Neumann Microphones

Dave Largent · December 29th, 2003, 04:59 AM

My 2 cents.
I just did a mic comparo with a Neumann. Five mics, and the Neumann wound up in last position, to my ears anyways. You may want to put off a purchase till you actually hear one.
Just cuz someone says Neumann is the best, ....

P.S. There are reasons why mic's wind up on the bottom of the heap in a mic comparo.

Martin Garrison · December 29th, 2003, 08:17 AM

Which ones came out on top Dave?

Matt Gettemeier · December 29th, 2003, 10:24 AM

Yeah Dave... now I'm in suspense! If you make a statement like that you gotta' throw us a bone here!

What were your findings/opinions and why?

I almost backed out of my new purchase of the AT4073a when I spotted those two used Neumann kmr82i mics that were $700...

The two reasons I stayed with the at4073a were: 1) recommendations and tons of "thumbs up" on that model. 2) I needed a short shot to replace the me66.

But I gotta' tell ya'... I went back to that Neumann page a dozen times thinking, "Maybe I should just get the best since I could afford this and get the short shotgun later..."...

Now you're giving me confidence that I made the right choice, but I'd love some more info... I'm not one of those guys who says something is good just because I bought it, and I also know there is better then what I can afford... so enlighten us!

Dave Largent · December 29th, 2003, 02:10 PM

I've completed the tests of the mic's at 2-feet distance.
Today I'll be finishing up the 4-foot and 12-foot tests.
Bryan and I currently have a compilation CD for sale for the low, low price of $7.99 ... Just kidding.
I don't want to declare a winner until I complete all the testing. Right now I've done male speech. I will
be testing with music also.
I *can* tell you that the manufacturer's ratings for
"sensitivity" are not accurate. For example, the
Sennheiser ME64 and the Sanken CS-1 are rated
the same by the manufacturers but they are far
from the same. The ME64 was the most sensitive
of the five mic's, with the CS-1 being on the other
end of the spectrum.
Matt, I'm not very familiar with the Neumann line.
The Neumann mic that is in my "shoot out" is the
KM 184. The others are the Audio Technicas AT4073
and AT4071, the Sanken CS-1, and the Sennheiser ME64.

Dave Largent · December 29th, 2003, 04:54 PM

Guys, I'm starting the review.

Martin Garrison · December 29th, 2003, 06:51 PM

Dave, how do you test sensitivity?

Dave Largent · December 29th, 2003, 07:49 PM

Record with the mic's at the same gain level and
and then check the recorded volume levels in an
NLE. Actually, just listening to the recordings
with your ears you can tell the louder ones
from the softer ones.

Sharon Fraats · December 29th, 2003, 10:15 PM

How scientific could this test be with such a limited amount of mics?

Bryan Beasleigh · December 29th, 2003, 10:25 PM

Sharon If it doesn't sound good to us we don't care.

Between the two of us we've shared files on the Rode NT1A, NT3, NT5, Oktava 012, neumann ksm184, microtech gefell M300, me66, ME64, AKG D230, AKG C1000S, AT 4071, 4073, 4031, Sanken CS1.
It's 100% more exposure than we would have had and we've included mics that we both have and use regularly, so we have a comparison.

Dave Largent · December 30th, 2003, 04:07 AM

The Neumann is the only one that didn't come with
a carrying case, Sharon.

Sharon Fraats · December 30th, 2003, 08:40 AM

Love it I mean it Especially the case part.

December 29th, 2003, 04:59 AM	#16
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	My 2 cents. I just did a mic comparo with a Neumann. Five mics, and the Neumann wound up in last position, to my ears anyways. You may want to put off a purchase till you actually hear one. Just cuz someone says Neumann is the best, .... P.S. There are reasons why mic's wind up on the bottom of the heap in a mic comparo.

December 29th, 2003, 08:17 AM	#17
Martin Garrison Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 173	Which ones came out on top Dave?

December 29th, 2003, 10:24 AM	#18
Matt Gettemeier Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 936	Yeah Dave... now I'm in suspense! If you make a statement like that you gotta' throw us a bone here! What were your findings/opinions and why? I almost backed out of my new purchase of the AT4073a when I spotted those two used Neumann kmr82i mics that were $700... The two reasons I stayed with the at4073a were: 1) recommendations and tons of "thumbs up" on that model. 2) I needed a short shot to replace the me66. But I gotta' tell ya'... I went back to that Neumann page a dozen times thinking, "Maybe I should just get the best since I could afford this and get the short shotgun later..."... Now you're giving me confidence that I made the right choice, but I'd love some more info... I'm not one of those guys who says something is good just because I bought it, and I also know there is better then what I can afford... so enlighten us!

December 29th, 2003, 02:10 PM	#19
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	I've completed the tests of the mic's at 2-feet distance. Today I'll be finishing up the 4-foot and 12-foot tests. Bryan and I currently have a compilation CD for sale for the low, low price of $7.99 ... Just kidding. I don't want to declare a winner until I complete all the testing. Right now I've done male speech. I will be testing with music also. I can tell you that the manufacturer's ratings for "sensitivity" are not accurate. For example, the Sennheiser ME64 and the Sanken CS-1 are rated the same by the manufacturers but they are far from the same. The ME64 was the most sensitive of the five mic's, with the CS-1 being on the other end of the spectrum. Matt, I'm not very familiar with the Neumann line. The Neumann mic that is in my "shoot out" is the KM 184. The others are the Audio Technicas AT4073 and AT4071, the Sanken CS-1, and the Sennheiser ME64.

December 29th, 2003, 04:54 PM	#20
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Guys, I'm starting the review.

December 29th, 2003, 06:51 PM	#21
Martin Garrison Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 173	Dave, how do you test sensitivity?

December 29th, 2003, 07:49 PM	#22
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Record with the mic's at the same gain level and and then check the recorded volume levels in an NLE. Actually, just listening to the recordings with your ears you can tell the louder ones from the softer ones.

December 29th, 2003, 10:15 PM	#23
Sharon Fraats Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: chicago, ill Posts: 190	How scientific could this test be with such a limited amount of mics?

December 29th, 2003, 10:25 PM	#24
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Sharon If it doesn't sound good to us we don't care. Between the two of us we've shared files on the Rode NT1A, NT3, NT5, Oktava 012, neumann ksm184, microtech gefell M300, me66, ME64, AKG D230, AKG C1000S, AT 4071, 4073, 4031, Sanken CS1. It's 100% more exposure than we would have had and we've included mics that we both have and use regularly, so we have a comparison.

December 30th, 2003, 04:07 AM	#25
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	The Neumann is the only one that didn't come with a carrying case, Sharon.

December 30th, 2003, 08:40 AM	#26
Sharon Fraats Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: chicago, ill Posts: 190	Love it I mean it Especially the case part.