Choice of a Condenser Mike

[Patrick (B)]

My local dealer has prepared a set of 3 microphones to be checked during the week-end (§@!##* unsual good weather forecast in Belgium for the week-end !!!) along with a TL AUDIO 5051 pre-amp/compressort/eq :

- NEUMANN TLM103
- RODE NTK
- SHURE KSM 27

I would appreciate to receive your vote (based on actual experience please, not on readings nor on comments from others !).

I am already convinced by the TL AUDIO (not yet purchased in case it does not fit with the selcetd mike). Do not hesitate to comment ...

Cheers,

Patrick
Brussels

 

[Ty]

I voted for Rode because I've got two
but Audio Technica are very good as well.

 

[hokypokynose]

I havn't heard the NTK in person(only audio files). But when I was at Mars a few moths ago I heard both the TLM 103 and the Shure KSM 27 and I liked the Shure better. Just a little better sound wise, but being half as much money, I deffinately liked it better.

Listen for yourself. It's very subjective.

 

[Henri Devill]

Very subjective...I would say if you are listening to those mics then you really should listen to the Shure KSM44..Multi pattern Omni,Cart and Fig 8..As to which is better only you can decide..Good luck


Don

 

[littledog]

I've only got the TLM 103 out of all those, and it's a very nice mic for the price. It has a very hot output, which makes it great for low level sound sources like acoustic bass. It would be nice if it had a pad or HPF, but it doesn't. I've also used it on vocals and as a room mic for drums, but without the pad it's not very useful for close-mic'ing drums or other high SPL sources. In general, though, it sounds great. It's often the 2nd mic I'll try after my Lawson L47. Good open top end and full bass.

But seeing as you can get 3 KSM 27's for the price of a TLM 103, if they're even close in sound, I know which one (or three) I'd get!

 

[trpullen]

If you are giving them away, I will take the Neumann please.

 

[Patrick (B)]

Feedback on tests perfoirmed during the week-end !

I recorded vocals for 2 songs with the 3 mikes :
- Baby I love your way (P. Frampton) - soft vocals
- Born to be wild (Steppenwolff) - punchy vocals

Testing configuration :
Mike -> TL Audio 5051 -> Mackie Analog 24*8 -> Mackie MDR 2496 -> Headphone & play back with Mackie HR824

The first selection was rather evident for both songs : the Shure KSM27 plays one category below the others, with tight sound, "emprisoning" the upper part of the vocal material, a bit (but just a bit) too metallic too ... however still a geat mike for the price !
The TLM103 is the warmest, flattering the voice but leaving some veal (due to the TL Audio 5051 ?) at the end. The NTK is clear, capturing every nuance, with more fidelity to the original sound (no pardon for weak vocal parts !!!). It is bright on the top end ... with a very gentle trend for sibillance (more than the TLM103).

From what I have heard, the NTK is my first choice. The votes you have given in the poll go in the same direction...

The NTK comes with a specific supply box (with special cable).
I just wonder of having another piece of equipment from a reliability point of vue ...

I hope to have some time tonight for additional tests. I'll let you know the outcome...

Cheers,
Patrick

 

[Patrick (B)]

One more question ...

The NTK is delivered without elastic shock mount device ...
What do you recommend for this particular mike ?

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

My impression of the TLM103 vs the NTK is (oversimplified) that the TLM103 is pretty flat while the NTK has a more scooped midrange.
This may or may not be the case, but that's what I hear when A/B testing them briefly. Also, when moving up close I find that the TLM103 has a more defined bass while the NTK close-up tend to increase it's tube sound instead of the usual bass boost.

The NTK to me sounds more 'flattering' while the TLM103 is more neutral and un-EQ'd, and I prefer the TLM103 for it's natural sound.

I'm planning on buying both, so it doesn't really matter. But I'm pretty sure I will reach for the Neumann a bit more often.
I can always take a track recorded with the Neumann and send it through some tubegear at mixdown if I want that sound, but if tracked with NTK, it can be tough to make it sound clean again.
Of course these choices should normally be made when doing the tracking, but if I can leave some options until mixdown, that's good too. Like I said, I like both for what they are. Great mics.

 

[Bowisc]

bpmmusic.com has the SM-2 shockmount for the NTK at $39.99

Bowisc