Neumann TLM 103 VS RODE NT1 microphone shootout - Do they sound 'pretty much identical' to you?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 лют 2023
- This is a shootout of the Neumann TLM 103 and the RODE NT1. I came across a post in a Discord where they mentioned that these two microphones sounded "pretty much identical". I recall that they sounded very different. So I put it to the test. I go through a pretty extensive set of back-and-forth to make the listener hear the differences between the two microphones. Imo there are many questions to be asked here. Do they sound identical - or near identical? We'll go through that in this vid.
- Розваги
They both sound fantastic
You should ask the poster what ear/headphones they're using. I remember when I was still using my stock Apple earbuds, they didn't have the detail for me to pick out many, if any, differences in the sounds of microphones when I watched comparison videos, unless the 2 mics were fundamentally different in sound profile (think like Booth Junkie's E100s vs E100sx comparison, where one's bright, the other dark). So if they're also using cheap earbuds, I can see why they'd think that.
When I switched to the DT 990s that I'm using now, it was much easier for me to tell differences between mics because of how much more detailed and nuanced the sound is.
To me, the NT1 doesn't sound as bright, and I think it might have more bass than the TLM 103.
That's a good point too! It might be the headphones. I think it's two things. It's the headphones they're using and also the space they're recording too. Harder to tell the differences when there's a ton of reverb in the space. Great points all around :P
Whats the best mic if my ROOM is not treated? Will the Rode NT1 produce noise floor that will be noticeable in the mix? I have a SSL2 interface also that i will be using and my room is untreated with wooden floors.
Does anyone know What pop filter is he using?
I’ve seen that type in a couple videos, looks like it’s made of loc-line but haven’t had any luck finding a product name / brand
It's easy to tell, the rode nt1 has way more low-end
Yeah I had the same thought. The low end could be preferable in some cases but I feel that because of the lack of low end in the Neumann it felt “richer” because of the clarity in the sound
All you would have to do is hpf or low shelf
@@3jahel7 if it was that simple then expensive mics wouldn't exist and big studios would just be using cheap mics and processing the audio...
Yeah you can eq out the low end but that doesn't get rid of the added harmonics from those low frequencies.
@@BrazaG this expensive mic being compared in the video is way older than the nt1, but i mean it is undeniable that tlm 103 capsules are way more up there and detailed but in this context the commentator was saying theres way more low end, and i was offering a solution to anyone trying to reach a similar sound, i dont think you can do anything to pick up the details the nt1 didnt pick up in the beginning of the recording obviously, just look at the context of why I commented what I said, nowhere did I say NT1 is just as good
@@3jahel7 i never said you implied that the NT1 was just as good. I just stretched your logic further to show the flaw in it.
I’m not even talking about the level of detail.
You can EQ out low frequencies and add some air to make it sound « like another » but beyond the lesser amount of detail, there’s added low frequency harmonics in the mid-range that you cannot get rid of.
A low-heavy mic like the NT1 or the SM57/8 just doesn’t sound that good even with the low end EQ’d out and Air added, because of those added low end harmonics that you just cannot really get rid of.
Personally I love the sound of the nt1 and can't wait to have the new 5th gen, great compatison btw
Yip! Overall there's different takeaways. Is the TLM 103 worth $1000 as compared to the NT1? I didn't answer that. :P That's a different vid. But does the RODE NT1 sound like a TLM 103? Nope. :P And there's vids out there that claim they sound the same - and they don't ^_^
@@Dracomies Having had both, I do think they sound different. But there is no chance that a TLM 103 is worth $1,000 more. And I had the 5th gen which I thought is the best deal on a mic I have ever seen.
@@mpbootcamp7009 I'd agree with that. They both get the job done. But the price differential is nuts. But that's Neumann summarized in a sentence.
The 103 appears to be “ Larger “ ( if that makes any sense) and it also sounds much more open than the NT1.
The NT1 does not sound bad but in a direct side by side it comes across as a bit smaller and slightly more boxier than the 103.
With that being said Rode is and Awesome company. I have owed a couple of NT1”s before I bought my U87’s and when I damaged the diaphragm in my NT1 I sent it in to Rode and they repaired it for free. My financial situation was much different them and I will always appreciate them for that!
Rode sounds muffled and crunchy on the top-end. I LOVED my NT1 but I had to sell it. The Rode is a fantastic starter mic for Voice Actors but moving up to even a Sennheiser MK4 will reveal its short comings. The NT1 just doesn't have that "open" sound other mics have. In my opinion, the Shure KSM32 is the perfect middle ground between the NT1 and the TLM 103.
The KSM32 is the GOAT. Such a great mic that hits up there with the 1000 dollar heavies and can often be found for 3 hundy.
TLM 103 is so warm 🙂
Braveheart scene: Is it? (glares) :D ua-cam.com/video/lhdFe5wlKaI/v-deo.html
One has more sparkle ✨ (i.e., magic fairy dust… which I heard is more expensive)
TLM 103 ❤
I use the NT1 daily. I test drove the TLM103 and damn were they similar, like here. No way I could justify the expense. I can't remember where I read this, but someone called the NT1 the "walmart" version of the TLM103. Kinda makes me laugh.
