Neumann TLM 103 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The nickel TLM 103 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone from Neumann is a cardioid microphone that features low self-noise and high sound pressure level transmission. The TLM 103 is designed for the most demanding audio recording tasks, offering superior sound quality and clarity. Its large-diaphragm capsule, derived from the renowned Neumann U 87, ensures a well-balanced cardioid pattern that provides excellent attenuation of undesired rear signals.

This microphone is ideal for a variety of settings, including home recording studios and professional environments, due to its remarkable feedback suppression and natural reproduction of off-axis sounds. The TLM 103 has a flat frequency response up to about 5 kHz and a wide flat 4 dB presence boost above that, ensuring accurate and detailed sound capture.

The TLM 103 features a large wire mesh head-grille to protect the capsule from plosive sounds and effectively prevents pop noises without the need for corrective resonance effects. This results in a clear and undistorted sound that captures the nuances of music and speech with precision.

Neumann’s TLM technology replaces the conventional output transformer with an electronic circuit, ensuring dependable common mode rejection and preventing RF interference. The microphone also boasts an extremely low self-noise level of just 7 dB-A, making it one of the quietest microphones available, capable of handling sound pressure levels up to 138 dB without distortion.

The microphone’s internal construction is elastically mounted to reduce structure-born noise, and the capsule is set on an elastic mount to effectively manage low-frequency sounds. This design allows the TLM 103 to reproduce very low bass signals without coloration, making it a versatile tool for any recording scenario.

Key Features