beyerdynamic: crafting excellence, by hand
by Diogo C
29th September 2023
Sponsored by beyerdynamic
The new M line - from left to right: M 88, M 160, M 130, M 201, MC 950, MC 930 and MM 1
The early 20th century was an effervescent yet highly unstable period as the world was shaken several times by events that shaped the course of history, and beyerdynamic’s trajectory is intimately tied to them: it was a time of tremendous progress in science and technology, but it was also an era of turbulence and social unrest, ultimately defined by revolution and war.
Eugen Beyer was born in 1903 in St. Petersburg, where he spent his childhood years. What was meant to be a casual family holiday trip to Berlin in 1914 took a sharp turn that would alter his life forever: the outbreak of the First World War meant that they could not return home to Russia, and his family lost nearly everything they had. After a period of refuge in Sweden, they settled in Germany in 1921, and this is when Eugen’s adventurous spirit as an inventor and entrepreneur started to take shape: he attended the prestigious Technische Universität Berlin, an educational institution that provided him with the skills and knowledge to go after his goals.
Moving pictures - with sound
At that time, the Weimar Republic was swept by forward-thinking vanguards such as the Expressionist movement, the Bauhaus school of architecture and more intellectual movements, which, combined with accelerated breakthroughs in physics, engineering and chemistry, lead to a highly prolific period in all areas of society. It was a period of swift cultural change, where society was moving at a fast pace and craved innovations that could improve their lives after all the hardships brought by the First World War. This atmosphere inspired Eugen to push forward, and in 1924 he founded his namesake “Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer” (Electrical Engineering Factory Eugen Beyer) to produce loudspeakers. Eugen was fascinated by the advent of cinema and he felt that sound was absolutely paramount for this new art form and communication method to thrive.
The speakers coming from Beyer’s factory would quickly earn a solid reputation for their quality and would become popular in movie theatres across the country. By 1931, there were no cinemas in Germany without a speaker system as “talkies” became the norm. However, the first big innovation and cornerstone for Beyer’s company came in the form of a much smaller type of speaker: the DT 48 headphones, introduced in 1937 and one of the world’s first pairs of commercial dynamic headphones - DT stands for ‘Dynamisches Telefon’ - ‘Dynamic Telephone’ in English, and those two letters would accompany many of the brand’s headphone model numbers since then. The DT 48 stayed in production for over 70 years with only very minor changes, keeping essentially the same design until they were finally discontinued in 2013 - they were probably one of the most enduring pro audio products of their time.
Audio from start to finish
Eugen’s next step after producing speakers would be to pursue that other important aspect of sound reproduction: what actually captures it. It didn’t take long until another important foundation product for the company was unleashed with the M 19 microphone, introduced in 1939 and one of the very first dynamic microphones to be widely produced. The small but efficient M 19 was quite a success, becoming quickly popular and adopted by broadcasters and studios across the country. There were many reasons for the M 19’s success: it was light, small, rugged, its frequency response (ranging from 50Hz to 12kHz) was perfect for transmitting the human voice, and importantly, it was very easy to use since it did not require an external power supply like other condenser-type microphones of the time - allowing it to be used everywhere, including outdoors by news reporters.
Even though Eugen’s true passion was cinema, it was the increasing popularity of radio that propelled his company to new heights. The M 19 marked a turning point for the company as they were now capable of providing an end-to-end solution for audio, from capture of sound to reproduction - they were not a loudspeaker or headphone company anymore, they were an audio company. The Elektrotechnische Fabrik shut down during World War II, and after the end of the conflict Eugen had to start from scratch once again: his factory was totally destroyed in the war and the business had to be completely rebuilt. Eugen relocated the company to the town of Heilbronn in 1948, where it can still be found to this day.
The Heilbronn headquarters in the early 60s
Sound as a family business
Eugen suddenly passed when he was only 56 years old, an unfortunate event that had the potential to severely upend the company. His son Fred R. Beyer assumed the operations at the young age of just 26 and thankfully, under his management the company thrived, achieving unprecedented success: products such as the M 160 and M 201 microphones and DT 770 PRO and DT 990 PRO headphones quickly became industry favourites and firmly established the company as a reliable provider of top-tier equipment. It was also under his watch that the company switched name to "beyerdynamic" in the 1970s.
