Bandrew Scott

View Original

Neumann KM 184 Condenser Mic Review / Test

Today I review an industry standard small diaphragm condenser, the Neumann KM184. This is well regarded for acoustic instruments, but I really enjoyed it for spoken word, singing, and acoustic guitar. It offers more of a neutral and smooth sound signature, so if you're looking for a hyper detailed modern sounding mic, this will not offer you that. But if you're looking for a more natural and realistic sound, I think it's a great option to consider.

Buy the Neumann KM184 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/km184
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/km184

Buy the Focusrite 2i2 (3rd Gen)- Same Performance as 18i20 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/2i32rd
Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/k6g4d

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer 
00:20 - Setup
00:41 - What’s in the Box
01:00 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:19 - Specifications
01:45 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
02:04 - Plosive Test
02:28 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
02:51 - A Few Mic Position Tests
03:25 - Background Noise Test 
03:46 - Untreated Room Test
04:19 - Shock Rejection Test
04:37 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
04:52 - Windscreen Tone Test
05:14 - Intro to Comparison
05:37 - Rode M5 Comparison
05:57 - Sennheiser E614 Comparison
06:16 - sE Electronics sE8 Comparison
06:37 - Oktava MK012 Comparison
07:01 - Beyerdynamic MC930 Comparison
07:25 - Neumann KM185 Comparison
07:53 - sE Electronics RN17 Comparison
08:22 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
08:48 - Music Test
10:03 - Pros & Cons
11:40 - Overall Thoughts
13:57 - Recommendation
18:08 - Outro