Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $1,750
High-end/Boutique
$100
$401+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Discover the Neumann KM 84, a coveted small diaphragm FET condenser microphone that's a genuine classic in the world of music recording. Born out of a unique request by the Norwegian State Television in the mid-1960s for smaller, transistor-based microphones, the KM 84 is renowned for its revolutionary phantom power, an innovation that set a new standard in the industry.
Crafted with the KK 64 capsule from the tube-amplified KM 64 microphone, the KM 84 produces a near-perfect cardioid pattern, maintaining an exceptional frequency response even 130-degrees off-axis. This results in a strikingly natural sound, free of comb-filtered artifacts caused by other instrument bleed.
The KM 84's high headroom FET and transformer-output amplifier, together with its switchable -10dB pad, makes it an ideal choice for close miking of drums, particularly snare drum, recording even the hottest of signal sources with ease.
Key Features:
- Born out of a unique request for small, transistor-based microphones
- Revolutionary phantom power for seamless operation
- Uses the KK 64 capsule from the tube-amplified KM 64 microphone
- Near-perfect cardioid pattern maintains frequency response even 130-degrees off-axis
- High headroom FET and transformer-output amplifier
- Switchable -10dB pad for recording hot signal sources
- Ideal for close miking of drums, particularly snare drum
- All "i" designation microphones come with an XLR output connector for export to the US
- KM 84 (no i) is electrically the same but comes with a din-type Tuchel connector for the output
Product specs
| Brand | Neumann |
| Model | KM 84 Small Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone |
| Finish | Matte Black, Nickel |
| Year | 1966 - 1992 |
| Made In | Germany |
| Categories | Microphones |
| Electronics | Analog, Solid State |
| Microphone Type | Small-Diaphragm Condenser |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Wired/Wireless | Wired |
FAQs
-
What is the primary application of the Neumann KM 84 microphone?
-
The Neumann KM 84 is renowned for its smooth and natural sound, making it ideal for recording classical music, drum overheads, snare drums, acoustic guitars, and pianos. Its versatility also suits a range of acoustic instruments and ensemble recordings.
-
What is the polar pattern of the Neumann KM 84 and why is it important?
-
The Neumann KM 84 features a cardioid polar pattern, which is crucial for isolating the sound source while minimizing ambient noise and room reflections, making it excellent for studio recordings.
-
How does the Neumann KM 84 differ from the KM 184?
-
The Neumann KM 84, produced from 1966 to 1992, is known for its warm, natural sound, whereas the KM 184 offers a slightly different tone and response. Engineers choose between them based on specific recording needs.
-
Is the Neumann KM 84 suitable for live performances?
-
While primarily designed for studio use, the Neumann KM 84 can also be employed in live settings due to its robust build and excellent sound isolation capabilities provided by its cardioid pattern.
-
What type of electronics does the Neumann KM 84 use?
-
The Neumann KM 84 uses analog, solid-state electronics, which contribute to its renowned natural and detailed sound reproduction.
Videos
soundpurestudios
Microphone Shootout: Vintage Neumann KM84 vs Neumann KM184 vs Peluso P84
Microphone Shootout: Vintage Neumann KM84 vs Neumann KM184 vs Peluso P84
soundpurestudios
Soyuz Su-011 vs Neumann KM84
ProfessorDan
microphone comparison: Neumann KM84 vs. Schoeps MK4 on acoustic guitar
Robert Hasleder
Neumann U87 vs KM84 on vocals
ProfessorDan
Talking Microphones w/Joel Cameron (Neumann KM84, Coles 4038, U47 Clone)
Jon Meyer Music
Recording acoustic guitars comparison Neumann Km84 vs AKG 451-B vs DPA 4011-TL (No talk)
Javi Peña
Neumann KM84 vs. Line Audio CM4 on acoustic guitar
Robert Hasleder
Vintage Neumann KM84 - Best Overhead Mic?
Max Bauhof
Reviews
PROS
-
Exceptional for acoustic guitar, beats U87 and 414 in quality
-
Natural sound and level of detail surpass AKG 451Es and Gefell 300s
-
Smooth top end, makes hats and cymbals sit perfectly in mixes
-
Provides full-bodied, detailed, and organic sound across various instruments
-
More feedback resistant on stage compared to other high-end mics
-
Less hyped high frequencies than other small diaphragm condensers (SDCs)
-
Versatile, amazing on drums, guitar, vocals, and more with unique room vibe capturing
CONS
-
Higher self noise than some modern microphones
-
Not ideal for low level applications or distant mic situations due to self noise
-
Can require effort to find the magic spot in a room for optimal sound capture
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Neumann KM 84.
