NEUMANN Neumann KMS 104 Plus Condenser Microphone (Nickel) (3-Year Warranty)

★A variation model of this exceptional microphone, chosen by vocalists around the world, with a thicker core.

Product Features: Balanced sound with added "warmth" through bass extension; Popular with female singers; Tight cardioid pattern with no off-axis coloration; Insensitive to extreme sound pressure levels; Feedback resistant; Built-in pop screen

This handheld microphone delivers quality comparable to a recording microphone for live performances. It's also the microphone of choice for many vocalists, including Norah Jones. Its superior sound makes it a must-have for recording.

Instead of the urethane foam windscreens found in most vocal microphones, which tend to attenuate high-frequency components, this microphone uses a unique four-layer mesh open-type windscreen. Additionally, a meticulously designed filter effectively eliminates pop noise and handling noise while maintaining excellent sound transmission.

The amp features a DC-polarized studio condenser capsule, specifically tuned for vocals, capturing every nuance and power. Its unidirectional characteristics and excellent response preserve the timbre of off-axis sounds, achieving extremely high gain while suppressing feedback. Its design also takes ease of use on stage into consideration.

Equipped with a true condenser microphone capsule, it offers the robustness required for stage microphones, dispelling the myth that condenser microphones are "fragile." The KMS 104 plus can withstand enormous sound pressure levels of up to 150 dB without clipping, and its tight cardioid pattern ensures high gain before feedback. The KMS 104 plus has a much smoother frequency response and an airier top end than dynamic microphones. Compared to dynamic microphones, the Neumann KMS 104 plus has an exceptionally good transient response, resulting in a more immediate and emotional vocal sound. In practical terms, it easily improves clarity and feedback resistance without the need for typical EQ boosts.

As a stage microphone, the KMS 104 plus is optimized for close-micing. A fixed low-cut filter compensates for the proximity effect and ensures clear bass. Compared to the KMS 104, the KMS 104 plus emphasizes the low frequencies (100-150 Hz), adding "weight" and "warmth" to voices that the KMS 104 may sound "too light." The plus version is especially popular with female singers.

The headgrille is made of hardened steel and features an internal pop screen that effectively keeps moisture away from the capsule. Thanks to careful Neumann engineering, these acoustic filters do not cause sibilance problems. The head amplifier is protected by a thick housing. The transformerless output minimizes hum and other electromagnetic interference. With a low output impedance of just 50 ohms, the KMS 104 plus can drive extremely long cables (up to 300 meters (1000 feet)) without transmission loss.

Although the KMS 104 plus is primarily designed as a handheld vocal microphone, its high SPL capability and wide dynamic range make it suitable for percussion, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harmonica, acoustic guitar, guitar cabinets, etc. It also makes an excellent microphone for home recording and broadcast applications.