Neumann’s TLM 102 is a cardioid condenser microphone with XLR connection.
A condenser microphone records small sounds in fine detail. It is often used to record singing and narration.
In this article we rate it on 5 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 32 microphones we compare.
Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.
Score 3.2 / 5 (average of the 32 models compared: 3.3)
- Specs last checked
- 2026/10/19
- Self-noise
- 12dB(A)
- Sensitivity
- 11mV/Pa
- Weight
- 210g
- Max SPL
- 144dB
- Price (store, date)
- Not disclosed
Figure: SoundBounty
Summary
Among the 32 microphones, TLM 102 is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 3.2.
Strengths
- Quietness (12 dB(A), 4 points): The microphone itself makes little noise, so whispers and quiet songs record cleanly.
- Handling of loud sound (144 dB, 4 points): Loud voices and instruments recorded up close are unlikely to distort.
- Lightness (210 g, 5 points): It is light, so there is little load on the microphone stand.
Things to keep in mind
- Sensitivity (11 mV/Pa, 2 points): Sensitivity is low, so you need to turn the gain knob on the audio interface up a lot.
- Features (0 of 3, 1 point): It has few or no switches, so adjustments are made on the audio interface or the computer.
Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who want to record quiet voices and whispers cleanly; people who record loud voices or instruments up close; people who want to go easy on the microphone stand.
Main features of TLM 102
Neumann’s most affordable large-diaphragm microphone
It is the most affordable of the large-diaphragm condenser microphones from the German microphone maker Neumann, and it is designed and made in Germany. It is small and light, at about 210 g and 116 mm long.
Low self-noise and strength against loud sound
The self-noise is 12 dB-A, which the manufacturer describes as “far lower than the ambient sound of a very quiet room”. It can record up to 144 dB SPL without distortion, and with a transformerless circuit the low end is said to be powerful.
A built-in pop screen, and a slight lift in the highs
A pop screen (a mesh that reduces plosive breaths) is built into the head of the microphone. The sound is described as straight in the midrange, with a slight lift around 10 kHz that gives smooth highs.
Video: “The Neumann TLM 102” (official Georg Neumann GmbH YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube
Where it is useful
- Recording cover songs or narration with little noise
- Recording instruments such as acoustic guitar, electric guitar amps and drums
- Wanting a light microphone for a desktop microphone arm
Rating by criterion
Quietness: 4 / 5
How little of the small hiss the microphone itself makes (self-noise). The smaller the number, the quieter.
TLM 102: 12 dB(A). That is a high rating among the products we compared. The microphone itself makes little noise, so whispers and quiet songs record cleanly.
Sensitivity: 2 / 5
How large a signal the same voice produces (sensitivity). The bigger the number, the easier it is to get a good level from a quiet voice.
TLM 102: 11 mV/Pa. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. Sensitivity is low, so you need to turn the gain knob on the audio interface up a lot.
Handling of loud sound: 4 / 5
How loud a sound it can record without distortion (maximum SPL).
TLM 102: 144 dB. That is a high rating among the products we compared. Loud voices and instruments recorded up close are unlikely to distort.
Features: 1 / 5
How many of the pad (lowers loud sound), low-cut (reduces low noise) and pickup-pattern switch it has.
TLM 102: 0 of 3. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. It has few or no switches, so adjustments are made on the audio interface or the computer.
Lightness: 5 / 5
The weight of the microphone. The lighter it is, the less load on the microphone stand.
TLM 102: 210 g. That is a high rating among the products we compared. It is light, so there is little load on the microphone stand.
The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 32 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.
How we score (Microphones)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quietness | Self-noise | ≤7 | ≤12 | ≤16 | ≤20 | >20 |
| Sensitivity | Sensitivity | ≥25 | ≥20 | ≥15 | ≥10 | <10 |
| Handling of loud sound | Maximum SPL (without the pad) | ≥148 | ≥144 | ≥140 | ≥135 | <135 |
| Features | Pad, low-cut and pickup-pattern switch | All 3 | 2 | 1 | — | None |
| Lightness | Weight | ≤300 | ≤350 | ≤400 | ≤450 | >450 |
Scored only on the body specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. Items that are not disclosed are not scored, and the rank is based on the average of the remaining items. Where a model publishes only the signal-to-noise ratio and not the self-noise, the self-noise is converted as "94 minus the signal-to-noise ratio".