Comparisons
-
Warm Audio WA-84 is a budget-friendly clone of Neumann KM 84, with reviews noting it's not identical but gets close.
Source -
Advanced Audio's SDCs and Micparts models are creatively modeled after KM 84, often compared favorably to KM 184.
Source -
sE Electronics sE8 and Lewitt pencil microphones are suggested alternatives for those seeking high-quality sound without the KM 84's price.
Source -
The WA84 has a transformer like the KM84, offering a warmer tone compared to the KM184, which lacks this feature.
Source
Features and functionality
Use cases and applications
-
Modeling mics like Antelope Edge Note can emulate KM 84, offering diverse miking methods and sound possibilities.
Source -
Correct mic positioning is crucial; even budget mics can yield excellent results with proper placement and post-production tweaks.
Source -
Users playing traditional American fiddle found that the WA84, when used with an SSL2 interface, captured an accurate and pleasing tone.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 6 Ratings
618
Incredible sounding mics
I have a pair of these (not matched) that were picked up on eBay and required a bit of love to get them back to their best. They sound amazing on lots of sources. Less hyped HF than some other SDC's. Bit more self noise than some more modern mics but well worth having in the locker.
5455
Matched pair-Story of love & a love of different applications.
Fuck...I'd writen a thoughtful review & it got erarsed. I'll cover the main thoughts & it'll likely be better anyway....Yup, an XY on Drums or awesome on a stereo acoustic guitar. I gotta be honest I've used them less like I'd expected & found myself chasing a roomo vibe with these guys. From this pair I keep moving & moving to find that magic spot in the room (yes, usually on drums but it's all over tons of tracks-guitar, elect guit, Voxs, etc) to fill in where my other mics can't be. Blending mics. Like to catch evil reflections off a hard surface like glass. Endless fun
That said? Sounds on he standard applications of these guys is amazing...I can think of others that'd I'd like but I'll never give them up & that's largely cuz when I can chase room on a drum set or a guitar cab & if I watch the phase I've got fantastic sounds. Enjoy the fun!
41029
these guys and the much cheaper rode NT5s used to be my go to acoustic guitar sound in stereo or singly... although when we were doing my band's record backin the day the engineer I hired blew my mind on a mono track by shooting out one of these, a 451, an nt5 and a lowly oktava mk03 with the regular old card capsule on it and the oktava totally won that day and only got better with some summit tla whacking down the peaks. It was a weird part though, all wound strings in drop D with weird inside voicings and theyw anted me to play it chilling on a sofa in the lounge like when we were talking about the song the day before.... off on a tangent, but you are lucky to own a pair of km84s, I could enver afford them and had to settle a lot for the rodes in my arsenal when I was working. These are really good to tighten up echo chamber recordings too where you would be thinking LDC, M49 or C12 cap all the way but things are actually too sloshy but too stylized printing EQ and compression to control it. Like, bang, KM84, problem solved.
Artist usage
Add artist
Used as a hi-hat mic on "Linger", as mentioned in this March 2019 Sound on Sound interview.
In regard to drum miking, Stephen Street's approach was fairly standard for early '90s recording. "Yeah, pretty traditional in a sense," he says. "I might have used a [Neumann] U47 FET inside the bass drum. The usual kinds of Shure dynamic mics on top of the snare and under. Sennheiser [MD] 421s on the toms, KM84 on the hi?hat, and the overheads would have been two U87s. That tended to be my go-to set-up back in those days."
"I use Neumann KM 84s in the studio, as well as in performance with my Sextet and Bluegrass Experience."
Hyde taped together Shure SM57 and KM84 mics for the top snare head
Used for the hi-hat on Donald Fagen's Morph the Cat, as stated by mix engineer Elliott Scheiner in this August 2006 Sound on Sound interview.
According to Elliott Scheiner, the following mics were used on the Morph The Cat recording sessions.
- Kick drum: AKG D112.
- Snare: SM57 (only on top).
- Hi-hat: Neumann KM81 or 84.
- Toms: Audio-Technica ATM25.
- Overheads: Neumann U67.
- Room mics: Electrovoice RE20.
- Electric guitar: Shure SM57 right on speaker cone.
- Piano: 2x AKG C12 mics, about 12 inches from the strings.
- Trumpet and trombone: Coles ribbon.
- Tenor sax: Neumann U67.
- Baritone sax: Neumann FET47.
The KM 84 was also used for the hi-hat on Toto XIV, as mentioned by producer CJ Vanston in this March 5, 2015 Mix Online article.
