SM 69
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Common name: Neumann SM 69
Production Status: Discontinued / Vintage
The SM 69 is the second stereo microphone manufactured by Georg Neumann GmbH, the first one using large diaphragm capsules. Many intensity stereo recordings were made using two U 67 or M 269 installed one above the other, so Neumann decided to developed this microphone. Two K 67 capsules were installed inside a 48 mm diameter head grille, the upper one can be rotated by 270 degrees. The microphone body, derived from the SM 2 / SM 23, has a diameter of 30 mm. It was manufactured from 1964 until 1973. Like the SM 23 it has two tube amplifiers inside with fully separated powering. The polar pattern is continuously variable between omnidirectional through cardioid to bidirectional while maintaining an almost constant sensitivity. It is remotely adjustable from the PSU unit. The Telefunken AC 701 k tubes are “c” cathode coupled resulting in a lower self noise. The fully separated circuits can be powered by independent supplies. This allows both the SM 23 and the SM 69 to be used as redundant microphones in critical recording applications. Some PSU and some but not all accessories are in common with the SM 23. They were later on replaced with the “fet 80” phantom powered versions SM 69 fet and USM 69 fet.