Neumann KM-84 Microphone Clones - How good is your ear?

[@BoydTimothy]

I’ve revealed the answers at the bottom of the video’s description. If you haven’t already commented your thoughts, I’d love to hear them before you take a peek at the answers. Thanks everyone!

[@ParadNorthProd]

I'm guessing D is the KM84, but I may have liked B generally the best.

[@patrickdugas497]

A and D where the best for me (i'm guessing one of them is the KM184). B and C make would make me want to reach to for eq. Thanks for this!

[@BoydTimothy]

@@patrickdugas497 Thanks for the comments. A & D are my favorites as well.

[@subliminalspectrum]

Okay, listened about as uncritically as you could, on my phone, speakerphone, casually and I'm going stick my neck out anyway and say B is the KM-184, also my favorite of the bunch, C is one of the JP8 mics, my second favorite, as was my 3rd (A), and D was the MicParts. As for my tastes, I sold a pair of KM-84s and kept KM-184 so I'm an odd one out on opinions about the two. I like the detail and balance of the KM-184, particularly on acoustic which is where I use it. That's what I heard on B, detail without harshness or grit where D is edging towards harsh and the other two have more weight like 84s, with C having a touch more clarity to my ears

[@BoydTimothy]

@@subliminalspectrum Thanks for taking the time to listen to them and give your thoughts!

[@BarryH54]

While this is not the kind of listening test I prefer (I prefer listening to each microphone for a period of time rather than jumping between examples), I think this was very well done. Audio levels and playing matched so differences couldn't be blamed on either of those. And while I couldn't tell you what any of the mics are (in terms of brands ) in every sample I preferred A or B. I found C and D to not have the same "roundness" to them. I know the term "roundness" doesn't mean anything objectively, but here I guess it means a generally more pleasing quality somehow.

[@BoydTimothy]

@@BarryH54 Thanks for your answers. I agree, it’s really difficult to describe microphones but I understand what you’re saying. I haven’t decided on a favorite yet, but it’s interesting to hear how other people describe them.

[@colewalker8710]

B was for sure the dullest. A was quite nice, D felt really nice though. Dying to know

[@BoydTimothy]

@@colewalker8710 Really interesting responses. Thank you for listening and giving answers. I’ll post the answers within the next few days.