On the kick drum he placed a Sennheiser 421 and a Yamaha subwoofer, and on the snare drum a Shure 57 with another Shure 57 underneath. On the hi-hat he switched between a Neumann KM 84 and Shure SM81.
“For overheads I used a pair of AKG C12As,” Petocz says. “Tom mic’s were 421s and for room mics I had a 47 mono room mic very close to the drums, halfway between the kick and the snare. Then for the more traditional room mic drum sound, I used a pair of U 67 Neumanns and occasionally a C-24 from the back, just sparingly. They all went through the beautiful vintage 8068 Neve console, the best sounding Neve in town. And some compression on the snare when it needed it, but only slightly. Then what I did is go direct out when I could instead of busing it, just for that added purity.”
In the video titled "Cozy LA HOME STUDIO Setup | DAVID PETERS 2026 Studio Tour," at the 45:20 mark, David Peters is shown displaying a Neumann KM 84 microphone from his microphone collection.
In the video titled "Foo Fighters Everlong: Inside the song - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro," at the 24:51 mark, Bradley Cook discusses using the Neumann KM 84 microphone on the hi-hats during the recording of the Foo Fighters’ song "Everlong."
In this Instagram post, it is confirmed that Alan Damien used a Neumann KM 84 based on the hashtag.
Used for the acoustic guitars on Infamous Angel, as stated by engineer Richard Adler in this November 17, 2020 Mix Online interview.
On acoustic guitars, Adler says, “At that time, I frequently used guitar mics with a tight cardioid pattern, such as the AKG 451, but on this session I think I used Neumann KM84s. I had several of those that were really good guitar mics. I would place them four or five inches up the neck from the sound hole to avoid getting a boomy sound, especially in a live situation.”
Used for the snare on This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, as stated by engineer Ian Grimble in this June 1998 Sound on Sound interview.
Ian Grimble: "Sean (Moore) has a Yamaha kit, and we surrounded it with four '60s‑style very dead baffles, to stop the low‑end reflections from creating a boomy sound. I used a lot of compression on the drum mics, so boom could have been a problem. For the last album I miked up the drums with old valve mics, such as Telefunken and old Sony models, but this time I used a Shure SM57 and Neumann KM84 on the snare, an AKG D12 close to the bass drum and a Sennheiser MKH20 three feet away, a Sennheiser 421 on the toms, and for overheads we used Sennheiser MKH20 or BPM microphones."
Album Usage
The Neumann KM 84 has been featured on the following albums:
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston & Calum Scott (2025)
A Head Full of Dreams
Coldplay (2015)
Volume 3
She & Him (2013)
Graffiti Soul (Deluxe Edition)
Simple Minds (2009)
Black Ice
AC/DC (2008)
Bring It Back
McAlmont & Butler (2002)
Two Against Nature
Steely Dan (2000)
Mule Variations (Remastered)
Tom Waits (1999)
Livefields
Toto (1999)
This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
Manic Street Preachers (1998)
The Colour And The Shape
Foo Fighters (1997)
The Sound Of McAlmont And Butler
McAlmont & Butler (1995)
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
The Cranberries (1993)
Linger
The Cranberries (1993)
Infamous Angel
Iris DeMent (1992)
Nevermind
Nirvana (1991)
West End Girls
Pet Shop Boys (1984)
Who Are You
The Who (1978)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Neumann KM 84, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
-s.webp?v=1783260056)
-s.webp?v=1783290620)
More Neumann Condenser Microphones
$519.00 - $799.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$899.00 - $1,295.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
-m.webp?v=1783335695)
$2,349.00 - $3,995.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$508.80 - $849.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$2,782.69 - $3,995.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$1,456.37 - $1,995.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$748.89 - $899.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$3,463.04 - $4,395.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$4,300.00 - $8,299.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
-m.webp?v=1783335730)
$4,999.00 - $5,995.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$1,281.75 - $1,750.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$533.45 - $849.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$1,439.00 - $1,695.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$714.56 - $849.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$16,111.00
in Condenser Microphones Rank
$1,173.60 - $1,595.00
$1,975.00 - $3,500.00
$3,699.00 - $4,395.00
-m.webp?v=1783316957)
$1,975.00 - $3,500.00
$2,349.00 - $3,995.00
$8,100.00 - $9,995.00
$989.00 - $1,266.00
$3,421.95 - $3,995.00
.png?v=1783256553)
$554.06 - $699.00
Accessories & Related Items
Community setups
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Condenser Microphones
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
austinmwGear IQ 5227
-
