Topic: Neumann kmi 84 vs km84i

[dmonterisi]

i don't believe that the "i" means interchangeable as my u89i's did not have interchangeable capsules -- the polar pattern was selectable.  now, i guess it's possible that the i on this particular model means interchangeable, but i would think a manufacturer would be consistent in its product designations.  and if you go through many of the microphone descriptions on the neumannusa.com site, the mic is listed as an "i" microphone than described in the narrative without reference to the "i".

my guess would be that it has something to do with which market it is destined for. 

[John R]

edit:  i need to rescind my statement regarding interchangeable

how does that blurb mean that the capsules are interchangeable by the "i" designation and how do you account for the U89i??

in the same document i pulled that from there are other 'i' designations where the caps are fixed.  i will attempt to find out the answer from neumann and report back.

jr

[dmonterisi]

how does that blurb mean that the capsules are interchangeable by the "i" designation and how do you account for the U89i??

[Simp-Dawg]

i = incomprehensible thread

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

John I read that but again I do not think I'm not convinced that they mean interchangable in the same way that the KM100 system is an interchangable capsule system.   I think that blurb is just saying that the capsule from one mic will work with the body of another mic in the series.  If you can find in the literature where they offered for sale the capsules as a discrete part number, then I'd believe that interchangable in this context is the same as that for the KM100+AKxx series.

BTW, what do you think about the difference between the KM84i and KM184? 

[BC]

BTW, what do you think about the difference between the KM84i and KM184? 

KM84i looks like it has a flatter response:

184 has a broad peak beginning at 6KHz, and peaking ~+3dB @ 9KHz. I would think the 184 would sound brighter/airier in the high end.


http://www.vintageloop.com/KM83,84,85%20respcurve.jpeg

http://www.vintageloop.com/neumannKM184response.jpeg

[F.O.Bean]

i bet the i stands for 'international' meaning it was meant for the US market

[dmonterisi]

i bet the i stands for 'international' meaning it was meant for the US market

this is my guess as well...i bet there are different warranty implications and minimum advertised pricing implications for "i" microphones. 

[John R]

i changed my post above.  i'll attempt to find out from neumann.

[twoodruff]

exert taken from neumann forum:

Since there were three types of capsule (KK 83 omni, KK 84 standard cardioid and KK 85 speech cardioid), all of which could be used interchangeably on the same amplifier type, in practice it became fairly common for amplifiers to have capsules on them which were different from the model which would be implied by the amplifier's own markings. For example a microphone whose amplifier (body) was marked "KM 83" could very well have a cardioid capsule put on it, such that it would really be a KM 84 until/unless someone were to put a KK 83 capsule back onto it.

For this reason, in the later years of production, Neumann stopped inscribing "KM 84" etc. on the bodies, and instead wrote just "KM" or "KMi". You always have to look at the capsule in order to know exactly which microphone you have."

[muj]

i= import

[ghellquist]

i = international, ie they have an XLR connector. (please go to www.neumann.com, select forum and check the official answer there)

KM84i - a classic mic loved by people who are old enough to remember them from their youth

KM184 - a totall different mic. The same people that love the KM84 (with or without the i) seems to hate this mic.

They share the same capsule but has completely different electronics.

Me? My box has a pair of KM184. Not bad if you ask me, but not the best for every source.

Gunnar

[dmonterisi]

i couldn't find the answer in the forum on the neumann page, could you cut and paste the text you refer to?  so international models have xlr connectors, what are on the german/EU models?

[johnw]

Look at the picture at the top of page 2. The very last paragraph details the differences between the 84 and the 84i with the former having a DIN 41524 connecter instead of xlr.

[John R]

as referenced in the above post, a response from neumann.


Dear Mr. Rosenberg,

the meaning of the "i" is very simple: "i" = "international" =
"XLR-connector".

That was at a time when in Germany and large parts of Europe the DIN or
Tuchel connectors were more in use. With mics developed after 1985 approx.
, the "i" designation was dropped.

If you'd like to copy this message to the "taperssection" discussion for
clarification, feel free to do so.

Best regards,
Martin Schneider
Neumann Mic. Development