Neumann TLM 103

[BuzzHaze]

I bought this mic a few months ago and WOW, it sure sounds good. It was slightly over $1000 with the shock mount.

Right from the get-go, I noticed a much warmer, richer sound than the usual beta 58's and Sen's I've been using for vox. It's got a fixed pattern, no roll-off or any adjustments but it seems to have a good cardioids pattern. I was originally looking at an AKG 414 but wanted to try something different and I had read a lot of good things about the Neumann.

I have no pre-amp for it besides whats in my Yamaha AW2400. I think I should try one and see if there's a noticable difference.

I would recommend this Neumann to anyone. It's awesome.

 

[Ridickolas]

I think it's overrated. It's not a bad mic & it sounds fantastic on some vocals, but on others, it's so-so.

 

[punkorama]

Yea i agree with Ridickolas. Ive been using the 103 for a few years now. Amazing on certain vocalists but others it's just eh . I got mine awhile back on ebay for 600 so im not complaining.

 

[NL5]

I think it's overrated. It's not a bad mic & it sounds fantastic on some vocals, but on others, it's so-so.

Yeah, the Sienheiser mic's are ok, not nearly as good as a german mic.

 

[kojdogg]

Yeah, the Sienheiser mic's are ok, not nearly as good as a german mic.

Sennheiser is a German company (?)

 

[Ridickolas]

I think that was a joke, hard to tell though, no-one said anything about sennheiser mics.

 

[kojdogg]

well, IIRC the TLM's are all mics produced after Sennheiser bought Neumann and, some people feel, wussified them.

 

[omtayslick]

Interesting. I think Sennheiser is doing a pretty good job with their inexpensive dynamics. The 835, and clip on drum mics, etc.

 

[BuzzHaze]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones that the 103 helps. It sounds a lot better than the others I have ( a few 421's, 57's 58's)

Is there a certain type of vocal that suffer with the 103?, like high female? or harsh rock vox? I could see where it may not suit well for hard rock. It's very clean.

Just out of curiosity, what would you buy today (for vocals) for the $1,000 range, give or take a few hundred?

Thanks for the replies!!

 

[NL5]

Sennheiser is a German company (?)

My bad. I thought they were Austrian. Anyway, IMO they Sienheiser Neumanns are over priced, and not the same as the hand made Neumann/Geffels. Just my opinion. I think there are much better mic's than the 103 for the same price. I've owned both old school Nuemans and Seimheiser Neumans in the past, guess which ones I kept?

Interesting. I think Sennheiser is doing a pretty good job with their inexpensive dynamics. The 835, and clip on drum mics, etc.

I agree - I have several Seinheiser branded mic's that are fantastic.

 

[MCI2424]

I think it's overrated. It's not a bad mic & it sounds fantastic on some vocals, but on others, it's so-so.

Jesus, this myth is so repeated it is a homerecording standard right up there with not using EQ on bed tracks. The TLM103 is a great mic for quite a few sources. The only problem I (and many others I have talked to) have found is that it seems to like high end pre-amps. It works pretty well with the Mackie etc. pre-amps, but I use this mic alot along side the U87, Sm7, Royer ribbons etc. I happen to have a wide variety of good pre-amps and my TLM103 gets used all the time. Every mic made has its detractors. It is highly subjective like practicaly everything else. Not everyone loves the U47 either. Some voices sound best with a SM57.

 

[omtayslick]

Some voices sound best with a SM57.

The 57 and Sennheiser 835 were the top choices for my voice until I got the Joly modded Oktava 319.

And as far as the TLM103 goes, I've only heard one once. It was being used on a female singer, and for her it was gorgeous sounding. But she also had a gorgeous voice.

 

[hammy]

Just out of curiosity, what would you buy today (for vocals) for the $1,000 range, give or take a few hundred?

Thanks for the replies!!

You might give the MA-200 a look at that price range. I do like it for intimate vocals, though whoever mentioned the sm57 for vocals was spot on IMO - so much depends on the voice and the material. More $$ doesn't always equal better, and I've felt very successful with the sm57 through a good preamp numerous times.

Cheers,

 

[kojdogg]

My bad. I thought they were Austrian. Anyway, IMO they Sienheiser Neumanns are over priced, and not the same as the hand made Neumann/Geffels. Just my opinion. I think there are much better mic's than the 103 for the same price. I've owned both old school Nuemans and Seimheiser Neumans in the past, guess which ones I kept?

Yes-- their whole stance of almost exclusively making TLM transformerless mics ostensibly for sonic improvement is a little shaky. It sure saves them a lot of money I imagine. I'm curious to see how their TLM67-- the tubeless, transformerless "improved" version of the U-67, will be received.

 

[nuemes]

Yes-- their whole stance of almost exclusively making TLM transformerless mics ostensibly for sonic improvement is a little shaky. It sure saves them a lot of money I imagine. I'm curious to see how their TLM67-- the tubeless, transformerless "improved" version of the U-67, will be received.

I've got a TLM49; it's a good sounding mic, get's me somewhat closer to the full-bodied sound I was looking for but it is still a pretty far cry from Neumann's tube mics.

I think of the TLM series as Neumann's answer to the project studio market. They're not bad considering their price but there are certianly many other options in that range.

 

[gvdv]

Sometime last year I did a comparison between two Rode mics. and a TLM 103. I placed the 103 second, in comparison to the Rode Mic. (haven't got the model number in front of me, but I remember that it was a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the 103).

The 103 sounded thinner in comparison to the Rode, although the 103 did have more 'gain', if that's the right word. That is, the 103 provided a 'louder' signal at the same gain setting going into the same preamp.

I also liked being able to change the polar pattern on the Rode.

 

[JTC111]

I agree - I have several Seinheiser branded mic's that are fantastic.

Yep, I'd trade your nuts for a pair Senn MKH 40s. Not for vocals, but for acoustic guitar.

 

[omtayslick]

You might give the MA-200 a look at that price range.

That's a nice mic. Does a lot of things well. Vocals, acoustic guitars, and pretty cool on drum overheads too.

 

[Weasel9992]

That's a nice mic. Does a lot of things well. Vocals, acoustic guitars, and pretty cool on drum overheads too.

I prefer the MA-200 as well. I have not had good experiences with the TLM-103.

Frank