Topic: Neumann km184 > MP-2 vs. AKG 393 > MP-2

[aberg]

AHaha, at least 1 week or 2.... I guess I"ve gotten that slutty relationship haha.

Yeah, I'd heard the same thing Dan about 184's being the same as 140's just fixed cap. Either way, I definitely don't have the cash for a complete 140 active set, nor do I need or want actives, so i think the 184's will keep me going for a while, provided they win the comparison to the opinion of my ears.

[Kyle]

I used to run the 184s, and, imo, if you can swing the extra cash, get the 140s. Changable capsules notwithstanding, I think that the 140s are a step up from the 184s - I think the 140s have smoother mids/highs and a tighter, more detailed bottom end. When I sold my 184s I was happy to see them go, but the 140s have me stoked on Neumanns again.

One step at a time!  Let aberg run the 184's for at least a week or two...

  Richard

 

gettin a little excited - brakes on...

[Kyle]

I was always under the impression that the 184 and the 140 were pretty much identical, except the 140's had interchangable caps, and could be run actively.  Learn something new everyday...

I used to run the 184s, and, imo, if you can swing the extra cash, get the 140s. Changable capsules notwithstanding, I think that the 140s are a step up from the 184s - I think the 140s have smoother mids/highs and a tighter, more detailed bottom end. When I sold my 184s I was happy to see them go, but the 140s have me stoked on Neumanns again.

I totally agree with cmc64's assessment of the 184 vs. the 140.  The 140s sound more like "real" Neumann's, i.e Gefell's.  I am not saying the 184s are bad, just not on par with the KM series; they are definitely not the same mics.

If I owned a pair of 184's I would not run a "warm" pre in front of them, opting for a V3, Oade T+ or Busman2p+ mod UA5. 

Their weakness is their slightly sloppy low end, and this is accented even more with a warm pre, and cleaned up with a transparent one.

If I ever sold my MG's to get another pair of SD actives, it would be the Neumann KM series.
 
The only weakness with the KM line is the hyper capsule which is lacking in quality compared to the M21 capsule.

that's it exactly

I ran my 184s with a V2>SBM1 combo - the SBM1 is 'warm' as it is and it might have been a little too much - I found myself using the HPF2 on the V2 freqently

I thought that they did very well in clubs/smaller rooms - those are my best recordings with them
I think I would have liked them more with a different adc

[aberg]

Hah, you guys are making me regret this within hours of my purchase. 

All told, this is about personal preference and experimentation. Only time and testing will tell what I like best. If this "warmth" issue becomes something of a concern, I might look into a V2 for now, since to get a V3 would be expensive and would require changing my recorder too.

[Kyle]

Hah, you guys are making me regret this within hours of my purchase. 

All told, this is about personal preference and experimentation. Only time and testing will tell what I like best. If this "warmth" issue becomes something of a concern, I might look into a V2 for now, since to get a V3 would be expensive and would require changing my recorder too.

Do not regret your purchase - you are going to make some incredible recordings
keep sluttin' it up

[aberg]

If a v2 pops up in the yard sale sometime in the new year, you'll probably see me running that rig.. haha.

the v2>sbm-1 setup kind of baffles me... if people suggest running a transparent pre behind the 184's, then why add warmth after the fact with an sbm-1?

[poorlyconditioned]

If a v2 pops up in the yard sale sometime in the new year, you'll probably see me running that rig.. haha.

the v2>sbm-1 setup kind of baffles me... if people suggest running a transparent pre behind the 184's, then why add warmth after the fact with an sbm-1?

I expect an improvement moving from AKG 300's > Neumans, and also moving from MP2 > V2.  The question is how much each will contribute, and we'll be waiting for your answer...

  Richard

[Ed.]

if you got the 184's in the yard sale, you got them for nice price and will easily be able to sell them if they're not what you want.  they're a very popular mic.

as for 184's vs. 140's - i think the 184's are the closest you can get to the sound of the 140's but they're still not the 140's.  at least in my opinion, but its all in the ears, an everyones are different.  either way, they're still solid great sounding mics and i think you'll like them.

[Mojowill]

a lot of good advice all around here.  I would look at the switchable cap options the 390s give you over the 184's.  The 184s are fantastic mics and work really well with the MP2 Distant Jay runs that combo and he makes wonderful tapes.  but I am an AKG fan  sell em all and get the 480's with cards hypers and omnis.  IMHO.

[aberg]

I just read a post by distant jay... it seems I might have to dial down the gain real low on the mp-2, and then crank the input on the R-1 a bit so keep everything from clipping. I think that would also reduce any low-end issues, since the R-1 is very clean.

[George]

If anyone wants to lend us another MP-2/mixpre/fp-24 and jb3 we can test more mics in this comparison

I have some phantomed AT933's we could test.

I have an MP-2 that probably wont see any use anytime soon.  Drop me a pm.