Neumann TLM 103-MT Large Diaphragm Cardioid Microphone, Black, XLR

Product Information

The chunky wedge shape makes it more versatile in the studio and less mic-saggy than the traditional long cylinder shape. Self-noise and Max SPL Well ... wish I had had an SM-7 or an RE-20. It's a good entry in the LDC world but I recommend comparing with others of that family or another, before buying. Or better, shoot it out with the 2 mentionned above coupled with a tube pre, you're probably in for a surprise.

The most ubiquitous studio microphone in the world, the U87ai is an award winning large dual diaphragm microphone with three patterns, Omni, Cardioid and Figure of Eight. There is a 10dB pad to enable recording of up to 127dB SPL. It is not a great choice for super loud sound duty and care may have to be exercised. There is also a bass roll off switch which rolls off LF from about 500Hz down, so is used to mitigate the proximity effect when VERY close to the mic in cardioid mode. It is not an HPF like in other microphones, so please note the difference! Because the TLM 103 has little off-axis coloration, this allows you to experiment with different angles during recording to best achieve your desired sound. This can be useful for very sibilant singers, in which recording a bit off-axis can eliminate excess sibilance. The transformerless design of this microphone also results in a very solid bass response. You can capture impressively deep and controlled low end. This results in it doing a great job at recording bassy sound sources. Its advantage of recording bassy sources also applies when recording in close mic situations. It also does very well with its proximity effect relative to other condensers, resulting in a balanced sound even when recording very close to sound sources. Sensitive Care And dynamically, the TLM 103 can handle a max SPL of 135 dB while the U87 is recorded at 117 dB. The ability to handle the loud means that the mic doesn’t require a pre-attenuator switch.

The Neumann TLM-103 really is a supreme choice with its detailed and natural characteristic. It sounds warm and big and never thin. In terms of finding an incredibly high quality mic in your studio that has the signature of the classic Neumann sound than the TLM- 103 is a great choice. In its price range I think there are many other respected large diaphragm condensers, however I believe that it is incredibly hard for them to compare with the quality of the Neumann TLM-103 and the price of this mic makes it more accessible to many people.

Compared side‑by‑side with a standard U87, which had enjoyed a typically varied life, I preferred the brand‑new TLM103 with its slight edge in terms of clarity and subtlety. However, the two mics exhibited very similar characters indeed, and I would be inclined to put the few small differences down to the age gap between them rather than anything more fundamental. Final OpinionThe U87ai is often cited as ‘the voice over microphone’, ‘the go-to singer’s microphone’, or ‘the best orchestral spot microphone’, and is even many people’s default piano microphone. With just 7 dB-A / 17.5 dB CCIR the self-noise level of the TLM 103 is so reduced that even the smallest signals are reproduced basically noise-free. It is capable of handling sound pressure levels up to 138 dB without distortion. Due to the universal cardioid pattern, straightforward handling, extremely low self-noise level, the TLM 103 is predestined for all demanding applications from home recording to professional broadcasting and commercial recording studios. If I Could Keep Just One Microphone Which One Would I Keep? Neumann TLM 103" Production Expert (read the full review here) Applications If you are looking for a very high‑quality, general‑purpose mic, this has to be one to add to your list — no matter at what level you are operating. It has the instant visual advantage of the Neumann badge, the aural signature of the classic large‑diaphragm U87/U67 mics, and a price which, although not affordable to everyone, must be said to offer excellent value. If you look at the TLM103 as a quieter and more dynamic U87, which just happens to have been left in cardioid mode, the price of the TLM103 represents something of a bargain at about a third that of the U87Ai!