Neumann TLM 103

Neumann TLM 103 Condenser Microphone

Let’s face it. When it comes to microphones, Neumann is king. This German company is over 91 years old and has earned their reputation by producing some of the finest microphones in the industry. Neumann microphones for the most part, are very expensive. However, one of the most popular microphones from Neumann in recent times is the more affordable, Neumann TLM 103 studio condenser microphone.

In this article, we review the Neumann TLM 103 (see current price). The TLM 103 was designed to be an affordable modern update on Neumann’s legendary U87 microphone. It is far cheaper than Neumann’s elite microphones. But, does it still share the pizzazz of Neumann’s signature sound?

The TLM 103 Design

At first sight, the Neumann TLM 103 is a gorgeous microphone. Unlike cheaper microphones that may have very slight alterations in their production, this microphone is pristine and you can tell that Neumann’s meticulousness in their design isn’t just limited to the inner-workings of their microphones.

Neumann has stated that their microphones are manufactured in ultraclean room conditions, meeting “the highest international standards”. Their microphones undergo vast amounts of testing during manufacturing. Their capsules can undergo over 50 different tests before final assembly.

Although, there has been significant progress in production and machine technology, Neumann prefers to manufacture their microphones through a great deal of handicraft. And, you can certainly feel and see it in this Neumann microphone.

The TLM 103 is available in both satin nickel and matte black. We personally prefer the satin nickel. It’s the color that is most associated with Neumann microphones, especially its legendary U87. There is a sort of nostalgia when it comes to this color. Perhaps, it’s why you see so many other microphone manufacturers using this same color.

Out of the box, this microphone feels heavy and sturdy. It’s quite compact. In fact, it feels like a grenade. The build quality is solid. The design is also very clean, being that there is no polar pattern selection, pads, or filter switches.

Fragile Grille?

Our only criticism in terms of its build is that the mesh grille seems a bit fragile. Other owners of the TLM 103, have reported that the grille is especially prone to dents. This should come as no surprise as the grilles are usually very sensitive on most microphones.

As with most condenser microphones, the TLM 103 is certainly a microphone you’ll want to take great care of and be extra cautious of, avoiding any potential drops.

Inside the TLM 103

The TLM 103 is part of the FET 100 series of condenser microphones from Neumann. “TLM” stands for “transformerless microphone”. Unlike the legendary U87, the TLM 103 uses an electronic circuit rather than the usual output transformer.

Much like transformers, the electronic circuit ensures a high level of purity within the audio signal, reducing electromagnetic interference that can degrade the signal. The transformerless design of the TLM 103 also helps result in highly accurate low frequencies and spares this microphone from the core saturation that the transformer based microphones experience.

Inside the TLM 103, is its capsule, the shock-mounted K103. The K103 is based on the K87, the dual-diaphragm capsule found in the classic U87 and U67 Neumann microphones. Instead of the dual-diaphragm design (which allows the use of multiple polar patterns), the K103 uses a single-diaphragm capsule for cardioid-only use.

So, how does this thing sound?

The Transformerless Sound

The sound of the TLM 103 is highly modeled after Neumann’s legendary U87 and Neumann has done a great job to provide pristine sound quality at a (relatively) affordable price. The thing that most impressed us is how sensitive and detailed this microphone is, while having virtually no audible self noise.

The transformerless design results in a very clean and precise sound. This microphone has a very impressive max SPL of 138dB. This means that it does very well with recording extremely loud sources with no pre-attenuation required. On the other hand, it does great recording very quiet sources due to its low self-noise. Perhaps this is why the TLM 103 has had features such as pre-attenuation and high-pass filters switches stripped. Neumann has designed this microphone to be a dynamic workhorse straight out of the box.

Sound Character of the TLM 103

In terms of the sound character, the TLM 103 sounds similar to the U87 for the most part. A main difference, is that it has some boosted high-end frequencies creating a more modern sound. Although this results in a brighter sound, this microphone still manages to have a buttery smooth sound with little harshness. It sounds very alive with recordings that seem to cut through the mix with great presence.

Because the TLM 103 has little off-axis coloration, this allows you to experiment with different angles during recording to best achieve your desired sound. This can be useful for very sibilant singers, in which recording a bit off-axis can eliminate excess sibilance. The transformerless design of this microphone also results in a very solid bass response. You can capture impressively deep and controlled low end. This results in it doing a great job at recording bassy sound sources. Its advantage of recording bassy sources also applies when recording in close mic situations. It also does very well with its proximity effect relative to other condensers, resulting in a balanced sound even when recording very close to sound sources.

Sensitive Care

It is true that with the TLM 103, you’ll want to be very aware of your distance and microphone technique. The high-sensitivity of this microphone also means that you’ll want to take great concern with the environment that you’re recording in. It is prone to picking up a lot of ambient sounds in a noisy environment. You’ll want to make sure you have proper room treatment and a very quiet recording environment to get the most value from this microphone.

Nonetheless, any great microphone is likely to require a lot of care and concern of its environment. The TLM 103 seems to sound great on just about any sound source. This microphone has the buttery mid-range presence that the U87 has become renowned for. It especially shines with lead instruments like vocals and guitar, impressively requiring little post-processing.

TLM 103 Tech Specs

• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Sensitivity: 21mV/Pa
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 87dB-A
• Self Noise: 7dB-A
• Max SPL: 138dB
• Output Impedance: 50 ohms
• Recommended load Impedance: 1000 ohms
• 48v Phantom Power Required: Yes
• Output Type: Balanced XLR
• Diameter: 2.36 in / 60 mm
• Length: 5.2 in / 132 mm
• Weight: 1 lb / 450 g

What’s Included?

Because of the TLM’s shock mounted capsule, it can be prone to picking up footsteps and other vibrations in your recording environment that come in contact with your microphone stand. For this reason, we strongly recommend buying a shock mount for this microphone. There are bundles available that include a shockmount, one such example is the TLM 103 Anniversary Edition (see here). However, the base edition unfortunately does not include a shock mount.

Nonetheless, what the base edition does include, is a nice solid wooden jeweler’s box for storage with foam lining. Inside the box, a basic microphone mount and microphone stand adapter is included along with documentation. The TLM 103 is also available in a stereo set as desired. Interestingly enough, there is also a digital version, the TLM 103 D, which features built-in A/D conversion.

Conclusion: TLM 103 Review

Neumann considers the TLM 103 to be a low-budget microphone (we don’t know about that..). Although, its over $1000, this microphone is certainly worth the value it provides. It’s true that there are more versatile options at this price range, such as the AKG C414 XLII, which allows you to cycle through polar patterns to cover more recording scenarios. However, in terms of pure sound quality, we believe this microphone outshines the C414.

After review, and in our opinion, it’s the best cardioid microphone available at its price. It requires little post processing and you’re getting professional record-quality sound right out of the box. Because of its extremely low-self noise and distortion, it’s a very accurate microphone that sounds great in just about any mix situation.

You simply get the sound quality you paid for with the TLM 103. If you haven’t yet treated your room, or haven’t first addressed other priorities, like a quality audio interface, we recommend you take care of those things before reaching for this microphone. However, if you’re looking for a high-quality cardioid microphone to record vocals and leads, to be the staple of your recording studio, you can’t go wrong with this microphone. We sum up this review by highly recommending the Neumann TLM 103.

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