Microphone Shootout: Behringer B-1 vs Neumann TLM 103

I’m a 15 year radio veteran. I’ve seen the debate between high-end and low-end microphones both in-person and on message boards. Usually, the argument ends with snide comment like: “The Behringer is crap because it’s only $98 dollars!”… That’s not very scientific, so I wanted to study this on a technical level.

In my office is a Behringer B-1. I purchased it new in 2001 from zzounds.com. It’s widely known as a cheap, yet rugged starter microphone. I’ve use it to voice-track, cut voice-overs, and mic live instruments (the coolest being a 100 year-old cello). It’s a tough microphone. The kind of microphone you can toss into the backseat on the way to a gig and not think twice.

The Neumann TLM 103 is known as a high-end, yet affordable option for voice-over professionals. The Neumann name is known throughout the recording industry as THE microphone for vocals. It’s truly the Cadillac! There are three TLM 103′s in the building, one in each production room. Many of our DJ’s have them in their home studios too. Note: most radio stations wouldn’t dare spend $1,200 on a production room microphone.

What you’re about to see (and hear) is me talking into both microphones – unedited. To prove that I’m not swapping voice processors, you’ll even hear me changing out the microphones. (note: never unplug microphones before turning off the phantom power!)

I personally have no stake in the argument, I’m an engineer. I simply wanted to introduce a more technical point-of-view.

Technical Specifications

Behringer B-1

• Type: Condenser
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Pickup Pattern: Cardioid
• Diaphragm: 1-inch pressure-gradient transducer capsule
• Power: 48v Phantom
• Construction: Ultra low-noise transformerless circuitry
• Price $98.00 USD
• Website: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B-1.aspx

Neumann TLM 103

• Type: Condenser
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Pickup Pattern: Cardioid
• Diaphragm: 1-inch pressure-gradient transducer capsule
• Power: 48v Phantom
• Construction: Ultra low-noise transformerless circuitry
• Price: $1,200 USD
• Website: http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=current_microphones&cid=tlm103_description

I grabbed these specifications from each respective website. I’m not going to dive into exactly how they are made, or the quality of materials used…but on paper they should sound almost identical.

Test 1: Basic Home Studio

With this test, I’m recreating a (very) basic home studio. There’s no audio board, just the voice processor plugged into “Line-In” on the motherboard sound card. For both tests, the B-1 is set to “flat” as there is no low-frequency roll-off option on the TLM 103.

Equipment:

• Symetrix 528e Voice Processor
• On-Board High Definition Audio Card (Dell Optiplex 360)

Adobe Audition Screen-shot:

Average Frequency Response:

Behringer B-1

Neumann TLM 103

Test 2: Production Room

Now, let’s move into a real-live-working production room at a radio station. This room is “Prod 3″. It is used daily to voice-track shows and cut commercials. It features a flat-response 12-channel mixer, and a professional grade sound card – oh, and lots of foam on the walls.

Note: I used the same exact Voice Processor in each test. 

Equipment:

• Symetrix 528e Voice Processor
• Broadcast Tools ProMix 12
• Audio Science 4344 Sound Card

Adobe Audition Screen-shot:

Average Frequency Response: 

Behringer B1

Neumann TLM 103

Sound Check

• Listen: B1 vs TLM 103 – Home Studio (320kbps .mp3 – unedited)
• Listen: B1 vs TLM 103 – Production Room (320kbps .mp3 – unedited)

Conclusion

It’s obvious the production room environment sounds better. That has nothing to do with the board, and everything to do with the professional sound card.

IMHO: The B-1 sounds brighter and a bit “punchy”, while the TLM 103 sounds warm and more “mellow”. Overall, they’re not that far apart. (Really) That’s no surprise since their specifications and frequency responses are identical.

How? Quality of materials and parts used in construction.

What does that mean? Nothing. A Top-40 DJ might want to sound punchy, while a soft-rock DJ will want to sound warmer. Do you want to flaunt the name “Neumann” to owners of B-1′s on messages boards? Or do you want to have a fantastic sounding microphone for less than $100? In the end, it’s all about your budget and application.

A co-worker of mine, John Garrett, does voice-overs for a living. He started out with a Behringer B-1. He jokes all the time about how that “starter microphone” made him a living for a few years. (Last year he purchased a TLM 103).

My advice (and John Garrett’s) to up-and-coming voice-over artists is: Don’t worry about the microphone as much as the gear surrounding it.

• Buy a high-quality USB sound card. A Tascam US-144MKII or an M-Audio Fast Track. These will make your audio sound better – long before you hook-up the microphone
• Buy an industry standard voice processor like the Symetrix 528e. Adjust it to fit YOUR voice.
• Use sound dampening foam in your studio/room

When you’re both successful and have some extra cash, then take the leap and get the TLM 103. Just don’t expect gigs to flood in because you own a $1,200 microphone.