Sound Pure's Take
This item has been tested and is in excellent working order. It has some cosmetic imperfections. There is some pitting, scratches, and minor dents on the body. The clip is not original. The sound is and is exactly the combination of warmth and precision you expect from vintage Neumann.
From Neumann USA
The KM 84 is a small-diaphragm FET condenser with a fixed Cardioid pickup pattern. It was the world’s first phantom-powered microphone, built to run on 48v DC. Its design goal was to be as small as possible; the model name ‘KM’ stands for Kleine Mikrofon (“small microphone”).
The model number indicates the powering mechanism (8 = phantom power) and polar pattern (4 = cardioid).
Although discontinued in 1992, the KM-84 remains a favorite of vintage mic enthusiasts for drum overheads and hi-hat applications.
Neumann’s KM 184 was intended to be a replacement for the KM 84, but the two mics sound sufficiently different that the KM 84 has remained a standard by which modern FET pencil mics are judged. (See the KM 184 page for additional discussion of the physical and sonic differences between these microphones.)
The mic is known for having an exceptionally flat frequency response and its ability to maintain its cardioid pickup pattern across the frequency spectrum.
The capsule, Neumann model KK 64 and later designated KK 84, utilizes an innovative backplate design developed by Neumann in 1964. Whereas most condenser microphone backplates rely on a pattern of through-holes to provide access to the front diaphragm to soundwaves entering from the rear, the so-called “crossed-slit” design incorporates a series of eight intersecting grooves. The grooves allow the sound from the through-holes to be more evenly distributed across the diaphragm. The result is an improvement in polar pattern control and in off-axis frequency response. This “crossed-slit” design is retained in the current Series 180 microphones (including the KM 184).
Pickup Pattern: Cardioid (10 mV/Pa; 40 - 20,000 Hz)
Pad: -10dB (Via Switch)
Capsule diameter: 20mm
Impedance: 150 Ohms (Low)
Max SPL: 130 dB
Self-noise: 17.0 dB(A)
Weight: 80g (2.82oz)
Length:100mm (3.94'')
Max Diameter: 21mm (0.83'')
Interface(s): 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications: Requires phantom power
Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v
Warranty
This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Returns
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