TLM 102 connection and getting started
| Connection | XLR (3-pin). Connect it to the microphone input of an audio interface or mixer (it cannot connect to a computer directly by USB) |
|---|---|
| Power | Phantom power (48 V, 3.5 mA) is required |
| In the box | Swivel mount SG 2 (the Studio Set has the shock mount EA 4). An XLR cable is not included |
Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.
Compared with other microphones
Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.
| Product | RankAvg. score | Self-noisedB(A) | SensitivitymV/Pa | Max SPLdB | Weightg | Shock mount | Pad | Low-cut | Price (store, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-TechnicaAT2020 | B 2.6 | 20 | 14.1 | 144 | 345 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT2035 | A 3.8 | 12 | 22.4 | 148 | 403 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGP120 | B 2.8 | 19 | 24 | Not disclosed | 453 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| BehringerC-1 | C 2.3 | Not disclosed | 22.4 | 136 | 450 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT1 5th Gen | A 4.0 | 4 | 25 | 142 | 308 | ● | — | ● | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicsX1 A | B 3.0 | 16 | 20 | 130 | 390 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| MXL990 | C 1.6 | 20 | 15 | 130 | 544 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC16 | A 3.4 | 14 | 11 | 148 | 335 | ● | — | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4040 | A 4.0 | 12 | 25.1 | 145 | 360 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT2050 | B 3.0 | 17 | 7.9 | 149 | 412 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 102 | B 3.2 | 12 | 11 | 144 | 210 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicsX1 S | A 3.6 | 9 | 30 | 140 | 445 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 103 | B 2.8 | 7 | 23 | 138 | 450 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| sE ElectronicssE2200 | B 2.8 | 8 | 24 | 125 | 611 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT1 Signature | A 3.6 | 4 | 25 | 142 | 313 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4050 | B 3.2 | 17 | 15.8 | 149 | 510 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4033a | A 3.6 | 17 | 25.1 | 145 | 380 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC214 | A 3.6 | 13 | 20 | 136 | 280 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC414 XLII | S 4.4 | 6 | 23 | 140 | 300 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGC414 XLS | S 4.4 | 6 | 23 | 140 | 300 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| AKGP220 | B 3.0 | 16 | 20 | Not disclosed | 514 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT5040 | B 3.0 | 5 | 56.2 | 142 | 582 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| Audio-TechnicaAT4047/SV | A 3.6 | 9 | 17.7 | 149 | 410 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| RØDENT2-A | A 3.6 | 7 | 16 | 147 | 860 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 440 PURE | A 3.6 | 7 | 27.4 | 140 | 310 | ● | — | — | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 240 PRO | B 2.6 | 19 | 16.7 | 142 | 310 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| LEWITTLCT 540 S | A 3.8 | 4 | 41 | 136 | 371 | ● | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Aston MicrophonesAston Origin | B 2.8 | 18 | 23.7 | 127 | Not disclosed | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC18 | A 3.8 | 9 | 13 | 148 | 335 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| Austrian AudioOC818 | A 3.8 | 9 | 13 | 148 | 360 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
| SennheiserMK 4 | B 2.8 | 10 | 25 | 140 | 485 | — | — | — | Not disclosed |
| NeumannTLM 107 | B 3.2 | 10 | 11 | 141 | 445 | — | ● | ● | Not disclosed |
Specifications are the manufacturer's published values (checked September 25, 2026). The AT2035 self-noise is converted from the signal-to-noise ratio, the maximum SPL is the value without the pad, and the AKG P120 and P220 do not publish a value without the pad. The AT5040 sensitivity is converted from the published dB value. The Aston Origin does not publish its weight. USB microphones are compared separately in the USB microphone comparison.
Before you buy
- It needs phantom power (+48 V). This is an XLR condenser microphone, so connect it to an audio interface or mixer that can supply phantom power.
- Check what comes in the box. The manufacturer lists: Swivel mount SG 2 (the Studio Set has the shock mount EA 4). An XLR cable is not included. Anything not on that list (a shock mount, a pop filter, cables and so on) you need to prepare separately.
- It has no pad or low-cut switch. When you need one, adjust with the audio interface or the DAW instead.
Read next
- AT4050: features and rating (rank B)
- TLM 107: features and rating (rank B)
- C414 XLII: features and rating (rank S)
- C414 XLS: features and rating (rank S)
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