The Neumann M 150 Tube is a modern version of the legendary Neumann M 50, updated with 21st-century technology and improved performance. It offers the same phenomenal transient response and unique directional characteristic as its ancestor. The microphone is primarily designed to bring unprecedented detail and realism to orchestral recordings, including extended surround setups.
The construction features a 12 mm small diaphragm capsule flush-mounted in a 40 mm sphere. The capsule is a pressure transducer, but the sphere modifies its omnidirectional pattern to become gradually more directional at higher frequencies. The ultra-thin diaphragm is made of titanium, a light yet rigid metal, and is spaced only 10 microns from the backplate, which is also made of titanium. This design results in a sound transducer with unparalleled transient response. The delicate capsule is protected by an acoustically open headgrille shaped like that of the M 50.
The capsule signal is amplified by a tube circuit using a subminiature triode, specially selected for optimal transmission characteristics and lowest self-noise of 15 dB-A. Unlike its 1950s predecessor, the Neumann M 150 Tube does not use an output transformer. Instead, it relies on an ultra-transparent transformerless output stage, ensuring a clear low end even at highest levels and a wide dynamic range of 119 dB. This output stage allows for long cable runs of up to 300 m without transmission losses.
The Neumann M 150 Tube includes an –10 dB switch to attenuate the signal at the output for use with low headroom preamps. A second switch activates a 40 Hz rumble filter; in the LIN position, the low cut filter is shifted to 16 Hz to protect the console input from sub-audio noise, as the capsule’s low frequency response is virtually unlimited. The Neumann M 150 Tube is supplied with the N 149 A power supply, EA 170 shock mount, KT 8 connecting cable, and an aluminium case.
Features
- Titanium capsule with unique directional characteristic
- Transformerless tube circuit with subminiature triode
- Omnidirectional pattern that becomes directional at higher frequencies
- Extended frequency response and unparalleled transient accuracy
- Very low self-noise of 15 dB-A
- Dynamic range of 119 dB for THD < 5%
- Maximum cable run of up to 300 m without transmission losses
- –10 dB attenuation switch for low headroom preamps
- 40 Hz rumble filter switch with LIN position at 16 Hz
- Suitable for DECCA Tree stereo and surround recordings