Neumann TLM 103 Anniversary Edition Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone - Nickel Reviews

What can I say? EVERY nationally-known voiceover studio has this beast. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for my small VO studio. I've recorded countless projects with it and my daughter - who looks to be following in her dad's footsteps - recorded her two demos with it. There is a reason why this mic has been an industry standard for so long of a time.

I'll start by saying, everything was packaged very nicely! Neumann, really out did themselves with the whole unboxing experience, their mics are definitely expensive, but, you actually feel like you just bought and paid for something really expensive! Nothing feels cheap, at all! Plus the craftsmanship on this microphone, is just next level man!

Now, let's get on to the most important thing you actually care about.. How's the mic sound, and what do i think about it? Well, Plugged straight into my Apollo X with my voice running through this mic, is way to bright at times for my liking, and can get pretty harsh, i also have a bright voice too so, if your voice is deeper, or alto even, this is the perfect mic for you..If your using no external preamps that is, But, mixing can also solve this problem.. However, When plugged into an external preamp, especially a very high quality preamp.. Something like a BAE 1073, this Microphone sounds incredible! I just laugh when some people actually believe that Digital plugins sound better than Analog gear lol.. Don't get me wrong, plugins are amazing, and they sound fantastic, especially Uad, soundtoys, fab filter..Just to name a few, but plugins still ain't beating pure Analog gear..

But, back to the actual reason you're reading this review lol.. The mic is awesome, not gonna lie! I'm definitely one happy camper, and will most certainly not be sending this mic back! There is a reason why artist like, Drake, MGK, Billie Eilish, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, J. Cole.. Plus many more!

Neumann are the industry microphones of choice for a reason! If you need a great microphone and have external preamps in your studio, this is a no brainer for you! Just get it and never look back, you won't regret it!
Money well spent and would most certainly recommend for any serious pro or home recording studio.

So far so great! Crystal clear sound. I have yet to really experience this amazing piece of machinery but I'm excited to see what it can do :)

Has worked well over the last 4 years.

I have used the Sony 800 g tube microphone on my songs as well as the neumann u87ai , telefunken u47 clones , avatone cv12, and many others. This is a very professional microphone if you have a good microphone preamp and a nice warm sounding compressor.
You will have commercial studio quality, of course the room you are recording in should have the walls treated and you should have a great interface. But I have no complaints about this microphone at all.
Has a nice color to the sound .
The sound is in your face.
No sibilance issues at all with rap vocals.
Just a winner .
I hope this information helps someone looking to upgrade their sound quality. Thanks Sweetwater for the recommendation and service.

Great quality sound! I am loving it!

Being a serious music hobbyist I with a home studio we are always trying to make our best sounding songs. It is so important to capture the noise in our heads into a recording that best represents what we want things to sound like. To that it extent clarity and richness of sound, especially with vocals, needs as much clarity at the source as possible. Of course that ultimately begins with the vocalist themselves. After that it is the mic, No matter what is done in pre or post production the mic has to be the foundation. I always wanted a Neuman but the price point was always a sticking point. For years I used a Sure KSM 32 SL. It was and is a great mic, This is better. It is also above the $1,100 mark. It comes with a beautiful case and more importantly a fitted shock mount which is a must for this mic. Even with the mount it is so sensitive. So is it worth it. Yes. My vocals are just so much clearer and present and all the nuances come through, It is so full and rich. Shelby at Sweetwater is excellent. The company is superb and unparalleled in musical equipment. The catalog, descriptions, and site are a great source of education and I check it almost every day and learn so much from the demonstration videos, If you can want a classic reliable mic to use for years to come then this one is perfect. Especially for vocals.

I have been wanting to upgrade on the mic game for a while and finally came around to purchasing this mic. I am blown away at the quality of the mic, the clarity, and quietness. The build is of great quality and detail and has some weight to it. Don"t listen to people on the internet that say you don"t need to waste money on buying a quality mic and you can"t tell the difference. I beg to differ. If a keyboardist will invest in a $3000 keyboard, then the least you can do is invest a fraction into a good mic.

I"m running the mic through a Neve 517 preamp and quality ad/da converters in antelope audio.

WOW! I love the sound of this Mic, very little needed to do on Mixing side, Best Mic ive ever purchased. Extremely sensative will pick up alot of ambient noise, record in quite room preferably one thats been tailored with sound panels. Great mic highly reccomend it.

This Neuman has extreme clarity, sensitivity and versatility. This is THE mic to get if you are doing voice over work, especially for males. The transparency gives you room to make whatever adjustments you need. Just be sure to use this in a very quite environment—it picks up everything! Some good plug-ins will help you get rid of unwanted noise. For the price range, nothing else can touch it. There are very few other mics I would consider, for any price.

I'm super happy with this mic Neumann it's one of the best and with the right combination you can create great music with it...

