A New Mic From Neumann

[Mark7]

A Multi-Pattern FET LDC for only £1,500. Nice to see they aren't just resting on their laurels and are, at last, trying to compete head to head with the younger, sexier high end mic companies like Soundelux, Josephson, Brauner, etc.

Read about it here.

 

[Rev E]

I don't know about competing head to head with anyone. I looks like a U87 to me. I'd be interested in what it sounds like. It must be a terrible predicament to be in the shoes of Neumann. They have a mic, the U87 that although being a classic costs far more than its worth at today's bargain-basement, project studio standards. Most of the U87's nearest competitors have far better sound for the same or less money.

All of the new sheek boutique mic manufacturers have basically produced mics that "correct" the deficiencies of U87 or pick up where it left off ... and what does Neumann do? ... Wait! ... for years and years as if the project studio generation is going to go away and they can resume their status as the only game in town... all the while losing market share by the double digits.

It must be nice to have enough reputation (and spare market share) to sit idly by resting on the laurels and products of yesteryear. Neumann has made an art of it. I hope this mic revives some that old Neumann cachet ... but I doubt it will.

 

[Rossi]

Well, call me biased because I'm German, but the TLM127 is one of the best mics I've come across so far. Very smooth sounding. Not exactly cheap, but if I could afford it I'd buy it right away. Seriously.

 

[Rev E]

I'm sure the new Neumann mic is good. I wasn't saying that Neumann stuff was not good. To the absolute contrary, I love the Neumann products that I have used. My mentor owns a U87, and he lets me use it from time to time. It is a great mic ... very versatile. Sounds good on many sources. BUT, it does have some flaws, particularly for some vocals. Depending on the room, the U87 can be somewhat brittle ... certainly not harsh, but not as smooth as one would like sometimes.

I've also used the TLM 103 on ocasion and found it to be a decent budget Neumann. Decent enough on vocals to do an admirable job.

My comments were more oriented towards Neumann's slow pace of development. And when they DO develop something, much of it is a lower quality "rehash" of something that they did before. For example, the KM 184 (a rehash of the KM 84). Many have said that the 184 does not sound as good as the older and out of date 84. I would note that this is what others have said. I have no personal experience with either the KM 84 or 184, but I used this as an example.

 

[Rossi]

Well, try out the TLM 127 if you get a chance. It's a very impressive sounding mic, I think.

I've also heard those comments about the KM 84 and KM 184. They may be correct, I can't tell. But it's also clear that whenever a well respected product is replaced by a newer version or updated by newer components, there will *always* be people who tell you that the new one is crap and can't touch the old one that's not available anymore. It's a kind of myth making.

 

[acorec]

Well, try out the TLM 127 if you get a chance. It's a very impressive sounding mic, I think.

I've also heard those comments about the KM 84 and KM 184. They may be correct, I can't tell. But it's also clear that whenever a well respected product is replaced by a newer version or updated by newer components, there will *always* be people who tell you that the new one is crap and can't touch the old one that's not available anymore. It's a kind of myth making.

True!!! I remember reading in the Steven Paul forum about the difference between the old U87 and the new ones. Steven Paul said ____Nothing that would change the sound___ It is a myth about the new VS old U87. He said that outside of some small electronics change ( I forget the explanation), the whole mic was identical.

 

[meriphew]

Neumann better take a good look at their line of mics and their prices. There are some damn good new mic manufacturers out there (Soundelux, Brauner, BLUE) who are quickly taking the spotlight from Neumann - and rightfully so. I think that if Neumann doesn't make some major adjustments (ie make some better mics), they will go down in flames.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[Rev E]

Neumann better take a good look at their line of mics and their prices. There are some damn good new mic manufacturers out there (Soundelux, Brauner, BLUE) who are quickly taking the spotlight from Neumann - and rightfully so. I think that if Neumann doesn't make some major adjustments (ie make some better mics), they will go down in flames.
www.meriphew.com

I agree wholeheartedly. Neumann's prices are reflective of their reputation. At one time in the audio world they could charge those prices with no questions asked by customers ... because they were pretty much the only game in town (or in an oligopoly type situation where there are small number of competitors who basically own it all). With the current crop of quality mic manufacturers Neumann has got to do two things: 1) lower their prices to compete and/or 2) offer products that cannot be made by other companies. They have not done either. I hope this new mic is good (which I expect it to be). But, more importantly, I hope it's priced competively.

