A Legend Reborn
Introduced in 1972 as a successor to the legendary U 47 tube microphone,
the U 47 fet became a Neumann classic in its own right.
Its smooth yet defined character shaped the sound of the 70s.
After a long hiatus, the U 47 fet is finally available again,
meticulously reproduced from the same components. A true classic, yet far from outdated.
The Sound of the Seventies
“Smooth” is the word that best describes the sonic ideal of the seventies.
The then new U 47 fet was very much part of that sound. Introduced in 1972,
it soon became a studio favorite combining the refined sound balance of its
tube predecessor with a new clarity and greater ease of use. Toward the mid-80s,
as records became increasingly more strident, the smooth U 47 fet fell out of
favor as a vocal microphone and was discontinued. Yet over the years top engineers
discovered new applications for the U 47 fet in front of guitar cabinets and kick drums.
Eventually, famous vocalists from boy group pop to heavy metal reestablished the U 47 fet
as a versatile vocal microphone. So now, by popular demand, it’s back in production.
Far from Outdated
The U 47 fet uses the same K 47 large diaphragm condenser capsule and the same
headgrille design as its tube operated predecessor, the legendary U 47,
which revolutionized the recording and broadcast industries from 1949 to1960.
For sonic continuity, the U 47 fet also uses a similarly oversized output transformer.
Otherwise, its transistorized head amplifier is an amazingly advanced design and a testament
to Neumann’s state of the art engineering. This “vintage” microphone has a dynamic range of 119 dB!
The U 47 fet can handle extreme SPLs of up to 137 dB, and even 147 dB with the –10 dB pad
switch engaged. This, along with its smooth top end and lush midrange, makes the U 47 fet '
an excellent microphone for bright and loud instruments such as brass and electric guitar.
Due to its exceptionally clear and uncluttered low end, it is a great choice
for upright bass and bass cabinets. Numerous top engineers consider U 47 fet
the ultimate microphone to place in front of the kick drum. At the same time it is
an excellent vocal mic for crooners and screamers alike, due to its beautifully
balanced response with just a slight, unobtrusive boost in the upper mids for added presence in the mix.
The U 47 fet comes with a unique one-sided swivel mount, which makes it easy to position.
Pad and low cut switches are accessible on the rear of the microphone.
An additional switch next to the XLR socket allows for attenuating the
output signal by 6 dB, which is a handy feature in conjunction with low-headroom vintage preamplifiers.
Exact reproduction of the classic U 47 fet (1972-1986)
Solid state successor of the legendary U 47 tube microphone
Balanced sound with superb presence
Cardioid pattern
Large output transformer
Low self-noise and enormous SPL capability
Acoustical operating principle Pressure gradient transducer
Directional Pattern Cardioid
Frequency Range 40 Hz ... 16 kHz
Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm 8 mV/Pa = –42 dBV ± 1 dB
Rated Impedance 150 ohms
Rated load impedance 1 kohms
Equivalent noise level, CCIR 1 25 dB
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted 2 18 dB-A
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% 3 137 dB
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation 4 147 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR (re. 94 dB SPL) 5 69 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted (re. 94 dB SPL) 6 76 dB
Maximum output voltage -3.3 dBu
Supply voltage (P48, IEC 61938)
Current consumption (P48, IEC 61938) 48 V ± 4 V
Matching connector XLR 3 F
Weight 710 g
Diameter 63 mm
Length 160 mm