Beyerdynamic M160 Review | Musician Nerd
Updated on Mar 16, 2022
Table of Contents
The Beyerdynamic M160 is one of my favorite microphones, and I'm beyond excited for the chance to review it today. You may be wondering, why all the excitement? Well, as microphone enthusiasts, we don't see a lot of ribbon microphones around, but as we'll dive into later on, they offer such a deep, natural sound that many microphones wish they could compete with.
Beyerdynamic M160 Ribbon Microphone Side Shot
The Beyerdynamic M 160 Dual Ribbon Hypercardioid Microphone was originally released in 1957, bringing about it's own unique twist on the traditional ribbon style. It has so many versatile uses, and has a history of being used by some of the most legendary musicians the world has ever seen, like Led Zeppelin's John Bonham for his drum set. It's definitely narrowed down to the music market, whether you're a singer or instrumentalist, so if that sounds like you, keep on reading!
For today's review, we'll be talking about the Beyerdynamic M160 in great detail. We'll start by diving into everything we love about the microphone, and then go into what & who it's best used for. Afterward, we're going to talk about some of the potential downsides of using this microphone. It's not commonly found, but that may not be a bad thing. We're going to find out and then let you know some of our favorite alternatives.
Why It's Great
The Beyerdynamic M160 is quite the beautiful microphone, from the physical design down to the artistic sound it's capable of producing. Of course, it's one of the best ribbon microphones on the market and a big reason it's still talked about today. But many of you may not know what the difference between microphone types is, and why being a ribbon is so exciting.
Close Up Of Beyerdynamic M160 Capsule
These types of microphone use a thin electrically conductive ribbon, typically made of aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm, which is then placed between the poles of a magnet to produce a voltage by electromagnetic induction. They are extremely delicate, as the ribbon is typically 1/50th the thickness of human hair.
Crazy, right? But the greater sensitivity to input impedance leads to a more natural sound. However, ribbons are closely related to dynamic microphones, and sometimes need to be paired with a good microphone preamplifier to increase the input volume.
While it features a dual-ribbon setup, it's actually using a Hypercardioid polar pattern, which is one of the most unique features of the Beyerdynamic M160. This makes it very directional, which pairs well with the natural, wide, and rich pickup from ribbon microphones.
It has a wide-range frequency response rate of 40Hz - 18kHz, maintaining a rich, warm sound on the lows and crystal clear high-end.
Beyerdynamic M160 XLR Port
As we'll talk about in the next section, the Beyerdynamic M160 is very popular for instruments. One reason for this is the high transient response rate, which is responsible for capturing rapid sound waves caused by vibration. The two most notable examples of this would be the kick drum or the strings on a guitar. When you factor in the M160s ability to record transience with the well-balanced frequency response & SPL (Sound Pressure Level), we can begin to understand the power of this microphoone.
In terms of connectivity, while some microphones allow you to use USB ports, the Beyerdynamic M160 is an XLR microphone. This is important to keep in mind if you're planning to plug it right into your computer. XLR has been the industry standard for decades and is shown to maintain the highest level of quality.
What It's Good For
The Beyerdynamic M160 is a highly versatile microphone, that's great for all types of music. Notice how I said music. I really wouldn't look at this microphone if you're looking for something to record videos with or do live streams, because when the Beyerdynamic M160 was originally designed, it was built around getting the most beautiful sound from instruments and vocals, with a full range of frequencies to produce top-notch sound.
Beyerdynamic M160 Double Ribbon Microphone Box Kit
Most of the time when I hear people talk about the Beyerdynamic M160, they're talking about recording the drums. As I mentioned before, it has a popular history being used by one of the greatest drummers in history, John Bonham. This is because of the colorful rich sound and high SPL (Sound Pressure Level) this microphone is capable of achieving. The rapid transience from the bass drum along with the loud wall of noise is going to come through with ease for the Beyerdynamic M160, giving you the same sound as if you were still in the room with it.
However, it's great for every instrument. In fact, I argue it's one of the best microphones for acoustic guitar, thanks to the broad frequency capabilities. Many microphones, particularly condensers, have strong wide-range frequency response, but the Beyerdynamic M160 takes that a step further. Yes, it records each frequency well, but it also paints them the way they were meant to be heard. You get the rich, colorful bass, with a present mid-range, topped off the crispy high-end frequencies.
