Neumann M49V tube mistery...

[granger.frederic]

Hi,
it seems like Neumann has released the M49 reissue.
There's a lot of speculation around the tube .
Some say it's a 6S6B-V or 6S7B-V, others say it's not those...
Does anybody have some details, i'm curious to have your feedback...
Regards
Fred

 

[Drosselmeier]

Some say it's a 6S6B-V

This tube is very hot. Its gonna heat up too much in this kind of case I think.

 

[mhelin]

6S31B-R ?

 

[LevinGuitar]

Since there are absolutely no mention to the tube type or who made them, guess its nothing new, cheap, and something to not be proud of now (because of the war), like a Soviet or Russian made tube.
Since 6S6B have been widely used without any complains of the reliablilty for some years by different companies and even Neumann themselves (if I'm not mistaken), my guess it is the tube.


Edit:
https://en-de.neumann.com/product_files/11224/download
Max. output voltage......................................–8 dBu
Pattern control unit......................................... NM V
Vacuum tube type.............................. select. triode
Plate voltage ................................................... 120 V
Plate current ................................................. ≤ 1 mA
Heater voltage................................................+6,3 V
Heater current...........................................≤ 200 mA
Tube warm up time ......................approx. 1 minute

Some photos:
https://static-neumann.s3.amazonaws.com/img/4136/x2_desktop_M-49-V-Website_06.jpg

 

[mhelin]

6S31B-R ?

Cannot be 6S31B-R as the pins in that are on circle when on the M49V the base is flat where the pins come out in a row. Might be also the 6S7B-V...

 

[vintagelove]

Here are some pics, I’m not a tube expert by any means, but the 6s6b looks exactly like the new tube.

Edit… First pic from KH website.

 

[vintagelove]

I found KH comments on the tube a little odd (not implying he’s being dishonest).

Said first tube looked like 6s6b, but he could see the lettering and it wasn’t. Could it be a 5703 (equivalent tube?) but he’s not aware? Then he said the replacement tube had all lettering removed and he couldn’t tell if it was the same tube or not. So ultimately, no conformation or denial on 6s6b being the tube in the final product.

 

[RuudNL]

Neumann used the 6S6B in early versions of the M147/M149. So...
(Later they changed to the 6111.)

 

[kingkorg]

Notice the arrow pointing the pinout at the bottom of the tube. It is a russian produced sub miniature.

 

[granger.frederic]

Could it be a 5703 (equivalent tube?) but he’s not aware?

I can't imagine he's not aware...
It's a bit strange

 

[Purplenoise]

I can't imagine he's not aware...
It's a bit strange

Probably they don’t want people start hoarding 6s6b and driving prices up? Especially with current Russia situation?

 

[granger.frederic]

Probably they don’t want people start hoarding 6s6b and driving prices up? Especially with current Russia situation?

If they decided to produce the mic, they must already have a tube stock for decades to come...

 

[Purplenoise]

If they decided to produce the mic, they must already have a tube stock for decades to come...

Right. Maybe they don’t want to admit they are using something “cloners” have been using for years haha

 

[vintagelove]

Probably they don’t want people start hoarding 6s6b and driving prices up? Especially with current Russia situation?

Here’s the thing though, and my main interest in the whole topic.

By demonstrating this is a viable alternative for a 701, not only could it be a huge benefit to the vintage mic community, (in need of tubes for repairs) but also would prevent hoarding and driving up the prices of original 701’s.


I’m sure Neumann has enough of these to cover the handful of these they’re building per batch and it’s upkeep. If it were a rare or exotic or expensive tube, they wouldn’t have used it to begin with.

 

[kingkorg]

Here’s the thing though, and my main interest in the whole topic.

By demonstrating this is a viable alternative for a 701, not only could it be a huge benefit to the vintage mic community, (in need of tubes for repairs) but also would prevent hoarding and driving up the prices of original 701’s.


I’m sure Neumann has enough of these to cover the handful of these they’re building per batch and it’s upkeep. If it were a rare or exotic or expensive tube, they wouldn’t have used it to begin with.

I get your point, the sad thing is Neumann has to include it in their product for people to realize it's a good one. These have been available for ages, easy and cheap to buy, and people managed to find flaws nevertheless. There are many more good models, sitting around, waiting to be used, amazing tubes... You don't need Neumann to demonstrate they are viable alternatives.

 

[Gus]

A little off topic
I wonder if the capsule mount could be changed to a rounded shape under the capsule vs the flat or if some damping could help.
Might be something to investigate would the above make it "better" or worst or is the flat plastic a big part of the M49 sound?

 

[k brown]

If they decided to produce the mic, they must already have a tube stock for decades to come...

I thought Neumann announced it would be limited production.

 

[RuudNL]

From what I've read, they can't produce more than 25 pcs./month.
(Especially because "there are only three people on this planet who can assemble a M49V". Well,I doubt that...)

Picture: © Klaus Heyne 2022

 

[kingkorg]

Who wants to bet the final production units will have the whole tube painted in black?

 

[klausheyne]

Here are some pics, I’m not a tube expert by any means, but the 6s6b looks exactly like the new tube.

You posted a picture that has my copyright (as is clearly stated in my review) Have the courtesy and honor the copyright and not post it without attribution