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Beyerdynamic M 160 Double Ribbon Microphone

Name: Beyerdynamic M 160 Double Ribbon Microphone
Brand: Beyerdynamic
Rating: 5 (20 reviews)

Double-ribbon Microphone with Hypercardioid Polar Pattern

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Item ID: M160V2

Beyerdynamic M 160 Double Ribbon Microphone

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Beyerdynamic M 160 Double Ribbon Microphone

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The Classic Hypercardioid Double-ribbon Microphone

Although it flaunts contemporary aesthetics, today's Beyerdynamic M 160 delivers the same classic sound as its predecessor, leveraging the same sound-relevant components. The M 160 boasts a unique double-ribbon design with a hypercardioid polar pattern, yielding a precise bass response, warm mids, and silky highs. This top-shelf, German-built ribbon mic also softens overly harsh sources in a beautifully natural way, making it an excellent choice for capturing drums and guitar cabinets. Every well-stocked mic locker needs at least one ribbon microphone; thanks to its superb transient response and extreme high fidelity, the Beyerdynamic M 160 should be at the top of your list.

Softens harsh sound sources

The M 160 delivers a warm yet eminently true-to-life sound that also softens overly harsh sources, such as cranked guitar amplifiers and miked cymbals. Moreover, its super-fast transient response ensures that rapid-fire, high-impulse sources like hi-hats are captured with the utmost fidelity. You'll also be pleasantly surprised at how well the M 160 responds to acoustic guitars, brass instruments, and strings — it captures every detail with zero shrillness.

Ideal for mid-side recording

When used in conjunction with the figure-8 M 130, the Beyerdynamic M 160 is ideal for creating an authentic stereo image through the use of the M-S (mid-side) technique. The M 160 delivers excellent M-S results when recording or broadcasting a true stereo image.

Beyerdynamic: quality you can count on

Beyerdynamic microphones are held in high esteem at Sweetwater due to the company's unwavering commitment to excellence since its founding in 1924. The M 160 — like all Beyerdynamic products — is designed and crafted in Germany to the most stringent engineering standards, using only the highest-quality materials. Experience the Beyerdynamic difference: add an M 160 to your mic locker today!

Beyerdynamic M 160 Ribbon Microphone Features:

An impressive mic with contemporary aesthetics
Employs the same sound-relevant components as its predecessor
Unique double-ribbon design yields a superb transient response and extreme high fidelity
Hypercardioid polar pattern offers a precise bass response, warm mids, and silky highs
Pairs seamlessly with a figure-8 M 130 for M-S recording
Handbuilt in Heilbronn, Germany

Resources

Studio Microphone Buying Guide

Ribbon Mics: How They Work & When to Use Them

Jul 19, 2025

Choosing the Best Microphone for Acoustic Guitar - 32 Mic Shootout

May 1, 2025

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Tech Specs

Microphone Type: Ribbon
Ribbon Type: Double, Pure Aluminum Diaphragm
Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid
Frequency Response: 40Hz-18kHz
Output Impedance: 200 ohms
Sensitivity: 1.0mV/Pa (-60dBV)
Connector: XLR
Dimensions: 6.49" x 1.49"
Weight: 6.77 oz
Manufacturer Part Number: 730165

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Reviews

4.8

Customer Photos & Videos

I recently bought a pair, and it is the best I have done in years, but what really surprised me was the sound I achieved by placing a microphone on the drum, excellent microphone, I highly recommend it.

Many years ago I had some exposure to this mic and it left quite an impression on me. So, when it was time to invest in another good ribbon mic, this was at the top of my list. After receiving the mic (along with a Royer dBooster) I did a few quick tests on acoustic and electric guitars to make sure everything was working and the results were exactly what you'd expect - fantastic.

Last night, I put this through its first session with a client - an international Irish fiddle champion. This mic delivered everything I wanted, and then some. Used as the "body" mic, capturing the full, woody tones of the violin, this microphone delivered unbelievably smooth and rich tone. Our reference recordings were some of the most critically acclaimed violinists, recorded in top studios. The raw recordings are already on par with our reference tracks, even before starting the mix. While I credit some of that to the instrument and the player, the signal path can make or break a track like this, as fiddle can be a fickle instrument to record. The M160 microphone is a major component of the amazing sound we achieved.

This mic works well in a lot of areas - I've had good experience on acoustic instruments, amps, drums, and horns...it's a true workhorse, not a specialist. The hypercardiod pattern is unusual for a ribbon mic, and makes this mic particularly good in settings where a traditional figure 8 mic may not be as desirable.

Do yourself a favor and grab yourself a Royer dBooster to go with this mic - even though I have preamps that can comfortably drive this, it just sounds better with the dBooster.

As most audio engineers do from time to time. We do comparisons test where a bunch of mic's are plugged in at random so no one will know what they are listening to. We did 12 mic's in all. U87, AKG 414, and ten others. Some were over $2000. This test was totally by the ears. 5 people with golden ears did the rating. Everyone pick a unanimous #1 , #2 ,and #3. After that the mic's all started to sound about the same. Not a LOT of difference. To no one's surprise the U67 tube Neuman came in first place. What shocked everyone was #2. The Beyer M160. (some even voted it #1) #3 was a U87. The M160 mic is great on anything. It pops very easy. Use wind screen. I will buy 4 more. Try it on Piano, String instruments, horns, drums. Do your own test. You WILL WANT MORE.
Remember: Use your ears and not your eyes.

I have to say that this mic takes the cake.

I used it as a single drum overhead. The sound is so natural, and beats out just about any other mic for getting realistic sounding drums. You can EQ the heck out of ribbon mics, so you can really manipulate the signal you get to get a great sound.

I've also used it to mic acoustic guitar (about 8" from 14th fret) and got exactly the sound I was looking for on the first try.

I have yet to try it on a guitar amp, but I'm sure I'll be pleased.

The really cool thing about this hypercardioid ribbon mic is its directionality across frequencies. It's one of few mics I know of that not only gets more directional as you move up to the midrange, but it opens up again as you move up to higher frequencies. It sort of sounds like the mic opens up for air again, so it can almost make a room sound bigger than it really is.

This mic was great in the 70's when I used it on hi hat. I remember people looking surprised sometimes when they saw it at first. (I guess maybe there weren't many of them around in the New York studios. But when they heard the thing, it was all smiles. It's got the kind of detail you want without an artificial quality to it. It's design characteristics make it the perfect choice for drum kit close micing or as an overhead. It also sounds amazing on sax, especially if it's a slightly shrill sounding instrument (piccolo, too). I'd say if money's not an issue every mic cabinet should have at least two.
The M 130, the figure 8 version of this mic, is also excellent.