I'll be looking toward purchasing a world-class large diaphram condensor (or ribbon) in the next 6-9 months. Some of the names I'm looking at are Soundelux, Brauner, Lawson, and the Stephen Paul mic if and when it comes out. I would gladly consider Neumann. But if they are priced as if they own the market, I'm going to look elsewhere, as many have done.

 

[Rossi]

Now, I won't tell you Neumann is cheap. They're not. The new TLM 127 is about 2000 Dollars.

But don't think they rest on their laurels. They are technically more advanced than anyone else. Custom shops and some small manufacturers do make great microphones, but it's rare that they add something significant to the art of microphone technology.

Neumann has a history of 75 years of experience and engineering. They've got all the tools & labs for "real" measuring and evaluation. Custom shops or small ventures usually don't. For Neumann it's not just guess work. Also, don't forget they manufacture the whole mic themselves, including the capsule. Neumann can experiment more freely. The don't have to use stock capsules or tell someone else to manufacture special capsules etc.

If you want to see and hear something really innovative, take a look at their Solution D digital microphone. Unfortunately the buyers usually aren't as keen on innovation. What they want is the mic from yesteryear at a Chinese price. I don't say that I'm different. But the Solution D is an absolutely great sounding microphone, it doesn't sound "digital" at all.

 

[meriphew]

I agree wholeheartedly. Neumann's prices are reflective of their reputation. At one time in the audio world they could charge those prices with no questions asked by customers ... because they were pretty much the only game in town (or in an oligopoly type situation where there are small number of competitors who basically own it all). With the current crop of quality mic manufacturers Neumann has got to do two things: 1) lower their prices to compete and/or 2) offer products that cannot be made by other companies. They have not done either. I hope this new mic is good (which I expect it to be). But, more importantly, I hope it's priced competively.

I'll be looking toward purchasing a world-class large diaphram condensor (or ribbon) in the next 6-9 months. Some of the names I'm looking at are Soundelux, Brauner, Lawson, and the Stephen Paul mic if and when it comes out. I would gladly consider Neumann. But if they are priced as if they own the market, I'm going to look elsewhere, as many have done.

Soundelux is coming out with a couple new mics - the E49 and the U99b. The U99b is an updated version of the U99, so I would think that there might be some good deals to be had on the U99 in the near future.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[meriphew]

Now, I won't tell you Neumann is cheap. They're not. The new TLM 127 is about 2000 Dollars.

But don't think they rest on their laurels. They are technically more advanced than anyone else. Custom shops and some small manufacturers do make great microphones, but it's rare that they add something significant to the art of microphone technology.

Neumann has a history of 75 years of experience and engineering. They've got all the tools & labs for "real" measuring and evaluation. Custom shops or small ventures usually don't. For Neumann it's not just guess work. Also, don't forget they manufacture the whole mic themselves, including the capsule. Neumann can experiment more freely. The don't have to use stock capsules or tell someone else to manufacture special capsules etc.

No offense, but I disagree. Brauner, BLUE, and Soundelux (and others) manufacture their own mics in their own labs with their own tools as well. Neumann (Sennheiser) has been cashing in on the reputation of their old mics. They will have to evolve and compete or they will die.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[Rossi]

Don't get me wrong, I like all of those brands.

I don't know exactly about Blue, but the other two definitively get their capsules from other manufacturers. Mostly MBHO, I think. I'd be very surprised if they had "real" measuring facilities, either. Stuff like that is really, really expensive.