Appropriate preamp for a TLM 103

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gpi

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After going through the Chinese mike syndrome, I recently purchased a Neumann TLM 103 - my only preamp is a Joe Meek VC3Q. The other mikes I have are

Studio Projects C1 (a little too sibilant for me)
ADK A51 (which at the time I AB'd it against a sixties era U67 and actually liked how close the ADK came for acoustic guitar)
Audio Technica At4050
2 Octava MC 012's (I love them on my Martin)
An old AKG C1000 (I've actually had semi decent results on some vocals in the past- I think it's awful for acoustic guitar)

I preferred the Neumann over the C1 and ADK after cutting several vocal tracks. The C1 too bright, the ADK too dark.

The question is, what preamp will do the TLM 103 justice?
What would a Grace or Great River bring to the table?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
the nice thing about the TLM103 is that it has a really hot output, so almost any mic pre will "work" with it.

As far as what preamp will tickle your particular fancy, the best way is to try a few out. the two you mentioned are very different in sound, yet both highly respected. no one can really predict which one you will prefer.

Personally, I kind of like the TubeTech MP-1a/TLM 103 combo if I am using the TLM103 for vocals. If I had a VIPRE I'm sure I would want to try it with that as well.
 
Littledog:
How much is the tube tech?

In reference to the Grace, I know it has a neutral character compared to the Great River ( I don't remember the model, but I thought one of their units was somewhat "Neve" like) I love the Neve sound, but I've never heard the Grace or Great River. I'm deciding between transparency or further coloring of the mike with the above or going the tube route as you suggested-

Any other TLM combinations?

Thanks
 
TLM 103's are great mics!
It's hard to screw 'em up, most any pre will work nicely, but of course, the cleaner the better IMO.

I recorded THIS with a pair of TLM103's and an ART PRO MPA mike pre.
 
A little coloring helps the TLM 103, in my opinion. That's why I might go for the Great River NV or something of that ilk.
 
gpi said:
After going through the Chinese mike syndrome, I recently purchased a Neumann TLM 103 - my only preamp is a Joe Meek VC3Q. The other mikes I have are

Studio Projects C1 (a little too sibilant for me)
ADK A51 (which at the time I AB'd it against a sixties era U67 and actually liked how close the ADK came for acoustic guitar)
Audio Technica At4050
2 Octava MC 012's (I love them on my Martin)
An old AKG C1000 (I've actually had semi decent results on some vocals in the past- I think it's awful for acoustic guitar)

I preferred the Neumann over the C1 and ADK after cutting several vocal tracks. The C1 too bright, the ADK too dark.

The question is, what preamp will do the TLM 103 justice?
What would a Grace or Great River bring to the table?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I have to say I get the best results with my Avalon M5, Great River and Focusrite VMPro. Most of the board pre-amps don't do it justice at all because this is a hot mic and easily overloads the mixer's pres. The home recording mixer pre-amps don't have the headroom to use the TLM correctly.
 
Avalon 737's seem to magically pair up well with 103's and U87's:)
 
whats cheapest preamp thatll sound good with the neumann tlm 103??
 
furis said:
whats cheapest preamp thatll sound good with the neumann tlm 103??
Click to expand...

I am running a TLM 103 with a Focusrite twin trak pro.........So far so good, I have had really good results with it.....I recently demo-ed a trident s20 and Robbie the mic pre against the focusrite---(both are $1000 vs. $500)----now in all reallity both the trident and especially the robbie sounded better than the twin trak, but the difference was not as much as you might think..........So ...for the price I stayed with the focusrite until I can afford a REAL upgrade---(portico, DW Fearn....Ams Neve...)....So check out the twin or the VMP....nice match with the Neumann. :)
 
hmm im thinkin bout gettin a great river or a avalon 737 for my neumann tlm 103...does anybody have recorded samples with it? or any other preamp wit a neumann tlm 103??
 
IME, something 'Neve'-ish is usually a good piece. Basically the mic needs to be smoothed in the high mids/top and filled out a bit in the low mids, which is what most pieces based on a class A Neve design will do (i.e. Vintech, Chandler, Great River, etc). The Avalon 737, regardless of what one's opinion is on that piece is a bright piece which does not complement the TLM103 in the least. It brings the worst out in that microphone to my ears, mainly due to accentuating what is already the cons of the TLM103.
 
I think a Toft ATC-2 and a GT Brick both do great with a TLM103. The ATC-2 - being a channel strip - can help shape the signal a little with eq and/or compression if need be.
Let us know what you finally decide on and how you like it.

Terry
 
Personally, I am not a huge fan of either the Avalon 737 or the Neumann TLM 103. However, I personally (as well as many others that I know) find that together they both help each other out and make a great combination. This differs radically from Nathan's opinion above, but that is the wonderful thing about the audio industry. There is no real right or wrong, just what we do and don't like:)
 
alevy said:
has anyone tried the tlm-103 with a presonus eureka
Click to expand...

Yes.

The Eureka is a phenomenal pre and I like it more and more. I also think the TLM 103 is a gem.
 
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