To meet the operating conditions encountered in the studio the microphones are subject to testing throughout their manufacture. The capsules alone undergo more than 50 different tests before final assembly.
The Neumann Company
For decades, Neumann has been regarded worldwide as the standard-setting, leading manufacturer of studio microphones.
THE ORIGIN OF ALL STUDIO MICROPHONES
Many products introduced in the history of the company have become milestones of professional audio technology. It is no accident that when listing their equipment, audio studios almost always put Neumann microphones at the top of the list – they are a recognized sign of a highly professional operation.
HIGHEST SOUND QUALITY
All this gives the customer the security of acquiring a product of the very highest sound quality, reliability and lasting value, an investment that usually survives several generations of sound engineers. Neumann microphones are certainly not cheap, but professionals know from their day-to-day experience that they are worth their price. And many home recording studio owners, too, would love to call “a real Neumann” their own.
In addition to countless sound engineers who use Neumann microphones in their studio productions, world-famous musicians are among the users. No matter what taste, style or era. The easiest way to start the search for users of high-end products from Berlin would be to make a list of your favorite musicians.
A COMPANY WITH A LONG HISTORY
However, the company that was founded in Berlin in the year 1928 was also concerned for a long time with other technology in addition to microphones. The versatile inventive genius and pioneer Georg Neumann simultaneously developed phonograph record-cutting machines and rechargeable batteries. The technology of the latter remains the basis for today's omnipresent storage batteries.
For many years, the company also built highly customized sound production units for radio studios, theaters and concert halls. In the year 1991 Neumann became an important part of the Sennheiser Group.
In 2010, Neumann launched its first studio monitor, the KH 120. KH stands for Klein + Hummel and reflects Neumann’s dedication in carrying forward the heritage of this legendary pro audio brand from Germany. K+H gained worldwide recognition for numerous groundbreaking innovations, one of them being the modern concept of a studio monitor with built-in power amplifiers and an active crossover, introduced as early as 1967. Over the years, K+H refined this concept and became a monitoring reference in the European broadcast and recording studio scene. With K+H becoming part of Neumann, this legacy lives on and is brought to perfection in the full KH line of studio monitors.
The company headquarters, with the development, marketing, sales and service departments, continues to be located in Berlin, where the 75th anniversary of the company was celebrated in 2003 and the 80th anniversary in 2008.
QUALITY AND PRECISION
For some years now, production has moved to Wedemark near Hanover, where it is carried out under ultra-clean room conditions that meet the highest international standards. Despite all the advances in machinery and production technologies, high-quality microphones still involve a great deal of manual work. The precision and dedication of the specially trained employees are decisive factors for the proverbial Neumann quality.
In order to meet the exacting requirements of studio technology, the microphones are subjected to a wide variety of test procedures throughout the entire production process. The capsules alone undergo up to 50 different tests before final assembly.
The Perfect Link
The MT 48 audio interface, developed in collaboration with Merging Technologies and launched in 2023, is the perfect link between Neumann microphones, studio monitors and headphones, ensuring consistent reference quality from the sound source to the ear. With a dynamic range of 136 dB (A), the finest microphone preamps and headphone amplifiers as well as AES67 network capability and an intuitive touchscreen user interface, the MT 48 sets a new benchmark for desktop interfaces – and beyond.
Neumann is now the only pro audio brand to offer end-to-end workflow at reference level, from sound recording to sound reproduction.
