Elevating Your Sound: Beyerdynamic M 160 Review

When it comes to capturing the nuanced and intricate sound of acoustic guitars in both studio and live settings, selecting the right microphone is crucial. One microphone I have found that has consistently proven its worth in this realm is the Beyerdynamic M 160. Known for its unique design and exceptional audio quality, the M 160 has become a favorite among recording engineers and musicians alike. It’s on my list of the 7 Proven Winners: Discovering the Best Mic for Acoustic Guitar. In this Beyerdynamic M 160 review, I’ll delve into its features and capabilities and explore its performance when used for recording studio sessions and live acoustic guitar performances.

Beyerdynamic M 160

The Beyerdynamic M 160 is a superb double-ribbon microphone that faithfully captures the intricate nuances of acoustic guitars with its balanced and transparent sound reproduction.

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Design and Build Quality

The design and build quality of the Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone are noteworthy and contribute to its exceptional performance. Being a ribbon microphone, the design offers unique features not found in condenser microphones.

Double-Ribbon Design

The M 160 features a unique double-ribbon design. Two symmetrically placed ribbons, allow it to capture sound from both the front and back. This design contributes to its balanced and natural audio reproduction.

Slender Profile

The microphone has a slender profile, making it easy to position and suitable for various applications, including close-miking of instruments.

Robust Construction

The M 160 is built to withstand the demands of professional use. It features durable and rugged construction, ensuring its reliability and longevity even in rigorous studio and live environments.

Bidirectional Polar Pattern

The microphone’s bidirectional polar pattern provides focused pickup from the front and back while rejecting sound from the sides. This pattern helps minimize unwanted ambient noise and bleed from other instruments. This makes it suitable for stereo recordings or isolating specific sound sources.

Hypercardioid Off-Axis Rejection

In live performance situations, the M 160’s hypercardioid polar pattern excels at rejecting off-axis sound, reducing stage noise and feedback. This pattern ensures that the microphone captures the desired sound source with clarity while minimizing interference from other sources.

Sensitivity to Handling Noise

As a ribbon microphone, the M 160 is sensitive to handling noise. Proper technique and the use of shock mounts or other isolation measures can help mitigate this sensitivity, ensuring clean and artifact-free recordings.

In summary, the Beyerdynamic M 160 showcases a unique double-ribbon design, robust construction, and thoughtful features such as bidirectional and hypercardioid polar patterns. This makes it a reliable and versatile microphone for capturing a wide range of audio sources in professional settings.

Frequency Response and Sound Quality

The Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone offers an impressive frequency response and sound quality, characterized by its balanced and transparent audio reproduction. I love the frequency response of ribbon microphones and how they can affect the character of an acoustic guitar.

Frequency Response

The M 160 has a wide frequency response ranging from 40 Hz to 18 kHz. This extended range allows it to capture the full spectrum of acoustic guitar sounds, including low-end richness, midrange warmth, and high-frequency sparkle.

Smooth and Natural Sound

The M 160 is renowned for its ability to produce a smooth and natural sound. Its ribbon transducer design captures the subtle nuances and details of acoustic instruments with exceptional accuracy. This ensures a faithful representation of the source.

Exceptional Transient Response

The microphone’s ribbon design enables it to have a remarkable transient response. It accurately captures the quick attack and decay of acoustic guitar notes. The result is a precise and dynamic reproduction of the instrument’s sound.

Balanced Frequency Distribution

The M 160 offers a balanced frequency distribution, providing a clear and even representation of the acoustic guitar’s tonal qualities. It captures the lows, mids, and highs with accuracy and without any exaggerated emphasis. This allows for a natural and well-rounded sound reproduction.

Transparent and Detailed Reproduction

With its balanced frequency response and accurate transient response, the M 160 delivers a transparent and detailed sound reproduction. It preserves the intricate harmonics, subtle tonal variations, and delicate nuances of acoustic guitars. This further allows the listener to experience the full depth and richness of the instrument.

Low Self-Noise

The M 160 boasts low self-noise, contributing to its high signal-to-noise ratio. This characteristic ensures that the microphone captures the desired sound source with minimal interference from background noise or internal electronics, resulting in clean and pristine recordings.

