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� FOH engineers will love. Plugging the Neumann<br />
into an Avalon valve preamp gave stunning<br />
clarity and warmth The slight rise in frequency<br />
response between 5-10KHz gives a shiny top end<br />
with very clear speech intelligibility.<br />
The transient response of this mic is obviously<br />
much faster than a dynamic, so it will not be the<br />
right microphone <strong>for</strong> all types of per<strong>for</strong>mance.<br />
Matched with a sensitive voice, however, the<br />
results should be stunning.<br />
Technical Stuff<br />
The maximum rated SPL this mic can handle<br />
(<strong>for</strong> a THD of 0.5%) is 150dB – which should be<br />
enough headroom to handle even the biggest<br />
of transient peaks on a real world stage. I tried<br />
shouting a lot, and subsequently my mic pre<br />
distorted a lot. I tried a very loud guitar amp<br />
and the mic just sat there demanding more<br />
level. If you do decide <strong>for</strong> some reason to use<br />
this mic with a heavy metal-screaming kind of<br />
band, you would get to hear all the screaming in<br />
stunning clarity with absolutely no overload at<br />
the microphone end of things.<br />
I found the output of the mic to be very high<br />
when compared to other models, which is not a<br />
bad thing. By requiring a lower gain setting on<br />
the console or mic pre, you will get a better signal<br />
to noise ratio from the system. The published<br />
specs <strong>for</strong> signal to noise ratio are, A-Weighted<br />
(rel. 94dB SPL) 76dB or CCIR(rel 94dB SPL) 66dB.<br />
Sensitivity is 4.5mV/Pa (at 1KHz into 1KΩ).<br />
The frequency response extends lower than<br />
that of the KMS104, and exhibits a bump centered<br />
around the 110Hz mark. On some deep male<br />
voices, a dip in the 125Hz area may be required<br />
to achieve a natural sound. For any per<strong>for</strong>mer<br />
with a thin or high voice, this mic could solve<br />
many problems at the source. You don’t have to<br />
boost the low end to get a rich response, as it<br />
already exists at the microphone using acoustic<br />
principles. The HF response of the microphone<br />
features a rising ramp from about 5KHz up to<br />
10KHz, where it starts to roll off gradually until it<br />
sloops down by 6dB at 20KHz.<br />
There is also an acoustic compensator in the<br />
<strong>for</strong>m of a plastic cup that fits over the face of<br />
the capsule. This seems to be a HF attenuator and<br />
could be useful <strong>for</strong> a very sibilant voice.<br />
If you want a wireless option <strong>for</strong> the KMS104<br />
plus, Sennheiser handheld transmitters are not<br />
going to work. Instead, you will need a ‘plug-on’<br />
unit (such as the excellent Sennheiser SKP units)<br />
with phantom power and sufficient dynamic<br />
range <strong>for</strong> the application.<br />
The (Neutrik) XLR connector is gold plated <strong>for</strong><br />
a long lasting reliable electrical contact. If you<br />
need to remove the connector <strong>for</strong> any reason,<br />
a single cross-headed screw is all you have to<br />
remove to slide out the whole assembly.<br />
The dynamic range of the mic amplifier<br />
(A-rated) is stated as 132dB, the rated impedance<br />
is 50Ω, while the rated load impedance is 1KΩ.<br />
Our<br />
Smallest<br />
Sound Pro<br />
MKE 1<br />
05|09<br />
AMSR<br />
Conclusion<br />
The KMS104 plus is priced higher than some<br />
people will think they can af<strong>for</strong>d. But I must give<br />
credit where it’s due, and commend Neumann<br />
on leaving the cheap 58-copy market to others.<br />
A quality product like this will obviously<br />
last a lifetime, even if it is toured relentlessly.<br />
There is an attitude that cheaper products (which<br />
need replacing every few years) are better in the<br />
long term than high quality items (which last a<br />
lifetime). That is fine if you don’t care about the<br />
end result, but by choosing the KMS104 plus as<br />
the starting point <strong>for</strong> your employer’s voice, you<br />
are guaranteed a head-start in achieving the best<br />
possible results. Do yourself and your sound a<br />
favour: get one of these bad boys and impress<br />
even the most cynical of technophobes. �<br />
...................................<br />
�€495.00 (excl.VAT)<br />
INFORMATION<br />
� Georg Neumann GmbH, Ollenhauerstr.98,<br />
13403 Berlin, Germany<br />
� +49 (30) 41 77 24 0<br />
� www.neumann.com<br />
� UK Distributor: Sennheiser UK Ltd.<br />
� +44 (0) 1494 551551<br />
� www.sennheiser.co.uk<br />
Whether <strong>for</strong> musicals and live shows, or <strong>for</strong> broadcasting<br />
applications, the MKE 1 – Sennheiser’s smallest clip-on<br />
microphone – per<strong>for</strong>ms at its best in all situations where<br />
a microphone needs to be virtually invisible and still offer<br />
outstanding sound quality. Its special gauze and multi-purpose<br />
cap offer additional protection from moisture so that<br />
it only picks up what it is meant to pick up – perfect sound.<br />
www.sennheiser.com<br />
SE_KG_AZ_MKE1_186x129mm_RZ.indd 1 04.12.2008 15:11:26 Uhr<br />
A U DIO M E DIA MAY <strong>2009</strong> 61