Neumann
KM 184
Small-diaphragm condenser · Cardioid · 20–20,000 Hz · a rider regular
- 15 mV/Pa is roughly ten times the output of a vocal dynamic — the gain stays near the bottom of its travel and the noise floor stays where it belongs.
- The gentle lift around 9 kHz is the whole reason engineers argue about it: the 184 is brighter than the KM 84 it replaced, and some people never forgave it.
- 80 grams with no pad and no low-cut. Everything it does not have is the point.
Frequency response
Redrawn from Neumann’s published response graph (approximate, ±2 dB) on the fixed MicSense scale — 20 Hz–20 kHz, −20 to +15 dB — so two microphones can be compared at a glance. No image is copied; it is a guide to the shape, not a measurement. The maker’s graph (Frequency diagram on the KM 184 (Series 180) product page (SVG https://assets.sennheiser.com/assets/Frequency-diagram-KK-184_KM-A_KM-D_KM-184.svg/Zz04ZGEzMDgxNGRjMjAxMWYwOTcyOWFhNzJhZjY2MTljMg==), solid nominal curve).
Polar pattern
Generated from the first-order directivity formula for cardioid. It illustrates the pattern type — it is not a measurement of this individual model.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Neumann |
|---|---|
| Model | KM 184 |
| Type | Small-diaphragm condenser |
| Form factor | Stick / pencil |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Frequency range | 20–20,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | 15 mV/Pa · ≈ -36.5 dBV/Pa |
| Max SPL | 138 dB SPL (0.5 % THD; measured as equivalent electrical input signal) |
| Self-noise | 13 dB(A) |
| Impedance | 50 Ω (rated; load 1 kΩ) |
| Connector | XLR3M |
| Powering | Phantom 48 V |
| Weight | 80 g |
Specifications: Neumann specifications page · last checked 2 Oct 2026. These are the maker’s published figures for this model. A dash never means zero: “not published by the maker” means the maker’s documents give no figure; “not yet checked” means MicSense has not confirmed one yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.
MicSense notes
| Price tier | Premium |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1993 |
Price tier and “a rider regular” are MicSense’s own judgement, not the maker’s.
What it gets used for
- Overhead
- Choir / ensemble
- Acoustic instrument
- Hi-hat
MicSense tags microphones by the job on a live stage, not by studio category — so you can filter for “kick in” or “monitor vocal” instead of working backwards from “large-diaphragm condenser”.
KM 184 alternatives: closest in published specs
Based on published specifications only — always listen at soundcheck. These are the microphones in the MicSense library whose datasheet figures sit closest to the Neumann KM 184’s for the same live job, with the reasons. It says nothing about how they sound.
-
Shure
SM81
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Same cardioid pattern
- Same form: stick / pencil
- Similar published response shape (≈ 0.5 dB apart on average, 100 Hz–10 kHz)
- ≈ 8 dB less output — add about 8 dB gain
-
sE Electronics
sE7
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Same cardioid pattern
- Same form: stick / pencil
- About the same output — within the datasheets’ tolerance
Not comparable: response curve not redrawn yet
-
Sennheiser
MKH 8040
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Same cardioid pattern
- Same form: stick / pencil
- About the same output — within the datasheets’ tolerance
- Max SPL as high or higher (142 vs 138 dB SPL)
Not comparable: response curve not redrawn yet
Compare it against the alternatives.
MicSense lets you put up to four microphones side by side — spec table, overlaid response curves and polar diagrams on one screen. Free with a free Squaresmile account.