Neumann
Neumann BCM 104
Large-diaphragm condenser broadcast microphone, cardioid, end-address, transformerless, with built-in pop screen, internal pad and low-cut switches, and elastic mount for a boom arm
Power Phantom P48, 48 V ± 4 V (IEC 61938).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −33.1 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 79%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 85%
- Self-noise
- 7 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 92%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 93%
- Max SPL
- 138 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 53%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 49%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
vs 75 end-address condensers
More output than 84% of 75 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 99% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 53% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the manual, p. 12.
Free field, IEC 60268-4, tolerance ±2 dB ("measured in free-field conditions (IEC 60268-4), tolerance ±2 dB", printed under the graph). Distance not stated. Pad off (not stated).
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the manual, p. 12.
Free field, IEC 60268-4 (as the response). 125 Hz to 1 kHz drawn on the left half, 2 to 16 kHz on the right; the pattern is taken as symmetric. 5 dB per ring, centre -25 dB. Switch settings not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | K 04 large-diaphragm capsule"The microphone headgrille houses the K 04 large-diaphragm capsule, which has a flat frequency response up to 3 kHz. Higher frequencies have an increased presence of 2 dB maximum." Diaphragm size not stated. | p. 3 |
| Sensitivity | −33.1 dBV/Pa (22 mV/Pa)1 kHz into 1 kohm rated load; ±1 dB. "22 mV/Pa = –33.1 dBV ± 1 dB". | p. 8 |
| Self-noise | 7 dB(A)IEC 60268-1, A-weighting IEC 61672-1, RMS. "7 dB-A". The -14 dB pad "will increase the self noise by 14 dB" (p. 4). | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 18 dBCCIR 468-3, quasi peak | |
| Max SPL | 138 dB SPLTHD 0.5%; also 152 dB SPL, THD 0.5%, with preattenuation. "THD of microphone amplifier at an input voltage equivalent to the capsule output at the specified SPL." | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 87 dBre 94 dB SPL, A-weighted; also 76 dB, re 94 dB SPL, CCIR 468-3 | |
| Dynamic range | 131 dBDIN/IEC 651. "the BCM 104 has a dynamic range of 131 dB (DIN/IEC 651)". | p. 3 |
| Output impedance | 50 ohmrated impedance | p. 8 |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmrated load impedance | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"An active filter efficiently suppresses signals below" 20 Hz (p. 4). | |
| Powering | phantom P48, 48 V ± 4 V (IEC 61938)Footnote "Phantom powering (P48, IEC 1938)"; the quick guide: IEC 61938. | |
| Current draw | 3.2 mA | |
| Low cut | off, on; 100 Hz; 12 dB/octave"a high-pass filter, electronically activated by a switch ... reduces frequencies below 100 Hz by 12 dB/octave"; the switch is inside the housing ("100 Hz Low Cut", ON/off). | p. 4 |
| Pad | −14 dB"a –14 dB preattenuation switch is provided", inside the housing behind the XLR insert. Not shown in the graphs. | |
| Switches | pad: off, -14 dBBoth switches sit inside the housing; "ON" activates "–14 dB" or "100 Hz Low Cut". | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"a male 3-pin XLR connector"; pin 1 ground, pin 2 +phase, pin 3 -phase; balanced, transformerless output (p. 2). | p. 5 |
| Weight | 500 g | p. 8 |
| Dimensions | 64 × 85 × 110 mmDiameter 64 mm, length 85 mm, height 110 mm "without suspension". The German table misprints the height as 10 mm. | |
| Acoustic operating principle | Pressure gradient transducer | |
| Max. output voltage | 10 dBu | |
| Pop screen and mount | Integrated pop screen behind a headgrille that twists off without tools; capsule and microphone elastically suspended; mount for standard studio boom arms with a thread adapter | p. 3 |
| Cable length | Response unaffected by long cables; high-frequency loss only well beyond 300 m | p. 5 |
| Accessoriesmanual | SG 5 swivel mount; BCK replacement headgrille (with 5 coloured rings); PS 15, PS 20 a popscreens; WS 47 windscreen; N 248 power supply; IC 3 mt cable; AC 25 adapter | p. 13 |
| From the quick guide | ||
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C | p. 2 |
| Storage temperature | −20 °C to +70 °C | |
| Humidity | max. 90 % at +20 °C | |
| From the product page | ||
| Finish | satin nickel (BCM 104); matte black (BCM 104 mt)Cat. no. 008483 nickel; BCM 104 mt, black, cat. no. 399007 ("Now also available in black"). The 2015 manual lists only the nickel version. | p. 1 |
Documents
- BCM 104 Bedienungsanleitung / Operating ManualGerman and English), Publ. 06/15 (088332/A03
- BCM 104 / BCM 705 Quick Guide, publ. 06/18575889/A01
- Neumann Full catalog of Microphones, English, 05/2020576045/A04
- BCM 104, neumann.com product page
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Neumann, unchanged, with its original address.
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