Neumann
Neumann M 149 Tube
Large-diaphragm tube condenser, nine patterns, K 47/49 capsule, transformerless output; seven-step low cut; external N 149 A supply
Power N 149 A mains power supply (included); also N 149 or N 149 V.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 5
- Sensitivity
- −26.6 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 13 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 67%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 68%
- Max SPL
- 120 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 3%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 3%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 45% 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 7% 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. 10.
Free field, IEC 60268-4; tolerance ±2 dB (as printed under the graphs). Distance 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. 11.
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. Low-cut setting not stated; filed under the 20 Hz setting.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Values per pattern are printed as omni/cardioid/figure-8; the cardioid value is the main one here. | ||
| Capsule | K 49 (K 47/49) dual-diaphragm large-diaphragm capsule ("M 7 capsule")German text: "Doppelmembran-Kapsel K 49, die in den legendären Mikrofonen U 47 und M 49 bekannt und berühmt geworden ist („M 7-Kapsel“)"; the product page calls it "the classic K 47/49 large diaphragm capsule". | p. 3 |
| Sensitivity | −26.6 dBV/Pa (47 mV/Pa)cardioid, 1 kHz into 1 kohm rated load; also −29.4 dBV/Pa, omni; also −24.2 dBV/Pa, figure-8. Not stated by the manufacturer: Printed as 34/47/62 mV/Pa; converted with 20·log10(mV/1000). | p. 9 |
| Self-noise | 13 dB(A)cardioid; IEC 60268-1, A-weighted RMS (IEC 61672-1); also 16 dB(A), omni; also 11 dB(A), figure-8. | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 25 dBcardioid; CCIR 468-3 quasi-peak; also 28 dB, omni; also 23 dB, figure-8 | |
| Max SPL | 120 dB SPLTHD < 0.5% (tube characteristic); also 136 dB SPL, THD < 5%. "Max. SPL (tube characteristic) for THD < 0.5 % 120 dB; for THD < 5 % 136 dB": "THD of microphone amplifier at an input voltage equivalent to the capsule output at the specified SPL". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 81 dBcardioid; re 94 dB SPL, A-weighted; also 78 dB, omni; also 83 dB, figure-8; also 69 dB, cardioid, CCIR; also 66 dB, omni, CCIR; also 71 dB, figure-8, CCIR | |
| Dynamic range | 101 dBamplifier, cardioid, A-weighted, THD < 0.5%; also 121 dB, THD < 5% | |
| Output impedance | 50 ohmnominal | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmnominal load | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"Frequency response 20 Hz...20 kHz". | |
| Powering | N 149 A mains power supply (included); also N 149 or N 149 V"Power supply N 149 (A/V)". The supply's XLR output tolerates 48 V phantom (load about 1 mA, p. 5). | |
| Low cut | 20 Hz, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz"a seven-step high-pass switch for altering the cut-off frequency (–3 dB) in half-octave steps between 20 Hz and 160 Hz", a slide switch on the back. Only 20, 40, 80 and 160 Hz are printed (the graph's boxes and the text); the three in-between steps are not named and have no curves, so they are not listed. There is no "off" position. | p. 3 |
| 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. 9 |
| Weight | 730 gapprox. | |
| Dimensions | 70 × 201 mm"Ø 70 mm x 201 mm": diameter x length. | |
| Supplied accessories | N 149 A power supply; KT 8 eight-core cable (10 m); EA 170 elastic suspension; dust cover; aluminium case"The M 149 Tube comes complete with KT 8 eight-core microphone cable, power supply unit and elastic suspension EA 170 in an aluminium case"; a cloth dust cover is included. | p. 5 |
| Intermediate patterns | One intermediate position between each pair of neighbouring main patterns (nine positions in all); no data or graphs for them | p. 2 |
| 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 | 18 dBu | p. 9 |
| Pattern switching | Noise is raised for up to 30 s after a pattern change while the capsule recharges to its new polarisation voltage | p. 6 |
| Cable length | Audio cable up to about 300 m; the 8-core cable between mic and supply up to about 100 m | p. 7 |
| Headgrille | The M 49 shape, but acoustically more open; a dome under the capsule scatters sound from above; capsule elastically mounted | p. 4 |
| Self-noisemaker | 3 to 5 dB lower than comparable tube microphones | p. 3 |
| Address | From the side with the Neumann logo | p. 2 |
| Versions | EU (cat. no. 08390), US (08399), UK (08403); matt nickel | p. 6 |
| From the product page | ||
| Award | TEC Award, 1997 | |
Documents
- M 149 Tube Bedienungsanleitung / Operating Instructions, Publ. 07/15071304/A06
- M 149 Tubeneumann.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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