Neumann TLM 127 vs Soundelux U195

[N_Yeager]

Hello...

Well I made the jump... just signed the lease on a space that I am going to move my studio into. I have read such great things about the U195 and I think it would be a great mic to have that I would use alot. But my question is - I have no Neumann's in my mic closet. Do you guys think that this will affect the buisness that I can attract to my studio? Should I get a TLM127 just to say I have a neumann in my studio even though the Soundelux may sound better?


Thanks,

Nathan

 

[Giganova]

Congrats to getting started with your studio! You should audition the mics and get what you like most. Your clients will be impressed more by hearing from you why you have certain mics than by the pins on the mics.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

I hear a lot of good things about the Soundelux mics. If you can get a u47 or m49 or something like that, I'd say go for it. But you know what sounds good better than your clients do, that's why they come to you. Go with what you think sounds best. Otherwise you'll cringe everytime you look at the mic that you really didn't want to buy

Just my 2 cents. Congrats and good luck with the new space.

 

[Mark7]

If you're setting up shop in a solidly pro GOP town you can turn your lack of Neumanns (a GERMAN mic made in GERMANY. They opposed the *cough*liberation*cough* of Iraq, remember) into a positive. Something like "ONLY 100% TRUE BLUE AMERICAN MICS USED HERE (except for the SM57s, which are made in Mexico these days. (Hey! Didn't they oppose the war too. Oh shit ))

I'll be happy to dispose of any Beyers or Sennheisers you may have

Seriously, I doubt the quality of the Neumanns is streets ahead of the Soundelux. And it's your skills that count, not the brand names on your equipment list.

 

[tubedude]

I've recorded 30 or so bands in the last year, and I'm pretty sure none of them knew the difference between Neumann and Toyota, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever even asked what mics I have.
They did, however, talk about how good the U195 sounds.
YMMV.
Paul

 

[Giganova]

... a GERMAN mic made in GERMANY. They opposed the *cough*liberation*cough* of Iraq, remember

That's pathetic. They opposed starting a war for the wrong reasons.

 

[Mark7]

Oh my.

You Yanks and your irony bypass circuits

 

[Giganova]

Maybe I need to have a coffee ... its too early in the morning for my irony circuits to warm up (10AM)

 

[N_Yeager]

You guys are right. Thank You. Always good advice at this forum!
Soundelux here I come!

 

[xstatic]

I would try and audition the 2 mics listed above. You may actually like the Neumann better. On the other hand, if I were blindly buying today, I would get the Soundelux. However, if you tried them both and they were a tossup to you, the Neumann might be better just to make those few people who think they have to have one happy.

 

[maskedman72]

i just bought a u195 today and just used it about an hour ago on the top of a djembe and it sounds fantastic. i would get the u195. it also has fat mode and the tlm dosent.

 

[Rossi]

Never worked with a Soundelux (you hardly ever see them in Europe), so I can't comment on that one, but the Neumann TLM127 sure is a very nice and extremely versatile mic. It's a real workhorse; certainly one of the top choices in your situation. Doesn't look quite as fancy, though.

 

[darnold]

It also depends on how you are going to advertise. If you are a public studio and advertise with ads, fliers, posters, etc. Its best to have very well brand names listed on them. Just make sure you get one that sounds good too. I was faced with the same thing and went with the Neumann. I thought that i was going to afford the other one too, but it ended up working out. However i havnt regretted buying the Neumann because theres been plenty of business that no other mic would work better.

Danny

 

[Mark7]

Isn't Soundelux a well know brand name in the US yet (at least amongst AEs and other musical types)?

Maybe they (Soundelux) should do something about that.

Free mics for every pro on this board, perhaps?

 

[darnold]

Its popular with audio engineers but i dont think its as popular with the client. Neumann just has a name that it seems everyone knows. A very common question when asking about the studio is whether or not i have a Neumann. I can happily say yes, although i dont really know how much of a deciding factor it is. But every little bit helps. Even you buy the cheapest Neumann because they normally dont really know the model unless its a U87.

Danny

 

[darnold]

Just wanted to add that people also think tubes are alot better. But they dont really know what a tube is. They think if a microphone is shaped like a tube it is a tube. So have alot of "tube" mics.

And i just wanted to edit this in because i thought of this. Guess which mic actually gets the first looks when people check out my cabinet?

Its actually the Studio Project C1. It always makes me laugh inside, but there is something about the look of that mic that people love to go check out. I usually dont tell them how much it costs and let them make up their own price of it. And im not talking about once or twice, but almost everytime.

Danny

 

[N_Yeager]

Thanks for all the advice. does anyone know how the tlm 103 and 127 compair? They are suppose to have a simalar capsule. As I lok at my new gear budget for my new space I could afford to get the 103 and a soundelux U195 but not a 127 and soundelux.
This is my current cabnet:

BLue Baby Bottle
AT 4033
beyer M201
3x Senheiser 421
Blue Ball
2X joesephon C42's
Studio projects C1
Cad M9
2x Akg c1000
Audix D6
D112

any thoughts?

Thanks,

Nathan

 

[N_Yeager]

whoops forgot

2x AEA ribbon mics
and good old 57's

Nathan

 

[Giganova]

Hi Nathan,

> I could afford to get the 103 and a soundelux U195.

Getting two similar fixed-pattern LDC wouldn't make sense.

I don't get the point of comparing the U195 with the TLM127. One is cardoid only, while the other is a multi-patten. Also, since you have fine cardoid mics already, I don't see how a (fixed cardoid) U195 or TLM103 would be a step up. I don't really think you need another mid-range (price wise) fixed-pattern LDC. Get a good multi-pattern LDC!

My guess is that the 127 and 103 sound very similar. One is cardoid only, the other a multi-patern, and they both have the same capsule. The different electronics could make differences in sound, but I doubt it since Neumann advertises the 127 as the multi-pattern version of the 103. Did you read the lastest copy of Recording magazine? There's a review of the 127.

 

[N_Yeager]

thanks giganova you always have good advice!
The only reason I was thinking of the 127 was because I was worried about clients asking if I had a "Neumann" in my closet. Any thoughts of what I should be looking for? based on what i have your probably right, a multi pattern LCD might be the best bet. Based on my mic locker what would you reccomend I look into? I am trying to fit it into a $2000 or so budget for now mabey I shoud just save for a while and get someting really good?

Any advice?
Thanks again guys!