to "shooting the messenger" - at least on GS.

Personally (shocking though it is to utter such heresy - here of all places), I prefer the "mojo" to come from the singer - or other source, not the microphone, if at all possible. I guess that makes me frightfully out of touch, but so be it ... (dons asbestos jacket).

We have a locker of over 50 mics here (including Schoeps, AKG, Neumann, AEA, AT, Peluso etc) and it includes a pair of 103s that we won't be trading any time soon. One of them we have had for around ten years, we bought a second 103 two years ago (even after reading what so many GS buddies have had to say about them). What they do, they do better than many other mics IMO, including some in higher price brackets.

If you've tried the 103 and have concluded that it's not for you, then by all means opt for something more to your taste. However to get meaningful advice about what might be a better choice *for you*, you'd first really need to say what your taste is and what it is you don't like about what you hear when using a 103. IOW whatever you choose can only be a "better choice" subjectively, at which point the opinions of any number of GS windbags (myself included) are not very useful to you.

Well said!
Too many people here suffer from an acute fear of standing on their own two feet without the support and approval of the GS mob.
Atleast it's entertaining.
BTW, got a great vocal track yesterday on an AT 4040 through a Groove Tubes Brick, no compression in the chain.
Great singer, great technique. If she allows me to, I'll post........peace?

[TitaniumG]

What is a better alternative to a TLM-103?
(NOTHING.....................) the 103 is a pro MIC used by PRO's all the time too make good recording. Shore you can get other MIC that sound diffrent but better NAW!

[illynoise]

Rode K2 sounds just as good to me. I've owned both.

[Kim Bjäle]

I´ve worked a lot with the 103 and I must say that when you need a chrystal clear banjo/mandolin etc. it`s a no brainer but for other stuff hmm.. well...It depends on the preamp.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Marty J

Why would someone who is recommending a Gefell M930 over a TLM103 want to compare "the 103 to the AT 4060 in a head to head, double-blind, level matched comparison"?

because maybe they might find that they liked an AT 4060 even better than the Gefell M930.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by TitaniumG

What is a better alternative to a TLM-103?
(NOTHING.....................) the 103 is a pro MIC used by PRO's all the time too make good recording. Shore you can get other MIC that sound diffrent but better NAW!

I strongly believe that there are better sounding mics than a TLM-103.