My summary, the Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone offers a wide frequency response, smooth and natural sound reproduction, exceptional transient response, balanced frequency distribution, and detailed audio capture. These qualities make it an excellent choice for accurately capturing the nuanced and vibrant sound. This is especially true of acoustic guitars in both studio and live settings.

Studio Performance

The Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone delivers outstanding performance in the studio, making it a highly regarded choice among recording engineers. I feel the M 160, like most ribbon microphones, is made for the studio.

Accurate and Transparent Sound Capture

The M 160 excels at capturing the true essence of acoustic instruments, including acoustic guitars, in the controlled environment of a recording studio. Its unique double-ribbon design and balanced frequency response ensure accurate and transparent sound reproduction. This preserves the natural character and tonal qualities of the instrument.

Detailed Nuances and Harmonics

The microphone’s ribbon transducer design allows it to capture the intricate nuances, harmonics, and transient details of acoustic guitars with exceptional precision. It faithfully reproduces the instrument’s dynamic range, ensuring that every subtle pluck, strum, and note variation is faithfully captured.

Smooth Frequency Response

The M 160 offers a smooth and well-balanced frequency response. It captures the rich low-end, warm midrange, and shimmering high frequencies of acoustic guitars, providing a well-rounded and sonically pleasing representation of the instrument’s sound.

Versatile Close-Miking Capability

Thanks to its slender profile and bidirectional pickup pattern, the M 160 is particularly suitable for close-miking applications in the studio. It can be positioned close to the acoustic guitar’s soundhole or speaker, capturing the instrument’s intricacies while minimizing unwanted room reflections or bleeding from other sources.

Minimized Bleed and Off-Axis Rejection

The bidirectional polar pattern of the M 160 helps to reduce bleed and unwanted noise from other instruments or the room, making it an excellent choice for stereo recordings or multi-microphone setups. It allows for precise isolation of the acoustic guitar sound, ensuring clarity and focus in the recording.

Low Self-Noise and High Signal-to-Noise Ratio

The M 160’s low self-noise and high signal-to-noise ratio contribute to clean and professional recordings. It captures the desired sound source with minimal interference from background noise or internal electronics. This results in high-quality recordings with excellent clarity.

My summary, the Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone delivers exceptional studio performance. Its accurate and transparent sound capture, detailed reproduction of nuances and harmonics, smooth frequency response, versatile close-miking capability, minimized bleed, and low self-noise make it a trusted tool for recording engineers seeking to capture the authentic and vibrant sound of acoustic guitars in the studio environment.

Live Performance

The Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone is also well-suited for live performance scenarios, offering reliable performance and versatility. The biggest problem isn’t using in live performances, it’s the banging that can happen during setup, teardown, and travel. As a microphone, it does well in audio capture during live shows.

Durable Construction

The M 160 is built to withstand the demands of live performances. Its robust construction ensures durability and longevity, making it a reliable choice for touring musicians and live sound engineers. Just remember, the ribbons themselves are more delicate than the parts in a condenser.

Hypercardioid Polar Pattern

The M 160 features a hypercardioid polar pattern, which provides excellent off-axis rejection. This means that it focuses on capturing sound primarily from the front while minimizing sound from the sides and rear. It helps to reduce stage noise, monitor bleed, and feedback, allowing for a cleaner and more focused sound.

Minimized Feedback

The hypercardioid pattern, combined with the microphone’s off-axis rejection capabilities, helps to minimize feedback issues in live performance situations. This makes the M 160 suitable for amplifying acoustic guitars on stage without the risk of excessive feedback.

Versatility in Instrument Miking

While the M 160 is renowned for its acoustic guitar applications, its versatility extends to other instruments as well. It can be used to capture other stringed instruments, brass instruments, and drum overheads. All this is thanks to its accurate and transparent sound reproduction.

Compact Size

The M 160’s compact size and slender profile make it convenient to position on stage, particularly with limited space. Its unobtrusive design allows it to blend seamlessly into the live performance setup.

Reliable Performance

The M 160 delivers consistent and reliable performance in live settings. Its rugged construction and dependable audio reproduction ensure that it can handle the challenges of the stage, providing reliable sound capture night after night.

