Topic: Any Neumann experts out there?

[drewski1986]

I'm looking at buying some ak 50 caps.  I may have to get them one at a time.  I am looking at one and the seller says it is "the old style cap".  I did not know there was such a thing.  He sent me a picture of the cap next to what he calls "the newer style" cap.  One is slightly smaller than the other.  From the pictures the older one appears to be a couple mm shorter than the newer one.  Does anyone have any information supporting this.  Just want to make sure this is authentic Neumann gear.  Thanks.

[fleish]

Paging DSatz

I can't really help beyond that, but would you mind posting the pics here for the curious to see?

[johnw]

I'm sure Mr. Willet or Satz can comment on this further but Neumann changed the diameter of the km100 and capsules many years ago. The old style caps will work with the new style bodies and vice versa. The difference is maybe 1mm in diameter.

Edit: The older style was 20m, the newer style are 22m.

[acidjack]

^^ I would worry that the difference in diameter might affect the sound, no?  Certainly, they won't match.  Also, one will of necessity be older - maybe much older - than the other.

To me at least, it's a risky move, but I'm not a "Neumann expert" by any stretch of the imagination (or "mic expert", for that matter).

[johnw]

I have recorded with 140s that had a mismatch in size and there was no significant impact on the sound that I could tell, but this was using the extension cable.

[drewski1986]

Thanks for the responses.  Here is a link to the pictures   http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/550920/1/KM150%20Caps?h=7593f2
Any idea what year (or somewhere close)  Neumann changed the sizes on their caps?

[F.O.Bean]

Hmmm, thanks for the pics! Very Interesting!2mm is a HUGE DIFFERENCE in diameter of a mic cap tho. If they were 2mm longer it would be one thing, but if theyre 2mm diameter-wise, I dont see how they could be interchangeable

[johnw]

the inner diameter (threads) are the same. the capsule/body is just thicker.

[F.O.Bean]

the inner diameter (threads) are the same. the capsule/body is just thicker.

'

Ahh ok, thanks John

[John Willett]

Ahh - I see it's all been answered - geat!

[johnw]

Well there is still the question as to when the change was made and why. If I recall, the thicker diameter was simply a matter of making the mics less fragile.

[DSatz]

The increase in the thickness of the exterior shell, reinforcing the metal where the threads are on the capsules, was made nearly 20 years ago. If you've ever dropped a capsule, you'll understand why.

But as someone above has correctly pointed out, old capsules and new bodies, or new capsules and old bodies, are completely compatible. The threads were kept at the same diameter and pitch, and the contact arrangement stayed the same as well.

In general the acoustic designs and sonic characteristics of the capsules in this series haven't changed since they were introduced. Most of these capsules were released in 1988, while a few further models, such as the wide cardioid and the free-field omni, were added later. But once each type of capsule became available, its design wasn't changed thereafter.

Note that the simpler, passive capsules of the newer KM A / KM D series aren't interchangeable with the "active capsules" of the KM 100 series.

Of course any individual capsule's characteristics will drift somewhat over time. Even a factory-matched pair can't be considered matched any more some five or ten years later--and that can depend on the conditions of use as much as it does on age.

--best regards