M 149 Tube
4290 €Primary use:
Type:
Polar patterns:
Common name: Neumann M 149 Tube
Production Status: In production
The M 149 Tube is a large diaphragm microphone developed by Georg Neumann GmbH in 1995. The microphone is inspired by renowned historical microphones such as the M 49, combining vintage traits with modern technology. The head grille has the same shape as in the M 49 but features a wider mesh with the inside capsule assembly clearly visible from the outside. The capsule is the K 49 with MCF (Pe/G) diaphragms used in the M 49b, M 49c as well as in the latest U 47 and U 48 microphones. A sub-miniature vacuum tube (EC 1000) works as an impedance converter. In contrast to earlier concepts employing a transformer, the tube is complemented with a high-precision, ultra-low distortion transformer-less output stage. This solution achieves a better signal-to-noise ratio and allows very long cable runs up to 300 m without sound degradation. This output stage can drive any kind of microphone preamplifier without overloading.
The sensitivity is quite high: 47 mV/Pa (5,5 dB higher than U 47 and U 67 cardioid – 16,5 dB higher than M 49). Two slide switches are located below the head grille. The front switch selects one of nine directional patterns: omnidirectional, wide cardioid, cardioid, hypercardioid, bidirectional, plus four intermediate positions. The rear switch operates a seven-step high pass filter (20 to 160 Hz in half-octave steps). The M 149 Tube design won the prestigious TEC award in 1997.
The M 149 is a general-purpose high-quality studio microphone for all kinds of applications. A dedicated PSU (N 149 A) is specially engineered for the microphone with a proprietary circuit. The microphone can only be powered with a genuine Neumann PSU. Upon release, a special optional PSU version, named N 149 V was available, with the classic shape and look of vintage Neumann power supplies. This microphone had, and still has, a great sale success and is adopted by some of the most important recording studios and broadcasting networks. The M 149 Tube is available only in nickel finish.