The guitar is one of the hardest instruments to reproduce perfectly, because of the broad sounds. From the full, rich noise of the soundhole, to the high-end waves of the strings. But even the ability to capture the sound of impact from your pick to the strings is like a warm knife cutting through butter with this microphone. To add to that, I've tested it with both Ukeleles and Mandolins, as well as brass instruments and of course, the drums.
The Downsides
There's not a whole lot wrong with the Beyerdynamic M160, per ce, but some people would argue it's a very niche microphone. It does have a little coloring to it, so you won't get the brightest sound if you're on vocals, but it is almost in a different category. I like a raw, bright sample on vocals, which is why I don't use this mic as my primary in the studio, but if you're aiming for a rich sound, it gives you that and some.
Again, if you're on the drums or recording the acoustic guitar or amplifier, it's a world-class microphone. For vocals, it may feel a bit bias.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ribbon
- High SPL (Drums, Amplifiers)
- High End Sound
Cons
- Niche Sound
Best Used For
- Instruments
- Vocals
Alternatives
The sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 is by far the best alternative I could ever recommend to you if you're stuck on getting a ribbon microphone, while saving a few bucks. I'll be candid and tell you that it's still got quite the price tag, but if you can save a little for a minimal performance sacrifice, then why not.
sE Electronics VR2 Voodoo Active Ribbon Mic
It's not a microphone I see being used very often, but I've always been a big fan of the sE Electronics Voodoo VR2, and still pull mine out from time to time. I love the shape of the capsule as it totally shows off the iconic ribbon effect, and balances the sound frequencies better than many other mics on the market. You get the full trifecta here, from a strong mid-range presence, with powerful, clear lows, and one of the more impressive high-end roll offs I've seen in a mic. The result is a truly organic sound that'll knock your socks off.
Because of the strong level of clarity on the high-end, I sometimes prefer it for recording cymbals over the Beyerdynamic M160. That being said, it's also great for other instruments and even your vocals. It comes with a beautiful wooden case and a custom shock-mount. A great alternative to the M160 and a beautiful microphone all around.
The Sennheiser e945 is another incredible alternative to the Beyerdynamic M160 if you're looking for a solid vocal microphone. Sennheiser makes some of my favorite microphones, though they're often found in the niche market for singers. The e945 is one found on stage being used by many well-known artists, as it offers a ton of reliability.
Sennheiser e945 Dynamic Handheld Microphone
The Sennheiser e945 uses a strong metal construction, making it incredibly durable and reliable. If you've ever worked on a tour set, you might've dropped a few mics in your time (heck, some of us do it as a signal for triumph). But it's also effective if you're singing out in the rain or other poor weather conditions. It uses a shock-mounted capsule which will help reduce any impact or handling noises, making it especially effective for those looking for a handheld device.
Some cheaper alternatives will carry all the noise of you moving around through the mic, and that's something they've been able to avoid. A more unique feature would be the Neodymium ferrous magnet with boron, which helps maintain microphone stability in any climate.
And as we would expect, it uses a supercardioid pickup pattern. This polar pattern isolates the noise coming in through the mic to be focused on what you're channeling directly into the front. This helps prevent any other background noises (whether it's noise from within your home or other performers on stage) from mashing into your vocal. It may not be a ribbon, but overall, one of my favorite microphones and a perfect, more affordable alternative.
Summary
By now you should have all the information you need to determine whether or not the Beyerdynamic M160 Dual Ribbon Microphone is the right choice for you. It's such a unique, special microphone that I love to use myself when I get the chance. As a huge Led Zeppelin fan, I've tried my best to recreate some of their iconic sounds on the drums with this mic, and it always sounds so natural.
Versatile microphones like this one are highly useful, and I've found it sounds great with anything I record. So what do you think, is it time you gave it a try? If you do, let us know your own personal thoughts! We love hearing your feedback on the suggestions we offer so that we can better understand your point of view. If you have any cool content you've created and want to share, feel free to post below!
Posted on Aug 18, 2021
Recording Performing
Have questions for us? Email us at info@musiciannerd.com