Neumann History

Quality Must Be Measurable

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.

Since the very beginning in 1928 Neumann condenser microphones have always operated on an audio frequency circuit, with the capsule consequently acting as a very high-impedance generator, rendering it highly sensitive to mois- ture. And as moisture represents one of the most common operational hazards of a warm recording studio, Neumann has paid great attention to all aspects of insulation.

Quality control devoted to this aspect includes a moisture chamber, in which capsules are placed until both the diaphragm and microphone body are dripping wet. Even under these conditions insulation resistances to the order of 20 x 106 Mohms are measured in the capsules.

Another test is to cool the microphones to slightly above freezing point and then place them in a chamber with 100% humidity, at a relatively high temperature. The spontaneous moisture formation that follows infiltrates not only the capsule but the entire electronic cir- cuitry. It would have to be an extremely uncomfortable studio to recreate such conditions to say the least, but just in case, we would like to point out that every type of Neumann condenser microphone will pass this test.

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