While many microphones today are designed to add their own sonic imprint, there are many applications that require faithful reproduction of the original acoustic event without adding or removing anything. That's where the Neumann Series 180 comes in.
- Cardioid pickup pattern with no off-axis coloration
- Very low self-noise
- High SPL capability
- Transformerless electronics
- Frequency range: 20 Hz ... 20 kHz
- Nominal impedance: 50 ohms
The Neumann Series 180 consists of three members with different recording patterns: KM 183 (omni), KM 184 (cardioid) and KM 185 (hypercardioid), covering most stage and studio applications. Because the Series 180 microphones are non-modular, they are more cost-effective than the modular Series KM A and KM D (which offer a wide range of interchangeable capsule heads for analog and digital output stages). Cardioid Despite its attractive price, the KM 184 offers state-of-the-art Neumann technology. The cardioid pattern is frequency-independent; suppression of backward noise (180°) is excellent, even at low frequencies. In practical use, there is no sound coloration over a wide recording angle, which is crucial in multiple-microphone setups and for accurate stereo/surround imaging.
The frequency response of the KM 184 is very smooth and linear with a slight treble boost around 9 kHz for added clarity. The innovative transformerless head amplifier offers a wide dynamic range of 125 dB and is carefully designed to maintain the sonic integrity of the capsule. The KM 184 has a very low eigen noise level of only 13 dB-A and can handle high sound pressure levels of up to 138 dB free of distortion. Due to its low impedance output stage, the KM 184 can drive long cable lengths up to 300 meters (1000 feet) without transmission losses.
Application: The KM 184 is a universal microphone for studio and stage applications. Its transparent sound makes the KM 184 an excellent microphone for acoustic instruments, such as piano, percussion, drums, acoustic guitar, double bass, violin, cello, woodwind and brass instruments. The KM 184 can be used for both soloists and ensembles. Thanks to its superior off-axis behavior, the KM 184 is an excellent microphone for stereo and surround recording with perfect imaging. Although not specifically optimized for the human voice, the KM 184 is often used for classical singing and when sonic authenticity is paramount. Because of its small size, the KM 184 is visually unobtrusive and well suited for TV and radio applications.
Specifications:
- Directional pattern: cardioid
- Frequency range: 20 Hz ... 20 kHz
- Sensitivity at 1 kHz in 1 k-ohm: 15 mV/Pa ± 1 dB
- Nominal impedance: 50 ohms
- Rated load impedance: 1 kohm
- Equivalent noise level, CCIR: 22 dB
- Equivalent noise level, A-weighted: 13 dB-A
- Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%²⁾: 138 dB
- Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR (re. 94 dB SPL)¹: 72 dB
- Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted (re. 94 dB SPL): 81 dB
- Maximum output voltage: 10 dBu
- Supply voltage (P48, IEC 61938) :48 V ± 4 V
- Current consumption (P48, IEC 61938): 3.2 mA
- Matching connector XLR 3 F
