Neumann.Berlin M 149 Tube User Manual

Product Information

M 149 Tube

Tube Microphone

www.neumann.com

Georg Neumann GmbH • Ollenhauerstr. 98 • 13403 Berlin • Germany • Tel.: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail] • Web: www.neumann.com

he M 149 Tube is a variable dual-dia­phragm microphone. The K 49 capsule – well­known from the legendary U 47 and M 49
microphones – is followed by a tube func-tion­ing as an impedance converter. In contrast to
earlier concepts – utilizing a transformer – the
tube is complemented with a transformerless
output circuit
design.

The M 149 Tube can thus feed long micro­phone cables without any coloration.

Two slide switches are located below the
large, acoustically very open headgrille.

The switch at the front allows selection one
of nine directional patterns. The slide switch
at the rear operates a seven-step high pass
filter. It allows a very fine adjustment of the

cut-off frequency.

Applications

There are nine polar

patterns to choose

from, making this mi-

crophone an ideal

choice for a wide range

of recording situations.

As its ancestors, the

M 149 Tube is a superb

vocalist microphone, not

only because of the cap-

sule, but also due to its

modern circuitry, character-

ized by extremely low noise

level.

Acoustic features

the polar patterns.

The capsule is mount-

ed elastically inside the

headgrille to eliminate

structure borne noise. The

surface below the capsule is

shaped like a cone to disperse
any reflected sound from the
acoustic upper half space.
This avoids any interference
with the primary sound arriv­ing at the capsule directly.

A large headgrille surrounds
the capsule. It is acoustically
very open and therefore in­creases the sonic realism.

The design of the microphone
is a registered design of
the Georg Neumann GmbH
in certain countries.

The M 149 Tube is addressed
from the front, marked with the
Neumann logo. Also on the front

is the switch for the selection of

Polar patterns

The polar pattern switch selects one of nine
directional patterns: omnidirectional, wide-an­gle-cardioid, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-8,
and one additional intermediate pattern be­tween each major position.

Electrical features

The circuit of the M 149 Tube microphone
has been developed to exceed traditional de­signs. We have selected a modern tube (tri­ode) and combined its exceptional transmission
characteristics with the advantages of our prov­en transformerless output circuit. The aim was
to provide a more controlled environment for
the audio signal on its path from the capsule
to the output section.

M 149 Tube

The final stage is an integrated amplifier, espe­cially designed for such applications. It features
very low distortion (THD < 0.002 % at ± 10 V),
very low self-noise, and high output current
capability. As a result, the tube circuit is com­pletely decoupled from the microphone out­put and its characteristic response curve will
be unaffected by very high signal levels or vary­ing load conditions.

The lower output impedance and higher out­put current capability allow cable lengths up
to 300 m (1000 feet) without any degradation
of the audio signal.

The tube amplifier changes the high impedance
of the capsule and adds 10 dB of gain to the
audio signal, providing optimum operating spec-

Technical Data

Acoustical operating principle .......................... Pressure gradient transducer

Directional pattern .................................. Omnidirectional, wide angle cardioid,

cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-8

plus one intermediate position each

Frequency range .................................................................................... 20 Hz...20 kHz

Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm .......................................... 34/47/62 mV/Pa

Rated impedance ................................................................................................... 50 ohms

Rated load impedance ................................................................................. 1000 ohms

Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR2) (rel. 94 dB SPL) .......................... 66/69/71 dB

Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted2) (rel. 94 dB SPL) ............ 78/81/83 dB

Equivalent noise level, CCIR2)............................................................. 28/25/23 dB

Equivalent noise level, A-weighted2)......................................... 16/13/11 dB-A

Typical SPL (tube characteristic)3):

for < 0,5% THD ...................................................................................................... 12 0 d B

for < 5% THD ............................................................................................................. 1 36 dB

Maximum output voltage ..................................................................................... 1 8 d Bu

Dynamic range of the microphone amplifier cardioid:

1)

(A-weighted) for < 0,5% THD (for < 5% THD) ................... 101 (121) dB

Powering....................................................................................... Power supply N 149 A

Microphone matching connectors ..................................................................... DIN8F

1)

Power supply matching connectors .................................................................. XLR3F

1)

Weight.................................................................................................................................. 730 g

1)

Diameter ........................................................................................................................... 70 mm

1)

Length............................................................................................................................. 2 0 1mm

1)

Omnidirectional / cardioid / figure-8 2) according to IEC 60268-1; CCIR-weighting acccording to CCIR 468-3, quasi peak; A-weighting according to IEC 61672-1, RMS 3) measured as equivalent el. input signal

ifications. The wide dynamic range is impres­sive, as peak output can be ±10 V, at 20 mA.

