Difference between a km184 and km84?

the riff · Post by **the riff** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:09 pm

km84's are getting VERY pricey. I was wondering how the km184 compares?

MoreSpaceEcho · Post by **MoreSpaceEcho** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:37 pm

conventional interent wisdom has it that the km84=good, km184=insanely bright and not good.

i've never heard either so this post is worth -$35.

Petimar · Post by **Petimar** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:39 pm

The KM184 is very hyped in the upper end to my ears. For my applications (acoustic guitar, mandolin, string bass, etc) I very much prefer the KM84.

I still use the 184 ocassionally, recently on an archtop L5 type acoustic jazz player where the guitar was so dark, it needed the brightness. I will use the 84 95% of the time.

KFT · Post by **KFT** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:58 pm

One big difference:

KM84=Has a transformer, KM184=Transformerless

cjmnash · Post by **cjmnash** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:10 pm

the km84 has a pad too...the 184 does not.

chris

nestle · Post by **nestle** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:19 pm

the 184 gets slagged alot and I adimit I haven't used a 84, it does seem to be popular. I bought a pair of 184's on ebay for $900 and they are very useful, yeah they are a little hyped but not insanely so. They are great little mics, and until I can afford better I'm pretty happy with them.
Check out the thread on the SM81 for a flatter option.
Also the Behringer B-5 with the 2 caps is a fantastic deal for 85 bucks. This mic is really worth checking out, especially the omni cap for acoustic 12 string. Just jam it in the soundhole. I A/B'd it with my 81, 184, AT4041 and it really stood right up. OK.... laff at me but it's a deal I tell you!

Mix413 · Post by **Mix413** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:51 pm

As mentioned earlier the 184 has a more pronounced upper frequency boost and no transformer. The 84 is more natural and smoother sounding to my ears and takes EQ very well. Great mics for acoustic instruments, overheads, etc.

dokushoka · Post by **dokushoka** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:10 pm

IMHO, they are two very different, but both very valid tools. I really enjoy the km84 on overheads, upright bass, hi hat, among other things. The Km184, on the other hand, is a wonderful mic for acoustic guitar, particularly steel strings. I think they are both nice mics to have in your arsenal. The KM184 is by no measure, a 'bad' mic, in my opinion.

dokushoka · Post by **dokushoka** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:13 pm

Also worth mentioning, is the modern 'version' of the Km84.

http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=curr ... escription

wwittman · Post by **wwittman** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 8:59 pm

The difference is like the difference between mic pres that are IC and transformerless compared to ones that are discrete with input and output transformers.

To ME< in the case of the KM-84, the difference between good and bad.

The so-called "new version" is also transformerless.

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Difference between a km184 and km84?

Difference between a km184 and km84?

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