How to Spot a Fake Neumann KMS 105 Microphone

There are a lot of fake mics out there. In this video, Ill show you how to identify a fake Neumann KMS 105 and save yourself a load of money and grief.
Photo comparing real and counterfeit capsules was taken from this video: / @jansafarik313

[@skiiizo]

Thank you so much for the video you’ve saved my life. I was robbed last week and someone took my KMS105. I bought one at a good price and when I arrived at the gig, the sound was awful I didn’t recognise the usual sound I had with the KMS105. I checked your video and it turns out that my copy is a fake. That’s why I couldn’t get a decent sound to work this weekend. I was so disgusted. Thank you again for the video it opened my eyes.

[@gear-o-rama8373]

Great, glad to help! I hope you can get your money back.

[@skiiizo]

@@gear-o-rama8373 Yes the shop took it back and ordered one from the official distributer. The one I got was apparently sold to the shop by a customer pretending "having no use of a Neumann for live applications." The shop was fooled too.

[@therealforestelf]

I've had a TLM103 for my home studio ever since I got my first paycheck after being done with school 15 years ago or even more I dont wanna think about how old I am rn - and ever since then I wanted to have a KMS 104 or 105 for going on stage and for rehearsals but I did not muster up the courage yet to get one for myself because I would go straight to jail the moment I lose my temper when someone tries to steal it. don't steal another person's microphone, if you can't afford your next shot of the brown devil just say so, people are willing to help, if you ask them. stealing stuff should not be necessary. thx for the video, now I know what to look out for the next time I almost get baited into "ordering for a once in a lifetime price"

[@ezasjad]

I compared the original bs fake and sound is not much different...fake one is bit thin but sits good in mix too...ordinary people would not even feel difference ... on live vocals definitely even fake shines out on others ... price difference is you can buy 12 fakes against one original lolz

[@lofi_soul_jazz]

Wow thank u for saving me time and money

[@tbhv]

thanks for making this :) I was wondering, I have seen a few used KMS105 mics where the grille has a bar aligned with the logo and some where the logo falls between two bars. I realize because you can take the mech grille off this pattern might move but have you even encountered any where the bar on the grill is aligned with the logo?

[@NicleT]

Excellent video, thanks.

[@evilaugust5941]

Even the couterfait sounds good.

[@johnsierramusic]

I saw below where you normally pay $250 for one of these new - do you mind sharing where you've found that? I'm considering one at $300. Owner claims it's a week old - which, is a red flag why they haven't returned it...

[@79dgh]

Hi, I think I got it on Facebook Marketplace or Mercari. Yeah that's for sure a red flag, why would you sell it for $300 when you can return it and get $729 back? This was a couple years ago I got this one, I haven't seen any this cheap for a while that aren't fake. If you're buying somewhere you can return if it's fake, that might be OK if it looks decent.

[@johnsierramusic]

@@79dgh thank you man! I thought the same. Appreciate you making this video.

[@mariogermani7692]

Ho acquistato un micro Neumann Kms 105, volevo un parere se si tratta di un originale o meno. Dove posso mandarvi le foto?? Grazie

[@ClarkyAv]

How does the sound compare to the real deal?

[@gear-o-rama8373]

I actually didn't have the real one and the fake one at the same time, so wasn't able to compare. The fake is a cheap dynamic mic (compared to a handheld condenser mic), so I don't think the sound would be even close.

[@victorcoss2600]

I buy all my gear from SweetWater, including my KMS105. Don't think I'll have to deal with this issue from a real vendor.

[@gear-o-rama8373]

Yeah, if you buy used gear you'll have to watch out. Buying new from a reputable store will be much safer, but no killer deals!

[@victorcoss2600]

@@gear-o-rama8373 Yeah I bought mine new from Sweetwater. If the fakes were really using a dynamic mic, you could tell this because a dynamic wouldn't require phantom power. So if the mic works without phantom power, that'd be a dead giveaway. I would hope they wouldn't be that dumb though and put a dynamic capsule in a condenser mic.

[@johnnysmille]

É bom comprei o falso o original é muito caro .

[@dieg000n]

What site did you buy it?

[@gear-o-rama8373]

I think it was on OfferUp

[@maiareinaldo]

thanks a lot! got the real one

[@gear-o-rama8373]

You're welcome!

[@freefoodsss]

How much was the fake?

[@gear-o-rama8373]

I paid about $250 because I thought it was new. The fakes actually sell for around $40-50 online.

[@anamariazaharia5012]

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[@Little3888]

Have you heard of any fake KMS104 or are all the fakes KMS105?

[@darbyhughes5200]

Hi, I've only seen fake 105's, I've never seen a fake 104. In general, the people who make fake mics focus on only the most popular mics, and the 105 is much more popular than the 104, so I'd guess there aren't fake 104's but can't be sure.