Oh my God! it's the sweetness my studio needed. I have always used Sennhieser products however, as a voice actor, this is the Porsche in the driveway. About as close to live as you need to get. It won't give the response of the U87 but for what I am doing, it would be overkill. It's the mic to beat, except nothing does

I really get a kick out of the idiots from Gearslutz, who continuously slam the TLM103 and all TLM mics. They think that they can turn people away from this fantastic mic with their lies- maybe because they don't want you to have something great that they use in the studio. It's so obvious that when you A/B this mic against other microphones like the Shure SM7B and Electrovoice RE20 (which are nice microphones), the TLM103 wins out hands down on everything from vocals to acoustic guitar ! I own 2 TLM103's and I own 2 Neumann U87's . There's NOT alot of difference in vocal recordings when running the U87's in cardiod mode ! I've been in the recording industry for 50 years and can tell you that what I say is true. The Neumann TLM series mics have a very low noise floor and GREAT dynamic range,especially for vocals! I would pair this mic with an Avalon VT737 for the best audio quality.

Best mic ever

With this you wont be needing to break the bank for those 3,000-4,000$ mics and still end up with quality that sounds like you may as well have paid that. I use this my self , plugged in to presonus channel strip pre amp , and i hear what is a world of difference compared to my previous setup!! the second i plugged it adjusted my eq and comp. etc etc. i knew the difference then my last mic which was mxl v69 mogami edition at the price range of 389$.......i been recording for 4 years now and ive tried a couple of others , but this one does sound better then any of the others. well worth it

This is great mic.... NAY. this is an INCREDIBLE mic, .
Absolute butter to my ears.

As far as just talking about the microphone , the TLM-103 is one of the best mics I"ve ever used. I don"t think you can find a better mic for anywhere close to the same price point. It easily beats anything lower like , AKG, Rhode , Bluebird. As well as competing with everything higher until you start getting into like u87/u67 type mic pricepoints. Best home studio mic for recording vocals hands down. BUT!!! All this being said specifically I want to talk about this anniversary edition. DO NOT waste your money on it. Save the few hundred bucks and put it towards a different microphone carrying case. This suitcase is nowhere near the quality you would come to expect from this mic as well as Neumann in general. The locking mechanisms are child grade and could be turned with a hair pin, as well as there no actual good spot to put the microphone in the case designed for it! It"s either poking up and being pushed in by the lid, or you have to tuck it down under the foam but there isn"t any actual shaping to hold the mic firmly in place . It just kind of gets stuck between to pieces of foam and that"s it. You"d think for spending the extra money and it being from Neumann you would actually get a quality case for the microphone but you do not. Sick mic but just forget this extra version and get a different case. That mount it comes with is not worth it alone.

The Neumann MK 103 Anniversary edition is sensational. As soon as I plugged it in and spoke my first few words I was blown away. My voice sounded sooooo good. It gave me a chill. Both the highs and lows were sweet yet full bodied. This small shaped microphone packs a wallup. I don't ever want ro be without it again.

This is my go-to mic ever since I first hit the record button with it. Teamed up with my CLA vocal plugin, it really brings out a shimmer and clarity that I love. I also own a AKG C414 XLII, but this mic seems to surpass it — not just for vocals, but also for acoustic guitar. I would definitely recommend it.

Although I haven't conducted a survey, I certainly reach for the TLM 103 as much as any other mic in my studio. To folks who are shopping for an excellent LDC cardioid mic under $2,000, I'd say you really can't go wrong with the TLM 103. It's detailed, quiet and shines on almost any vocal style or range. If you're trying to get a "radio ready" pop vocal sound, this mic will make that job a lot easier. It's also quite a versatile mic, and with careful placement works well on horns, strings, guitars and just about anything else you throw at it. All in all, it's a versatile mic and a good value. My only complaints with the "Anniversary Edition" are that the shock mount is somewhat flimsy; and that a hard mount is not included, even though there's a special compartment for a hard mount in the case. That said, the flight case is quite robust and has room for another TLM 103, a second hard mount and a second shock mount.

Beautiful V.O. mic. The best! I've tried them all and the 103 is sweet - crystal clear and warm.

I don't have any complaints. It's clean, doesn't add a bunch of character, works well and is sturdy. A good microphone if you are ready to upgrade to a professional level for your voice acting or singing.

This is a great MIC from Neumann. we are having two in our recording studio.

The TLM 103 is a great overall mic. Use it on everything from vocals to acoustic to guitar cabs(But not too loud) The result is sweet and crisp with a smooth bottom end. HIghly recommended.

It's a solid mic that is good all around . Nothing bad about the sound other than a little nasal sounding mids on some vocals. Good on acoustic and electric guitars !

Ill be honest i had high expectations for this mic since it cost more than my car. this mic was 10000 times better than the previous one (Neumann U67 Collector's Edition Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone) which smoke billowed from the tip and caught my custom white stitched shag carpet on fire. HOWEVER, this replacement Review Neumann TLM 103 Anniversary Edition was an OK anniversary present, but honestly I would just stick with earbud microphones

This is an amazing mic. The dynamic range for vocals is superb. If you're setting up a home studio, I would highly recommend getting good microphones, and Nuemann is a great way to go.