It’s important to note that as a ribbon microphone, the M 160 is more sensitive to handling noise and plosive sounds compared to dynamic or condenser microphones. Proper technique and the use of shock mounts or other isolation measures can help minimize these potential issues in live performance scenarios.

My summary, the Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone offers durable construction, a hypercardioid polar pattern for off-axis rejection and minimized feedback, versatility in instrument miking, compact size for convenient placement on stage, and reliable performance, making it a trusted choice for capturing the sound of acoustic guitars and various instruments in live performance environments.

Recordings Featuring the Shure SM81

there are numerous recordings where the Beyerdynamic M 160 has been utilized to capture various instruments and sounds. Here are a few notable examples:

“Hotel California” by Eagles: The iconic guitar solo in “Hotel California” was recorded using a Beyerdynamic M 160. The microphone played a crucial role in capturing the dynamic and expressive performance of the guitar.

“Time” by Pink Floyd: The drum overheads in Pink Floyd’s classic song “Time” were recorded using Beyerdynamic M 160 microphones. The M 160’s ability to accurately capture the cymbals and overall drum sound contributed to the song’s distinctive and immersive atmosphere.

“A Day in the Life” by The Beatles: The orchestral crescendo in The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” features a piano recorded with a pair of Beyerdynamic M 160 microphones. The M 160’s transparent sound reproduction helped capture the full dynamics and tonal richness of the piano.

“Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash: The snare drum in Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” was captured using a Beyerdynamic M 160. The microphone’s ability to handle high sound pressure levels and accurately reproduce the snare’s punch and crack added to the song’s energetic rhythm.

Jazz Recordings: The Beyerdynamic M 160 is widely favored in jazz recordings, particularly for capturing brass instruments such as trumpets and saxophones. Its smooth and natural sound reproduction helps preserve the warmth and expressiveness of these instruments.

These few recording examples utilized the Beyerdynamic M 160. Its versatility and exceptional audio quality have made it a go-to microphone for capturing various instruments and genres in professional recordings.

My Beyerdynamic M 160 Likes and Dislikes

Likes:

1. Unique Ribbon Sound: The Beyerdynamic M 160 microphone captures a distinct ribbon sound, characterized by smooth and warm tonal characteristics, making it suitable for capturing vintage or classic instrument recordings.
2. Versatile Polar Pattern: The M 160 microphone features a hypercardioid polar pattern, offering excellent off-axis rejection and allowing for precise sound capture in various recording situations.
3. Robust Construction: Built with a sturdy design and durable materials, the M 160 microphone can withstand demanding conditions, making it reliable for live performances and studio applications.

Dislikes.

1. Fragility: As a ribbon microphone, the Beyerdynamic M 160 is more sensitive and delicate compared to dynamic or condenser microphones, requiring careful handling and protection to prevent damage.
2. Limited High-Frequency Response: The M 160 microphone’s ribbon design limits its high-frequency response, which may result in a slightly rolled-off top end, making it less suitable for capturing very bright or detailed sound sources.

Specifications

Alternatives to the Beyerdynamic M 160

sE Electronics Voodoo VR2

The sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 microphone offers a rich and vintage-inspired sound with its ribbon design, providing a smooth and warm character ideal for capturing vocals and instruments.

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AKG C451B

The AKG C451B is a versatile small-diaphragm condenser microphone that delivers exceptional clarity and precision, making it a reliable choice for capturing detailed sound in various recording scenarios.

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Wrap Up

When it comes to capturing the true essence of acoustic guitars in both studio and live scenarios, the Beyerdynamic M 160 stands as an outstanding choice. Its unique double-ribbon design, coupled with its balanced and transparent sound reproduction, makes it a reliable tool for recording engineers and musicians alike. Whether you’re aiming for pristine studio recordings or a captivating live performance, the M 160 delivers the fidelity and versatility necessary to elevate your acoustic guitar sound to new heights.

Looking for other options for microphones? Check out my post on finding the Best Mic For Acoustic Guitar, including ribbon microphones.

Editorial Process:

My reviews are made by a team of one, myself, before being written and come from real-world experience. Read my editorial process here.

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.