Topic: Neumann S KM184 vs Neumann KM184

[brewcrew87]

i am considering making an upgrade in my mics, am wondering what the general consensus is on the neumann km184 or sk,184, and what the difference is between the two

thanks in advance

[audBall]

The SKM-184 is simply a stereo set of matched KM-184's. 

[acidjack]

I'd listen to other mics in that price range like milab vm44, MBHO, akg480, etc. Some love Neumann 184s, some don't, as with every mic.  Many claim the 184 and 140 don't sound the same even though Neumann says they are. Neumanns to me offer a very crisp high end that you are likely to either like or not (just like Schoeps are somewhat dark and have a fatter bass sound).

[yltfan]

Not a fan.
I think they aren't that good for what we do, better for close-mic'ing something like an acoustic guitar

[hi and lo]

Having run SKM140s for a number of years, I am definitely a fan. They're a top notch microphone with a rich and warm 'velvety' sound, but can be had at a much more reasonable price point than Schoeps or DPAs. I've paired them with a PS-2 and line transformers, a Sonosax, and a Minime and would wholeheartedly disagree that they're 'not good for what we do.' Send me a pm and I'd be happy to point you towards some of my favorite recordings.

[page]

I'd listen to other mics in that price range like milab vm44, MBHO, akg480, etc. Some love Neumann 184s, some don't, as with every mic.  Many claim the 184 and 140 don't sound the same even though Neumann says they are. Neumanns to me offer a very crisp high end that you are likely to either like or not (just like Schoeps are somewhat dark and have a fatter bass sound).

I've found playback matters. Of 4 sets of headphones I've tried, my current pair mesh well with them while the other three were varying degrees of bad.

Having run SKM140s for a number of years, I am definitely a fan. They're a top notch microphone with a rich and warm 'velvety' sound, but can be had at a much more reasonable price point than Schoeps or DPAs. I've paired them with a PS-2 and line transformers, a Sonosax, and a Minime and would wholeheartedly disagree that they're 'not good for what we do.' Send me a pm and I'd be happy to point you towards some of my favorite recordings.

I don't think they are any worse for what we do then just about any other major condenser. Personal preference plays into whether you like the tonal balance and sonic texture that they impart.

As a side note, I'm curious what your thoughts are with the sax and minime. I've heard a set of 184s in front of a minime before but not a sax (at least not where I can remember or could comp it to a second pair of 184s running into something else).

(note; I'm of the camp the 140s & 184s sound the same).

[hi and lo]

I thought the Sax makes them a tad more transparent with a really tight low end. The MiniMe gives overall warmth, but a slightly looser and full low end. I preferred the later.

[page]

I thought the Sax makes them a tad more transparent with a really tight low end. The MiniMe gives overall warmth, but a slightly looser and full low end. I preferred the later.

Thanks. I'll concur with the minime description.

[acidjack]

You might also check out Sloan Simpson's site at www.southernshelter.com for a LOT of examples of 184's.  He runs them into a nice, transparent Lunatec V3, so I'd say his recordings are a fair representation of the sound of the "mic itself" rather than what coloration a pre might give them.  He also records in a lot of different settings (tiny clubs to big theaters, etc.), and a lot of different kinds of bands (jambands, metal-ish bands, indie bands, etc.), so you can compare how a lot of different bands and venues sound with those mics. 

(Also, his site is great anyway, whether you're interested in 184s or not)

[doodee]

You might also check out Sloan Simpson's site at www.southernshelter.com for a LOT of examples of 184's.   

Also, his site is great anyway, whether you're interested in 184s or not

Amen to that. Sloan has turned me on to a lot of great bands I wasn't familiar with. Quality site and quality content.

[Sloan Simpson]

You might also check out Sloan Simpson's site at www.southernshelter.com for a LOT of examples of 184's.  He runs them into a nice, transparent Lunatec V3, so I'd say his recordings are a fair representation of the sound of the "mic itself" rather than what coloration a pre might give them.  He also records in a lot of different settings (tiny clubs to big theaters, etc.), and a lot of different kinds of bands (jambands, metal-ish bands, indie bands, etc.), so you can compare how a lot of different bands and venues sound with those mics. 

(Also, his site is great anyway, whether you're interested in 184s or not)

(Actually it's the Lunatec V2 I use, old-school  )

Just a warning, my site may not be a good representation of the 184s, as I usually do a pretty significant reduction centered around 80hz or so with a multiband . . . I almost always find them to be "bloated" with the low end heavily overpowering everything else, so I adjust that to my taste.

[SmokinJoe]

Rob Clarke runs 184's and has probably a hundred of shows on the archive with them in lots of different situations.

One night (Rads I think) I borrowed KenH's 184's, so I ran 184's > V3 > mod R4.  Corey ran AKG483's > Mod 671.  I was stunned at how they both sounded extremely similar in that situation.  I made an alternating A-B file and it was hard to notice the transitions.  Both are what I would call "detailed" mics.  Crisp high end.

My friend Karl (WheresJerry) recently picked up some 184's.  There wasn't much to be had on the used market, except some beat up ones on ebay for almost the price of new.  He ended up buying new for $1500.  At the moment AKG's can be had used for less.  I have a set of AKG480's in the yard sale for $1100 including cards and hypers.  I'm not trying to convince you to buy my stuff, I'm just pointing out what I think the market is nowadays.

[brewcrew87]

ive been out of the game for a year or so, so i dont have any gear at the moment- what if i got busmans instead, as i have only taped in smaller theaters, never at a phish/gd type show...not sure if i can/am willign to sink $1500 into mics just yet

[achalsey]

Theres a great deal on a busman set in the yard sale right now.  Definitely a great mic at considerably less cost than a Neumann.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=145465.0

[acidjack]

^^ Yup, if you don't want to spend $1500, your next move could be any of the following:

AT 4051s (I think there is a nice set in the YS for cheap)
Pelusos (lately some sets have hit the YS for cheap)
AKG 460/480 (constantly in the YS for a good price, I don't know about "cheap")
AKG 391s (in the YS reasonably often)

Personally I'd buy any of the above used in the $500-800 range before I'd buy Busmans new, but again, I'd listen to samples on the LMA and make my own determination.  With the Busmans you do get every single pattern and a nice complete set.  Any of the above will give you great performance.