The TLM 103 is moreso for the name. But yip I'd say there are other microphones that suit other people better. Hell, you can tell that the $99 Bee microphone I got sounds better than a TLM 103 on my voice :D
@@Dracomies actually the TLM103 sounds great on your voice. At least on this video!
@@DNGMaestro Really?!! Thanks!! :D I never really like myself on that mic :P
@@Dracomies sounds very good, at least I like the presence of TLM 103 :)
Reading all the comments I feel like the odd one out, but I prefer the NT-1. Sounds warmer, while retaining a good amount of high end detail. TLM-103 sounds a bit too bright for me, but it might also be that it doesn't suit your voice personally, I've never tried it personally.
I agree actually. I don't like the 103 on my voice
I've been agonizing over microphones for 50 years. The more a-b testing I've heard, and done, the more I have come to the conclusion, that there is a psychological factor that makes definitive analysis of their sound next to impossible, and that blind comparison tests have shown there to be little, to no differences in
most contemporary large diaphram condenser microphones.
There comes a point past a certain pricepoint where both mics sound 'good' or 'great' and there's no clear winner. :D
Well said!
tlm 103 plus interface. shock mount. pop filter xlr cables is like 1.2k i cant stomach that yet
Yup it's ovepriced imo for what it is. It's an industry standard for anime and character work.
Where are you looking? Used? 1.2k wont even get you out of the door on a new mic with no accessories (after tax)
@@mpbootcamp7009 Definitely go used with these on Reverb :P Contrary to popular belief -- generally more expensive used gear are babied more.
This is t he first review I watched for the TLM 103, and I have to say I expected much more considering the price difference
As much as people have differing opinions on the NT1 I gotta say the TLM 103 isn't the best mic for everyone's voice despite it being an industry standard. There are definitely mics that aren't as well known but sound better, ie KSM32, OC18 and it's a tossup sometimes between the NT1 and 103. Most people really don't care after it's compressed on UA-cam.
Thanks. I have not tried the TLM103, but compared the NT1 with the TLM102, on few voices available that day and in that room they were basically identical.
Even if not identical, the difference is not better or worse, just a step to one side.
Also, this kind of comparison is wrong, the differences are large when you use them separately. Record them in the same time then listen to the results.
People should be realistic and think more about their rooms than microphones.
At 4 minutes I do what you said. Think you missed it :D Watch that comparison there. Both at the same time. The video loops but it's both EXACTLY at the same time. tldr, no I did it right. :D
What interface do you use
F6 was used on this one :D
@@Dracomies would you say that is a good interface ?
The TLM 103 is much more full and just sounds better. The NT1 sounds crunchy and grainy to me.
what prea is that?
Zoom F6
TLM 103= more neutral sound, more mid bass 300-500 hz, more neutral mids
RHODE NT1A= A little dip in the mid bass, a little uplift in the 9K- 12K area
Theres a difference, but that difference is NOT worth 1000 USD more, it would probably be 200 USD more.
🤷🏻♂️
TLM 103 will destroy your "s" sounds with sibilance. That is why I got rid of mine. Loved the sound but even a deEsser couldnt get rid of the s.
@@mpbootcamp7009 hmm interesting feedback, so you prefer the rhode nt1a over the tlm in overall?
@@cheporestrepo I guess I misread your comment. The video was the NT1, not the NT1A. However, your comment mentions the NT1A. I don't like the NT1A as it is too bright for my voice. But the NT1 5th Gen is amazing IMO.
@@mpbootcamp7009 thanks for the feedback!🔥
@plautusegal3374 Im currently using a Rode NT1 Gen 5. It is cheap but gets the job done. I am looking into a permanent "forever mic" but it is hard to find one that justifies the price/quality ratio. Disclaimer: I'm not a pro VO artist so YMMV
It is untrue that the TLM-103 picks uo more room noise. At keast not mine. I have the NT-1 Gen 5 and also the TLM-103 25 Year Limited edition and the TLM-103 is far better at off axis rejection. Furthernore, it aounds an order of magnitude better than the NT-1. I honestly don't understand how anyone can say differently. I really don't.
The TLM 103 is way more unforgiving, it's not close. If you have an average to poorly treated space the TLM 103 is going to pick out every flaw of the room whereas the NT1 will be more forgiving.
@@Dracomies That has definitely not my experience. I have them both right here and the TLM-103 rejects off axis sound better than my RE20 and as well as my SM7B. If you are having problems with noise make sure you are speaking either directly AT the capsule, or slightly BELOW it, not above it. If you speak above the capsule in the TLM-103 at all, off axis rejection becomes a problem. Since many users of the TLM-103 are also users of the U87Ai, in which the capsule is much higher under the screen, I see this happen. It only takes addressing the TLM-103 slightly too high to cause this. I'd be interested in your opinion if you consciously talked lower on the Mic. I'm not questioning your technique or anything like that. I used the TLM-103 regularly before I ever used the U87Ai. I used it for a while and when I went back to the TLM-103 for some projects, I had a problem and it took me a bit to figure out that it was that subtle difference that gave me a vastly different result. You could argue that shouldn't be an issue and maybe it shouldn't be, but I can't answer for that. I can only say that when I address the microphone at or below the capsule, the sound is like butter.
