Neumanns? High quality sounding mics

[John Willett]

The logo looks the same. As far as I know, the only model that's close to the old ones is the U87 Ai, which apparently doesn't sound quite like the older versions. All the other models are totally different.

But any company develops over time - if you stand still you die.

Many models are pre the buy-out and are still in production.

Neumann and Sennheiser microphone development are totally separate - anyway, Neumann are mostly AF condensers and Sennheiser are mostly RF condensers and pre-polarised condensers.

They share in areas like radiomics, where Neumann do a microphone head for the Sennheiser radio series. And in AES42 digital microphones where Sennheiser recommend the Neumann DMI units rather than re-inventing the wheel.

RoHS compliance made huge differences to all manufacturers, moving away from lead solder and many components that contained banned substances now no longer available at all. So, there is no mic. on the market that can be exactly the same as it was, just because of this.

True enough. Microtech Gefell still makes PVC and nickel diaphragm capsules for some of their microphones, and is the only producer of the original M7.

As far as I know, MG doesn't make the same products as the old Neumann company, but neither does the new Neumann company. Not to say they're bad mics by any stretch, but for the money there's other places to look.

Gefell developed from what Georg Neumann had to leave behind in the East when he moved the company to West Berlin before the wall went up.

They are a totally separate company and make good mics.