Neumann KM 185 Stereo Set Nickel

Uncoloured, Transparent, Versatile

The KM 185 stands out as a cutting-edge small diaphragm condenser microphone featuring a highly directional hyper-cardioid polar pattern that's consistent across all frequencies. Its exceptional clarity, minimal self-noise, and impressive SPL handling ability have propelled the KM 185 to become a ubiquitous microphone for a diverse array of applications, spanning from the rich tonality of a grand piano to the explosive sound of heavy metal drumming in both studio and live performance settings.

Faithful

Although many modern microphones aim to impart a particular sonic character to recordings, certain scenarios necessitate a faithful and unaltered reproduction of the original sound source. This is where the Neumann Series 180 excels.

The Neumann Series 180 comprises three distinct models, each with a different polar pattern, the KM 183 (omnidirectional), KM 184 (cardioid), and KM 185 (hyper-cardioid). Together, these microphones cater to a vast range of studio and live sound applications. As non-modular microphones, the Series 180 models provide a more cost-effective alternative to the modular Series KM A and KM D, which feature interchangeable capsule heads for both analogue and digital output stages.

Hyper-Cardioid

The KM 185 offers state-of-the-art Neumann engineering, its hyper-cardioid pattern is frequency-independent; rejection of rearward sound (120°) is excellent, even at low frequencies. In practical usage, there is no sound colouration over a wide pickup angle, which is crucial in multi-microphone setups and for precise stereo/surround imaging.

The KM 185’s frequency response is very smooth and linear with a slight treble lift around 10 kHz for added brilliance. Its innovative transformerless head amplifier offers a wide dynamic range of 127 dB and is carefully designed to maintain the capsule’s sonic integrity. The KM 185 has a very low self-noise of only 15 dB-A and can handle high sound pressure levels of up to 142 dB free from distortion. Due to its low impedance output stage, the KM 185 can drive long cable runs of up to 300 meters (1000 feet) without transmission losses.

Applications

The KM 185 is an incredibly versatile microphone that excels in both studio and live settings. Its remarkable clarity and transparency make it an ideal choice for capturing the rich tonality of acoustic instruments, including piano, acoustic guitar, upright bass, violin, cello, and wind instruments, as well as drums and percussion.

Its impressive 120° rejection angle, without any off-axis colouration, makes it the perfect tool for challenging recording scenarios, such as miking the snare drum while reducing spill from the hi-hat. While the KM 185 is not specifically optimized for vocal recording, it is still frequently used for classical singing and other situations where sonic accuracy is of utmost importance.

Additionally, its compact size and unobtrusive appearance make it an excellent option for television and radio broadcasts.

Key Benefits

• Uniform hyper-cardioid pattern without off-axis colouration
• High suppression of unwanted sound
• Linear frequency response with a slight treble lift
• Low self-noise (15 dB-A)
• Low impedance output for long cable runs without transmission losses
• Compact size, visually unobtrusive