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Product Information
KU 100
Dummy Head
www.neumann.com
Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin • Ollenhauerstr. 98 • 13403 Berlin • Germany • Tel.: +49 (30) 417724-0 • Fax: +49 (30) 417724-50
E-Mail: headoffice@neumann.com, engineering@neumann.com, catalog-info@neumann.com • Web: www.neumann.com
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he KU 100 dummy head is a binaural
stereo microphone. It resembles the human
head and has two microphone capsules built
into the ears. When listening through
high-quality headphones it gives the il-
lusion of being right at the scene of
the acoustic events.
When using the KU 100 dummy
head, the binaural stereo experi-
ence moves the listener into the
scene of the original performance, in contrast to other
space-related recording techniques, where the acoustic
event is moved to the listener.
The dummy head is also used in
many industrial applications as a
measuring device, for example in
acoustic research.
The KU 100 can be operated with
typical 48 V phantom powering, or
from an external power supply
unit, or from the built-in battery.
At the bottom of the unit is a
switch for the different power
supply modes, as well as connec-
tors for balanced and unbalanced
output signals.
Inside the head are additional switch-
es for 10 dB attenuation and the high-
pass filter.
Features
• Dummy head for head-related
stereophony
• Pressure transducer with flat
diffuse-field frequency response
• Loudspeaker compatible
• Transformerless circuitry
• Two-stage switchable low
frequency roll-off
• Switchable 10 dB
preattenuation
• Balanced and unbalanced
outputs (XLR and BNC)
The Idea
The KU 100 dummy head is a replica of
the human head with a microphone built into
each ear.
When the recorded audio signal is reproduced through
high-quality headphones the
listener perceives a sound image almost identical to the one
he would have heard at the recording location of the dummy
head (head-related stereophony).
When played back through
loudspeakers, the sound matches to a high degree that of conventional stereo microphones,
placed in the same position.
However, a superior quality is added, that of a
distinct spatial depth perception.
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KU 100
The KU 100 dummy head is just as easy to
use during creative radio drama productions,
and music recordings where
the room acoustics should be
recorded at the same time.
The dummy head is also contributed essentially as an important tool to preserve natural
sounds of all kinds.
In addition, the dummy head
is frequently used to examine
and document the influence of
noise in industrial applications
at various working places under
realistic conditions.
Electrical features
The KU 100 uses transformerless circuitry
with the advantage of high output capability,
fast transient response, and extremely low self
noise. The usual output transformers are replaced by electronic circuits. As with traditional
transformers, this technique ensures good
common mode rejection, and prevents RF interference, that may influence the balanced audio signals.
The dummy head provides balanced (XLR)
and unbalanced (BNC) outputs. It can be powered in
three different modes:
from an external P48 phantom
power supply,
with batteries as part of the internal battery supply,
or from an external AC mains supply (included with the system).
Filter and attenuation
A 10 dB switch inside the
head attenuates the sensitivity. A second switch selects
the cutoff frequency of the
high-pass filter to be either
linear, 40 Hz, or 150 Hz.
Delivery range
The KU 100 comes in a robust aluminum carrying case, together with an external power supply unit, a 5-pin XLR cable, and an adapter cable that splits the 5-pin XLR output into two
3-pin XLR connectors.
Technical Data
Acoustical operating principle ................................................ Pressure transducer
Directional pattern .............................................................................................................. Ear
Frequency range ..................................................................................... 20 Hz...20 kHz
Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm ............................................................... 20 mV/Pa
Rated impedance .............................................................................. 50 ohms balanced
Rated load impedance ................................................................................. 1000 ohms
Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR1) (rel. 94 dB SPL) .............................................. 65 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted1) (rel. 94 dB SPL) ............................... 78 dB
Equivalent noise level, CCIR1)................................................................................. 29 dB
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted1)............................................................ 16 dB-A
1)
according to IEC 60268-1; CCIR-weighting acccording to CCIR 468-3, quasi peak; A-weighting according to IEC 61672-1, RMS 2) measured as equivalent el. input signal 3) P48, IEC 61938
200 ohms unbalanced
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%2)..................................................................... 135 dB
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation2)...................... 145 dB
Maximum output voltage ............................................................................... 1950 mV
Dynamic range of the microphone amplifier (A-weighted) ......... 119 dB
Supply voltage ....................................... 200...240 V / 48 V ± 4 V / 6 x 1.5 V
Current consumption ......................................................................................... 2 x 2 m A
Matching connector .............................................................................. XLR3F / XLR5F
Weight ............................................................................................................................ 3 500g
Height........................................................................................................................... 280 m m
Width ............................................................................................................................. 1 80mm
Depth ............................................................................................................................ 22 0 mm
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Application Hints
• Radio drama productions
• Live concert recordings in complex acoustic
environments
• Documentation of
- nature’s sound,
- theater,
- round table discussions
• Documentation and measurement of
- room acoustics,
- PA systems,
- stereo sound inside an automobile,
- musical instruments
• Analysis of
- noise,
- speech intelligibility,
- headphone performance
Delivery Range
Dummy head KU 100
Microphone cable IC 5
Adapter cable AC 20
Plug-in mains unit
Aluminium case
Catalog No.
KU 100 (230 V) ....................................... blk ....... 007130
KU 100 (117 V) ....................................... blk ....... 007132
Selection of Accessories
Windscreen, WSB.................................... blk ....... 007372
A complete survey and detailed descriptions
of all accessories are contained in the
accessories catalog.
These are just some of the most common applications. We recommend additional experimentation
to gain maximum use from this microphone.
Meaning of color codes:
blk = black
ni = nickel
measured in free-field conditions (IEC 60268-4), tolerance ±2 dB
Errors excepted, subject to changes • Printed in Germany • Publ. 01/08 058161/A04
Neumann is a registered trademark of the Georg Neumann GmbH in certain countries.
®
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