At this year’s Audio Engineering Society convention, Neumann announced its newest studio microphone: the TLM 107 large diaphragm microphone.

The TLM 107 features what Neumann calls a “surprisingly fresh design and a novel operating concept.” All of the microphone switch functions are controlled through a navigation switch. The contemporary, intuitive operating concept includes an illuminated pattern display in the chrome ring, with the Pad and Low Cut status LEDs positioned to the left and right. The switch and display are located on the rear of the microphone so as to not distract singers. After 15 seconds, the display is turned off automatically, allowing the TLM 107 to be positioned discretely on the stage.

The newly developed double diaphragm capsule is inspired by one of Neumann’s top models, the D-01. The TLM 107 is particularly suitable for percussion and the finest overtones of stringed instruments. As a multi-pattern microphone made by Neumann.Berlin, the TLM 107 is impressive not only in the cardioid setting, but also delivers balanced sound for all five directional characteristics: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8, with the intermediate patterns wide-angle cardioid and hypercardioid.

For all polar patterns, up to 8 kHz the sound reproduction is almost linear, while a slight high frequency boost lends brilliance and freshness to recordings. Particular attention has been paid to the natural reproduction of the human voice, especially the critical “s” sound. Low sensitivity to pop sounds is ensured by an acoustically optimized grille. The capsule is designed to minimize sensitivity to humidity and other environmental influences. For example, the front and rear diaphragms are at ground voltage, thus preventing the electrostatic attraction of dust particles.

Transformerless circuitry permits a high degree of linearity and a large dynamic range. The self-noise of only 10 dB-A is practically inaudible. The maximum sound pressure level, specified as 141 dB SPL, can be increased to 153 dB SPL via the two-stage pre-attenuation, so that sound from even the loudest sources can be transmitted without distortion. The switchable Low Cut with the settings Linear, 40 Hz and 100 Hz has been carefully adapted to practical recording situations: The 40 Hz setting eliminates interference noise below the range of fundamental tones, while the 100 Hz setting is ideally suited to speech and vocal recordings.

The TLM 107 lists for $1,699.95 and complete specs are here.