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Neumann History
1716
Back to the Tubes
The assertion above that the U 67 was Neumann’s
last tube microphone is not entirely correct.
Down to the present day, the development of
semiconductor circuitry has resulted in tremen-
dous improvements in specifications. There has
also been amazing improvement in the relia-
bility of all components. Quality and utmost
technical complexity have become common-
place. Equipment available only to profession-
als a few years ago is now available for rela-
tively little money.
Nevertheless, one “old-fashioned” component
has, despite a brief slumber, never disappeared,
especially in the studio sector: tubes. First they
became popular in power amplifiers, where they
could bring their pleasant sounding qualities to
bear, then the clamour for a microphone reviv-
al became increasingly loud.
In 1995, Neumann responded with its
M 149 Tube. The “49” in the name is no acci-
dent, since this large dia-
phragm microphone with nine
switchable directional charac-
teristics falls back on distin-
guished ancestors through its
use of the K 47/49 capsule and
its design. The circuitry is mod-
ern, however, despite the tube
impedance converter which de-
termines the sound. The output
stage contains a transformer-
less, solid-state amplifier that
can handle high modulation
levels for driving even long mi-
crophone cables. This was al-
ways a problem with this micro-
phone’s ancestors, since cable
material and length were always unforeseeable
factors affecting the resulting sound.
Highlights of the
End of the Millenium
At the end of 1998, exactly one century after
the birth of Georg Neumann, the M 149 Tube
inspired the new M 147 Tube. Limited to the
most popular directional characteristic, the car-
dioid characteristic, the M 147 Tube features
the same capsule and circuit technology as the
award-winning M 149 Tube.
Another highlight in the history of the compa-
ny occurred shortly before the end of the mille-
nium: In February, 1999, Neumann was award-
ed the Technical Grammy in Los Angeles for its
contributions of outstanding technical signifi-
cance to the recording field and the audio world.
In addition a large number of Neumann products
received the coveted TEC Award from the Amer-
ican MIX magazine: the TLM 50, the M 149 Tube,
the TLM 103, the M 147 Tube, the KMS 105, the
M 150 Tube and finally the TLM 127, which ap-
peared in the year 2003.
Neumann on Stage
Although a few artists had al-
ready favored the use of Neu-
mann microphones such as the
KMS 85 and KMS 140 on the
stage, it was only with the de-
velopment of the KMS 105 in
1999 that Neumann first ex-
panded into the vast field of
live stage applications on a
larger scale. Not long after-
ward, this microphone became
established as an internation-
ally recognized standard in the
area of live vocal microphones.
The demand for a wireless ver-
sion became ever more press-
ing. The natural use of the syn-
ergy effects of the parent com-
pany Sennheiser, which for
years has been known as the
best source of wireless technol-
ogy, permitted the develop-
ment of versions of the capsule
head which can be used with
the Sennheiser SKM 5000 wire-
less system. Neumann micro-
phones can now be seen regu-
larly on television at large con-
certs and television shows.