Topic: KM14x vs. KM18x

[BWolf]

So how different are the caps?  Can the caps for the 140 series be used with the 180 and vice versa?  Is there a way to mod them so that the caps can be used?  What about a mod just to the active cable so that the 180 cap could be used?  Just wondering....

[Ed.]

the caps on the km18x's can't be switched.  I didn't even think they were removeable, but someone told me they removed it to clean it once.  I never tried to remove mine though.  But they are fixed caps.  the km100 series has the switchable caps.

i dunno about modding them though.

[BWolf]

aahh.  i was always under the impression that the 180 series had removable caps. 

i see said the blind man....

[audBall]

aahh.  i was always under the impression that the 180 series had removable caps. 

i see said the blind man....

are you thinking of the older km8x?

[BWolf]

maybe.  i just thought that the 18x you could take the caps off and interchange them.  i didn't know they were fixed. 

so the old km8x you could interchange caps?  did those use the same caps as the 140 series?

[audBall]

so the old km8x you could interchange caps?  did those use the same caps as the 140 series?

I'm pretty sure the km8x's had interchangeable caps like the km14x's, but that's all I know.  Someone else will need to chime in about the cap's similarities/differences.

[grider]

exactly same cap per Neumann, there was a thread a while back which included an email response from someone at Neumann wondering why this topic continues to be debated and putting the issue to rest once and for all

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

aahh.  i was always under the impression that the 180 series had removable caps. 

i see said the blind man....

The 180 series caps are removable.  They just aren't intended to be field swappable like the AKs.  They have an entirely different mating connector than the AK series caps.  Its been about 5 years since I had 184s, but if I recall correctly the connection between the 184 capsule and body was just a signal pin and ground via the threads.  The AKxx caps have a three conductor mating which I assume provides for a balanced connection through the actives.  The active cable lemo connectors have three pins.  There is no way to modify the AK caps and 180 series caps to mate with the other bodies.

I can believe that the internals diaphram of the two series caps are the same.  I think there is a difference in the electronics in the caps and in the mic body.  The capsules have a different number of conductors and the exploded drawings of the two seem to show a different board layout in each body.  To me the two mics sounds really close but the KM100s are a little more silky than the 184s.

[TNJazz]

And just to be perfectly clear, the KM84 series caps are not usable with either the KM140 or the KM184 series.

I read a post on a pro audio board a couple of years ago from a guy who removed his KM184 capsule and then couldn't get it back together.  I believe Neumann recommends NOT disassembling the cap and body.  To do so undoubtedly would void any warranty you might have.

Dirk

[tscales]

Whats the price comparison between the km140s/km150s versus the km184/km185?  Seems like the sound difference between them is pretty slight, and I do like the swappable-ness of the km40/km50.

What would you buy if you were getting into Neumanns?

+T  (great thread)

[jeromejello]

What would you buy if you were getting into Neumanns?

skm-100-ms stereo set + an extra ak40

[kennedy]

What would you buy if you were getting into Neumanns?

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=63417.0


 

[tscales]

Riiight - I've been watching that - why are km184s goin for 800 and km100s plus ak40s goin for 1350?

Just curious what you think the large differnce in "value" is?  Interchangable caps or just sound?

[Brian Skalinder]

Riiight - I've been watching that - why are km184s goin for 800 and km100s plus ak40s goin for 1350?

Just curious what you think the large differnce in "value" is?  Interchangable caps or just sound?

At least on the thread referenced, the $1350 gets you the option for interchangeable caps and, more importantly to many, the LC3 active cables.

[tscales]

ahhh - good point.  I don't need those so lets subtract - uhh 350 for the actives? 

bottom line - how do the two mics setups compare dollar-wise and sound wise (km184s or km100 plus ak40s) - they'll be headed in a Uua-5 wmod+

I know this has been discussed and debated, but I'm battling the decision in my head (new job and I deserve a treat!!)