Beyerdynamic M130

Do you want to acquire a good microphone for your studio? Opt for the Beyerdynamic M130, a dual ribbon microphone that reproduces sound with great precision . And that's just one example of its countless strengths. Check out our full review of the Beyerdynamic M130. Let's review its build quality , its sound quality and all its technical characteristics before giving our opinion on this microphone.

Beyerdynamic: is this brand reliable?

Yes ! With over 90 years of experience designing professional audio equipment , Beyerdynamic is a brand that needs no introduction. This German company was founded by Eugen Beyer in 1924, 4 years before the birth of its main competitor, namely Neumann .

Beyerdynamic specializes in the production of headphones, headphones, studio microphones , and wireless audio systems.

This brand revolutionized the world of cinema in 1924 with the release of their speakers which equipped all theaters at the time. It also stood out with the DT 49 , their first dynamic headphones .

In 1962, Beyerdynamic released the famous transistophone , their very first wireless microphone . But their greatest success undoubtedly remains the E-1000 microphone . Moreover, The Beatles adopted it during one of their tours.

Later, the brand launched other high-end microphones which contributed to the success of the greatest artists. Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Abba all used a Beyerdynamic mic at the height of their careers.

Note that in its microphone catalog, Beyerdynamic offers several categories. These include ribbon microphones, dynamic microphones, condenser microphones and USB microphones.

The German manufacturer has spoiled ribbon lovers with the production of the M series microphones. The most popular are among others the M30, the M31, the Beyerdynamic M88 TG , the M130 and the M160.

We have already had the opportunity to test the Beyerdynamic M160. And we were able to deduce that it is a good microphone that has nothing to envy of ordinary ribbon microphones. What about the M130 ? Without further ado, let's test this microphone.

Beyerdynamic M130 Microphone Overview

The Beyerdynamic M130 is a dual ribbon microphone like its little brother, the Beyerdynamic M160 ribbon microphone . This type of mic converts the sound pressure variation using magnetic induction . Their operation is similar to that of dynamic microphones . The only difference: a small metal ribbon replaces the voice coil.

You will no doubt have noticed: the finish of the Beyerdynamic is a real feast for the eyes. At 12.8 cm long, this microphone is very small. This is a superlight model since it weighs only 150 g.

Despite its tiny size, the M130 benefits from a robust design thanks in particular to its brass case . It will surely accompany you for several years of recording in your home studio.

However, be sure to protect the microphone ribbons . Indeed, the fragility of this type of device is not a secret to everyone. So get into the habit of putting the microphone in its storage case when you go on tour.

Note that the Beyerdynamic M130 microphone does not come alone. It is in fact accompanied by a microphone clip with 3/8'' thread. A device that will be useful for attaching the microphone to a stand . Enough to help you avoid handling noise .

Like most ribbon microphones, you won't need an external power supply to operate it. Besides, a 48 Volt phantom power supply would certainly damage it.

By the way, also discover our test guide for the SE Electronics DynaCaster microphone , It is a dynamic moving coil microphone. This guide presents all the details you need to know about this microphone such as areas of application and its technical characteristics, as well as our opinion on its sound quality.

Areas of application for the Beyerdynamic M130

The Beyerdynamic M130 has the advantage of being a versatile microphone . Whether on stage or recording in the studio, you can count on the performance of this dual ribbon microphone. In particular, it will help you capture the atmosphere of a concert hall without unwanted resonances.

As it is a bi-directional polar pattern , this mic is able to neutralize extraneous noise from the sides. This type of microphone is in fact designed to capture sounds coming from the front and back. This makes the M130 very practical for recording the voices of two singers located on either side of the microphone.

Note that the Beyerdynamic M130 is not just a microphone for vocals. Its bidirectional polar pattern in the shape of an 8 allows it to be comfortable on several acoustic instruments. Among other things, you can use it to capture the sound of an acoustic guitar, a drum, a piano or even a violin.

If you plan to use this microphone to capture the sound of your drums, it would be best to place it above your instrument with both sides facing outwards. This way you will get great sound across the entire drum set.

That said, if you 're looking for a mic for gaming or streaming , I recommend going with the Blue Yeti X. This USB microphone will certainly delight gamers.

The M130: an excellent bi-directional microphone for stereo recordings

If you want to know what this dual ribbon microphone is capable of, I advise you to test it on a stereo sound recording . Use it in particular to make a Mid/Side recording .

Note that to implement this technique, it is necessary to use two microphones with different sensitivity. Among other things, you will need a microphone with cardioid or hypercardioid (Mid microphone) and another with bidirectional polar pattern (Side microphone).

