AudioChainsDB

NeumannTLM 103

microphone

New retail price (MSRP)

$1,300

Used market: $1,015*

Check price at ThomannManufacturer datasheet

Specifications

5 of 8 values have a recorded source
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male·
Built-in converter
no·
Transducer
Condenser True✓
Sensitivity
-32.5✓
Output impedance
50✓
Phantom power required
yes✓
Connection
XLR-Only✓
Indexable Locales
·

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal profile

Pressure gradient transformerless cardioid, 7 dB(A) self-noise, 138 dB max SPL at 0.5 percent THD. The dynamic range, not the sensitivity, is what the price buys.

Gain staging

Neumann prints both units and they agree: 23 mV/Pa = -32.5 dBV +/- 1 dB, measured into 1 kohm. The +/- 1 dB tolerance is half of what RODE specifies for the NT1-A. Current draw is 3 mA at 48 V, so it is undemanding on phantom supplies.

Setups using this gear

Neumann TLM 103 through a Cloudlifter CL-2: why the condenser stays silent with +48 V switched onTriton FetHead Phantom with a Neumann TLM 103: the one inline booster a condenser survives

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~78% retained value).