Neumann
Neumann M 147 Tube
Large-diaphragm tube condenser, cardioid, K 47 capsule, transformerless output; external N 149 A supply
Power N 149 A mains power supply (included); also N 149 or N 149 V.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −34 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 12 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 74%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 75%
- Max SPL
- 114 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 2%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 1%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 1999
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 51% of 99 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 4% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the manual, p. 9.
Free field, IEC 60268-4 (as printed under the graph). Distance not stated. The solid curve is the nominal response; the dashed lines are its tolerance band.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the manual, p. 9.
Free field, IEC 60268-4. Each curve is drawn on one side only (125 Hz to 1 kHz left, 2 to 16 kHz right); the pattern is taken as symmetric. Rings every 5 dB, centre -25 dB.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | K 47 dual-diaphragm large-diaphragm capsule ("M 7 capsule")German text: "Doppelmembran-Kapsel K 47, die in den legendären Mikrofonen U 47 und M 49 bekannt und berühmt geworden ist („M 7-Kapsel“)". | p. 3 |
| Sensitivity | −34 dBV/Pa (20 mV/Pa)1 kHz into 1 kohm rated load. Not stated by the manufacturer: From 20 mV/Pa: 20·log10(0.020). | p. 8 |
| Self-noise | 12 dB(A)IEC/DIN 651. "Equivalent SPL IEC/DIN 651 ... 12 dB-A". | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 24 dBCCIR 468-3 | |
| Max SPL | 114 dB SPLTHD < 0.5% (tube characteristic); also 134 dB SPL, THD < 5%. "Max. SPL (tube characteristic) for THD < 0.5 % 114 dB; for THD < 5 % 134 dB": "THD of microphone amplifier at an input voltage equivalent to the capsule output at the specified SPL". Product page: "distortion rises very slowly to 5% THD for 134 dB SPL. This behavior is intentional". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 82 dBDIN/IEC 651 (A-weighted), re 94 dB SPL; also 70 dB, CCIR 468-3. The product page gives "re. 94 dB SPL". | |
| Dynamic range | 102 dBamplifier, DIN/IEC 651, THD < 0.5%; also 122 dB, THD < 5% | |
| Output impedance | 50 ohmrated | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmrated load | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | N 149 A mains power supply (included); also N 149 or N 149 V"The M 147 Tube must only be operated with the Neumann power supplies N 149, N 149 A or N 149 V." The supply's XLR output tolerates 48 V phantom (load about 1 mA). | p. 5 |
| Connector | Binder 8-pin (DIN 45326) on the mic; XLR-3 output on the power supply"Required connectors: Microphone Binder 8-pin (DIN 45326); Power supply unit XLR 3F". | p. 8 |
| Weight | 460 g | |
| Dimensions | 57 × 142 mm"Ø 57 mm x 142 mm": diameter x length. | |
| Supplied accessories | N 149 A power supply; KT 8 eight-core cable (10 m); SG 2 swivel mount; dust cover; aluminium case"The M 147 Tube comes complete with KT 8 eight-core microphone cable, N 149 A power supply unit, SG 2 swivel mount and an aluminium case"; a cloth dust cover is included. | p. 5 |
| Tube | Specially selected (subminiature) triode as the input stage; about 10 dB gain | p. 4 |
| Output stage | Transformerless; peak output ±10 V at 20 mA | |
| Max. output voltage | 8 dBu | p. 8 |
| Cable length | Audio cable up to about 300 m; the 8-core cable between mic and supply up to about 100 m | p. 7 |
| Warm-up | The tube reaches its stable operating condition within a few minutes at the latest | p. 5 |
| Headgrille | A slightly smaller version of the U 47 headgrille; capsule and circuit decoupled from the housing | p. 3 |
| Self-noisemaker | 3 to 5 dB lower than comparable tube microphones | |
| Versions | EU (cat. no. 008435), US (008434), UK (008436); matte nickel; the versions differ only in the supply's mains cable | p. 6 |
| Selected accessories | EA 1 elastic suspension, WS 87 windscreen, PS 15 / PS 20 a popscreens, MNV 87 auditorium hanger, DS 120 double mount, IC 3 mt cable | p. 11 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 1999 | |
Documents
- M 147 Tube Bedienungsanleitung / Operating Instructions, Publ. 05/12074932/A05
- M 147 Tubeneumann.com
- Neumann M 147 Tube | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Neumann, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.
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