Product Overview

The M 150 Tube is unlike any other microphone in the Neumann catalog. While it is technically an omnidirectional pressure transducer, its capsule is embedded in the surface of a 40 mm sphere. This sophisticated acoustic design causes the microphone to become increasingly directional at higher frequencies, mimicking the way the human ear perceives spatial information. The result is a recording that captures not just the instrument, but the three-dimensional "air" and bloom of the concert hall.

Product Description

The Titanium Advantage:

The heart of the M 150 is its ultra-thin titanium capsule. Titanium is lighter and stiffer than traditional gold-sputtered Mylar, allowing for an incredibly fast transient response and a high-frequency extension that is remarkably smooth. This capsule is a pressure transducer, meaning it has an exceptionally linear bass response that reaches down to the lowest sub-frequencies without the "proximity effect" found in cardioid microphones.

Unique Directional Characteristic:

Because the capsule is flush-mounted on a sphere, the M 150 behaves like a standard omni at low frequencies, but narrows its pickup pattern as frequencies rise. At $1\text{ kHz}$ and above, it begins to act as a directional microphone. This "reach" is what made the original M 50 famous—it allows the microphone to be placed at a distance from an orchestra while still maintaining a clear, focused center image and perfect stereo localization.

The "Decca Tree" Standard:

For decades, the world's finest orchestral recordings have been made using the "Decca Tree" configuration (three M 50 or M 150 microphones in a triangle above the conductor). The M 150 Tube was engineered specifically to excel in this application, providing a massive soundstage with a lush, "expensive" tube character that brings out the harmonic richness of strings and the power of brass.

Modern Tube Technology:

The M 150 Tube combines a subminiature triode vacuum tube with a transformerless output stage. This hybrid design ensures that you get the desirable harmonic warmth of a tube circuit but with a significantly lower noise floor (15 dB-A) and higher dynamic range than vintage units. It can handle Sound Pressure Levels up to 134 dB, making it safe for even the most explosive orchestral crescendos.

Key Features

• Titanium Capsule on a 40 mm Sphere: Unique acoustic design for superior spatial imaging.

• Frequency-Dependent Omni Pattern: Perfectly captures the "reach" and detail of large halls.

• Transformerless Tube Circuitry: Vintage warmth meets modern technical precision.

• Exceptional Low-End: Pressure transducer design offers flat response to the lowest octaves.

• Low Self-Noise: Only 15 dB-A, suitable for high-resolution digital recording.

• Complete Professional Set: Includes N 149 A power supply, KT 8 cable, and EA 170 shock mount.

   

Applications

• Orchestral Recording: The definitive choice for Decca Tree and room miking.

• Scoring Stages: Used on major film scores to capture depth and cinematic scale.

• Acoustic Ensembles: Perfect for capturing choirs or string quartets in natural spaces.

• Grand Piano: Provides a stunningly realistic and powerful piano sound.

Technical Specifications