KM 88
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Common name: Neumann KM 88
Production Status: Discontinued / Vintage
KM is the acronym of “kleinmikrophon” meaning “little microphone”. In 1953 Georg Neumann GmbH introduced the “KM” family by releasing the KM 53, a miniaturized professional pressure (omnidirectional) condenser microphone. The KM 88, belongs to the “fet 80” series and can be considered the phantom powered FET version of the KM 56. It has the same shape, the same dual nickel diaphragm KK 56 / KK 88 capsule and uses a DC/DC converter inside the amplifier circuit to provide the bidirectional pattern. This is today unobtainable so in case of failure the microphone only works in omnidirectional and cardioid pattern. It was manufactured from 1968 to 1986 with a standard 3-pin Tuchel connector or XLR-3 (“i” version) in both nickel finish or dark matt. Today is a quite rare microphone with a particular sound which is very close to the KM 56. The microphone incorporates a built-in switchable -10 dB capacitive pre-attenuator.