Simply position the Mid microphone in front of your source and the Side microphone below to form a 90° angle.

The success of this technique depends largely on the choice of microphone . For optimal results, what's better than using two microphones that benefit from the same configuration. I therefore recommend that you combine the M130 with the M160 to obtain impeccable stereo sound.

In addition to MS recording, the Beyerdynamic M130 is also useful for Blumlein stereo sound recording .

To implement this technique, it is in fact necessary to use two bidirectional microphones . Simply place the two microphones so that they cross each other at a 90° angle . To do this, you can therefore use two M130s. You can also combine the M130 with another figure-8 microphone such as the Coles 4038 ribbon microphone or the t.Bone RB 500 for example.

Focus on the sound quality of the Beyerdynamic M130

Now let's see what the Beyerdynamic M130 microphone offers us in terms of sound quality. A very important criterion when purchasing a microphone.

Just like the Beyerdynamic M160, the sound quality is there with the M130. Its double ribbon and wide bandwidth allow it to reproduce sound precisely . The sound is natural and warm.

And the icing on the cake: the treble of the M130 is sweet . This can be explained by the quality of the ribbon used by Beyerdynamic. The rule is simple: the narrower the ribbon, the better the treble reproduction will be.

Please note that the two ribbons of the M130 are not arranged side by side. These are placed one behind the other, with a spacing of 0.5 mm . Which is not without consequences on the final result. This is because it mitigates off-axis fading.

The M13's dual ribbon system also gives it increased sensitivity . Looking at the Beyerdynamic M130 datasheet, you will see that there is no information regarding the maximum SPL.

Indeed, this value was not simply provided by the brand. Despite the lack of an attenuation pad, it does quite well on loud sound sources . In particular, it can withstand the pressure level of electric guitars without distorting the sounds.

Furthermore, thanks to its figure-8 directivity , this microphone is effective in overcoming interference on the sides, just like the AKG C414 XLII microphone . It also delivers great results when you use it to capture the mood of a room .

Indeed, in this case of use, it remarkably eliminates unwanted resonances thus providing a clear sound. With its frequency response varying between 40 Hz and 18,000 Hz , the M130 can handle just about any sound a human can hear.

Another interesting feature of the Beyerdynamic M130: its impedance of 200 Ohms . Thus, it behaves like a moving coil microphone .

Unlike the Royer Labs-122 MkII ribbon microphone , the Beyerdynamic M130 is not equipped with a high-pass filter. However, thanks to its high sensitivity, you can easily play the proximity effect to reduce low frequencies . So, for a sound recording that hardly requires bass, you just need to move a little away from the microphone .

To fully enjoy the sound quality of the Beyerdynamic M130, consider using a quality preamp to optimize your results . It's almost an obligation to increase the volume of the ribbon microphone . Also favor preamplifiers with low background noise .

The characteristics of the Beyerdynamic M130

• Type: ribbon microphone
• Directivity: bidirectional
• Transducer type: dynamic
• Frequency response: 40 Hz – 18 kHz
• Nominal impedance: 200 ohms
• Load impedance: > 1000 ohms
• Lateral attenuations: > 25 dB at 100
• Connector: 3-pin XLR
• Dimensions: length (128 mm), shaft diameter (23 mm), head diameter (38.5 mm)
• Weight: 150g
• Accessory included: microphone clip with 3/8'' MKV8 thread

Our opinion on the Beyerdynamic M130 microphone

In terms of sound quality, there's not much to complain about with the Beyerdynamic M130. It produces the typical sound of ribbon microphones, in this case precise, warm and natural. You won't be disappointed to add this microphone to your selection if you're a fan of this kind of sound.

The M130 also appeals to me because of its versatility. You can count on this mic whether live, in a home studio or in a professional recording studio. It can indeed be suitable for a variety of instruments. In particular, you can use it to record an acoustic guitar. Also, it performs well as a pair of overheads above a battery.

Without forgetting that this microphone is also effective for recording voice. Use the fact that it is sensitive to the proximity effect to optimize the quality of your vocals. It is aptly called a bidirectional microphone, since it effectively rejects sounds coming from both sides. Which makes it ideal for recording the voices of two people singing face to face.

Whether used alone or paired with another microphone, the M130 does not disappoint. It offers unrivaled recording performance.

Since this is a ribbon microphone , a good preamp with high gain will always be welcome to boost the output level.

In short, if you are looking for a good ribbon microphone designed by a reliable brand, I recommend the Beyerdynamic M130.

Beyerdynamic M130 Demo

Special Offer at Beyerdynamic 🔥