@@VidMashUp Sorry didn't read the wall of text. But if you're saying the TLM 103 rejects more than the SM7B and the RE20 and is picking up less reverb than those two then we are off sync here. From my personal experience the SM7B is much better at dealing with untreated spaces.
@@VidMashUp better than re20? wtf you have done with your poor tlm103. It MUST get more reverb, cause it MUCH more sensitive, thats why ppl use LDC. If only dynamic could be even near that sensitivity - no one in a hole world would lose their time and efforts to make lcd sound good, treat their room and so on...
@@vladlabyrinth6335 What a silly comment. Of course people treat their rooms. If you do professional work, you have to.
Is there a difference? Most definitely, is it a 800€ difference? I think not.
yes
TLM 103 is much more open and airy, whereas the Rode is kind of boxy with more low end
They definitely do not sound identical... The Tlm will be easy to mix because the frequencies sound clear and not harsh as the Rode... But if you have a great vocalist who has a smooth mid range, it wouldn't matter... But I wish the TLM didn't have the boost in on the high end...
i feel like the nt1 sounds better with your voice. tlm 103 has a bit more air.
TLM 103 wins for ever, for every purpose imo! I can't afford It though.
They REALLY don't sound alike, they both sound great but it's crazy someone would say that. I'd argue it sounds similar to the tlm 102 though.
I agree! I think they sound quite different but yeah there's a lot of vids out there saying they sound the same. But they're recording in a very reverberant room.
@@Dracomies Amazing how much people covet Neumann mics (and other expensive gear) but have crap rooms. I spent $2,300 building a vocal booth and it was worth more than any gear I have ever purchased for improving my sound.
@@mpbootcamp7009 Yeah an expensive mic in a crap room just sounds like a bathroom. Sound treatment is more important than everything else. Also I skip on mic comparisons where the audio sounds like a reverb city bathroom.
One already brought up on how headphones can differentiate the sound, but even on AirPods Pro 2s over UA-cam, you can hear the difference. To me, the NT1 isn't in the same class. Just plugging it into your preamp of choice, not even close. With the NT1 you have to add a HPF to tame the low end. Then you gotta take out some of the mud. Finally, you probably have to brighten it up a bit too. It's a capable mic and if you EQ and compress correctly, you can achieve pro results. It is certainly no TLM 103 though out of the box.
Try Gen 5? I believe the gen 5 NT1 is better than the TLM 103. Sure, you might have to add a Low cut (oh my goodness!) but you are going to need to EQ the Neumann to get rid of sibilance. There is no way that mic is good "out of the box".
@@mpbootcamp7009 I haven't tried gen 5 because I'm not in the market for a microphone. I'm a firm believer if you eliminate budget as the #1 concern, the goal should be to get a microphone that gets you to the sound you want with the least amount of work. The TLM 103 is one of those mics. For me, I preferred the sound and versatility of the MKH 416 (which is why I bought one) because that requires the least amount to get the sound I want personally.
@@perfectalpha But the TLM 103 is NOT a mic that will get you the sound you want with little work...unless you want a fatiguing top end and annoying sibilance. There are many self unaware UA-camrs posting clips with that mic not realizing that their sound is horrible but ignorance is bliss.
@@perfectalpha The 416 is an amazing mic...for filmmaking. Place it into a treated room and it is less impressive. It also has a very narrow range for the "Sweet spot."
@@mpbootcamp7009 I dunno...in the case of this video, the TLM 103 sounded closer to a finished VO product than the NT1. I've listened to the video again on my headset (and not just my AirPods), so I think I'm hearing this pretty accurately.
As far as the MKH 416, it's less than impressive compared to....what exactly? It's one of the most used mics in the VO game. Many UA-camrs are using them (along with a few other mics of course). It is widely regarded as one of the best mics altogether. Also, the narrow sweet spot isn't a bad thing. If you're looking to capture a specific source, it's a huge benefit. For me, I can use an MKH 416 with close mic technique, far from me or boomed out of frame with a camera setup...it's extremely versatile. One of the best mics out there.
The tlm 103 is god
It's a good mic for sure. I don't think it's a godly mic though. That honor goes to some other mic :P
@@Dracomies
I understand you, but to access those microphones you must spend three times as much as this one and the difference is not noticeable :)
Rode NT1 Sounds better imo I HAVE BOTH IM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THE TLM 103 BRUH...
This might be the worst test I have ever heard. First you are habndling the mics instead of having them setup in a mic stand.... Really?
Second you really need to keep the same distance with each test......
:( They're actually at the same distance. Measured out exactly at the same area. They're at the same distance away from the pop filter.
I just hold the microphones because it's faster for me to go through multiple microphones. I often cycle through 10-20 microphones in a review.
I loved this review ❤
It’s very natural and honest 🌹