M 222

Common name: Schoeps M 222

Production Status: Discontinued / Vintage

The M 222 is a small diaphragm vacuum tube microphone amplifier for the Colette series capsules. It replaced the classic M 221 A and M 221 B. It was manufactured by Elvo Mikrofonbau owned by Bernhard Vollmer who was quality control manager at Schoeps. The M 222 uses an updated transformer-less circuit yielding improved performance over the previous model. Any capsules of the Colette Series be used (including the BLM 03 Cg) as well as all Active Accessories such as the CUT, KC, RC and GVC. The M 222 can be ordered with two different powering units. With the NT 222 DC, an AC adapter is supplied but portable operation from an external 12 Volt supply (like a car battery) is possible as well; the output is also switchable to line level. The NT 222 AC has identical dimensions, but its mains transformer is internal and the output is not switchable to line level. Thanks to its universal output circuitry it can be used with any microphone input, whether phantom powered or not and whether balanced or not. When connected to 48 V phantom power cable runs up to 200 m can be used. The power supply has a 5 steps “Harmonics” setting that varies tube bias for increased colour and a “Tube Direct” setting that bypasses semiconductors in the signal path. Includes flight case, 5 metre KS 5U microphone cable, NT 22 DC OR NT 222 AC power supply unit, B 5 pop screen, and SG 20 microphone clamp. The M 222 used like its predecessors a AC701 K vacuum tube until NOS supplies were available and later undisclosed NOS Telefunken Pentode or Triodes. Sample specification giver here are with MK2S capsule.