The ideal operating point of the tube is main­tained throughout its entire life expectancy.
Plate current and filament voltage are constantly
regulated. A sensor circuit monitors and com­pensates for any voltage drop across the micro­phone cable. The tube is heated up slowly
through inverse current limiting to guarantee
long life. Optimum operating conditions are
reached within a very short time.

Filter

A seven-position slide switch is located on the
back of the microphone. It selects a high-pass
filter, advancing in half-octave steps between
20 Hz and 160 Hz (–3dB).
This filter is useful to sup­press rumble from air-condi­tioning and in windy situations.

In addition, the filter provides
an effective tool to control the
audio signal when the microphone is used at
close distance and therefore proximity effect
alters the program material.

Delivery Range

M 149 Tube Microphone
N 149 A Power supply unit with power cable,
EA 170 Elastic suspension,
KT 8 Microphone cable,
Aluminium case,
Dust cover

Catalog No.

M 149 Tube (230 V, EU) ................... ni ......... 008390

M 149 Tube (117 V, US) ................... ni ......... 008399

M 149 Tube (230 V, UK) ................... ni ......... 008403

Selection of Accessories

Auditorium hanger, MNV 87 ...........ni .......... 006804

Auditorium hanger, MNV 87 mt ... blk ....... 006806

Table stand, MF 3 ...................................blk ....... 007321

Table stand, MF 4 ...................................blk ....... 007337

Stand extension, STV 4 ........................ blk ....... 006190

Stand extension, STV 20 ..................... blk ....... 006187

Stand extension, STV 40 ..................... blk ....... 006188

Stand extension, STV 60 ..................... blk ....... 006189

Popscreen, PS 15 ..................................... blk ....... 008472

Popscreen, PS 20 a ................................ blk ....... 008488

Microphone cable, IC 3 mt ................ blk ....... 006543

Adapter cable AC 25 ............................ blk ....... 006600

Delivery Range

The specifically designed
new N 149 A power supply
unit feeds the M 149 Tube
through an 8-core cable. The
output connector for the au­dio signal is a 3-pin XLR. The
output signal is balanced.

The microphone comes as a
set in a high-quality aluminum case, together
with the 8-core microphone connecting cable,
the N 149 A power supply with plug-in mains
unit, the EA 170 full elastic microphone sus­pension and a dust cover.

Features

• Switchable tube microphone

• Transformerless circuitry

• High output level

• Pressure gradient transducer
with the M 49 capsule

• Acoustically very open wire
mesh cage

• Nine directional charac­teristics: omni, wide angle
cardioid, cardioid, hyper­cardioid, figure-8, and one
intermediate position each

• 7fold switchable low
frequency roll-off

A complete survey and detailed descriptions of all
accessories are contained in the accessories
catalog.

Meaning of color codes:
blk = black
ni = nickel

Application Hints

• Universal tube mic

• Its warm and yet transparent sound gives
volume and presence to a vocalist

• A wide range of adjustments provide the most
subtle differentiation of sound, especially in the
range of proximity effect

• Mic for broadcasting, dubbing, and voice-over

• Spot mic for close miking of solo instruments,
especially strings, wind instruments, and piano

These are just some of the most common
applications. We recommend additional experi­mentation to gain maximum use from this
microphone.

measured in free-field conditions (IEC 60268-4), tolerance ±2 dB

M 149 Tube

Errors excepted, subject to changes • Printed in Germany • Publ. 01/08 058150/A05

Neumann is a registered trademark of the Georg Neumann GmbH in certain countries.

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