Fred’s tenure lasted for over 40 years. Skip to today: since 2023, Andreas Rapp holds the CEO position. Despite business trends and many corporate takeovers happening across the industry, the company still stands as a family-owned business.
Although beyerdynamic fully embraces new endeavours and keeps a close eye (and ear!) on rising technologies, their focus remains on delivering high quality equipment for professional audio. In addition the company’s vast portfolio encompasses products for content creation, gaming, mobile work, custom headsets and wireless audio as well.
Hand-made perfection
On the outside, their Heilbronn facility still has the same charming facade from when it was built, but inside is a modern workshop. A vast majority of their production happens in the same factory, with skilled workers assembling microphones and headphones by hand and taking very good care at all manufacturing stages in order to make sure the microphones and headphones they release are in total accordance with their high production and delivery standards.
This combination of tradition with modern technology lays the foundation for the company, and is reflected in how their core products are made: the line of headphones production at beyerdynamic is simply state-of-the-art, with specialized machines built by beyerdynamic themselves to precisely meet their requirements. On top of that, some of the membranes and driver systems are still being built by hand to ensure their quality.
The microphones are made by hand in the old tradition established by Eugen, as machines are simply not able to accomplish certain steps of production. An example is the insertion of the double-ribbon element on the M 130 and M 160, which is currently done by only a few employees who are able to carry out this crucial step. The dynamic microphones also have very complex components. For instance, the manufacturing of the sound capture system for the M 201 and M 88 requires over 70 individual processes! Another aspect that highlights how complex it is to make a microphone is the fact that workers receive 6 to 12 months of training in order to be fully prepared for the job.
The M 130 in production and testing
The new M line
beyerdynamic’s ethos of combining tradition with innovation is perfectly represented with the new design of the M line of microphones, which entered production in 2023. This update is all about the future while firmly keeping the legacy alive: the circuitry and sound pickup element of these microphones hasn’t changed, thus maintaining all the sonic characteristics that made them famous but giving them a classy updated matte-black finish and adding the new logo. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
Kicking it off we have two classic ribbon microphones, the M 160 (featured right) and M 130. The original versions of these two microphones are some of the most iconic products ever released by beyerdynamic - they’re easy to spot in the best studios and a long list of award-winning records was made with them. The M 160 features a hypercardioid polar pattern and its tone is often described as warm and pleasant. It's widely used on drum overheads and guitar amps where a smooth-sounding microphone is often desired. The M 130 on the other hand boasts a figure-of-8 polar pattern and a highly detailed sound that is perfect for acoustic instruments, especially when capturing additional ambience is required - the M 130 is simply superb in this situation. It’s also a great option for stereo and mid-side recordings.
Both the M 130 and the M 160 were released in 1957 and were considered groundbreaking compact ribbon microphones at the time. Their innovative "double ribbons" design increases the microphones' sensitivity, and what is particularly special is the embossing technology of the aluminum ribbon, which is unique in the industry. The M 160 has also earned many accolades: it's part of the NAMM Tec Award Hall of Fame since 2019. In addition, it was the mic used by Jimi Hendrix, and Bill Botrell recorded the riff for Michael Jackson's "Black or White" with it.
Next up, we have two dynamic microphones. Let’s start with the M 88, a classic dynamic microphone with a full-bodied yet balanced sound that is perfect for capturing just about anything that is put in front of it - it can handle everything from ferocious kick drums to screamy vocals with ease. The traditional silver grille that was absent from recent editions of this mic now makes a comeback, keeping the vintage spirit alive. The M 88 was first introduced in the early 1960s, and it is still very popular today: it can be heard on Bruno Mars (Lesslie Cabinet instrument microphone on his recent 24k Magic tour) and on the last Rolling Stones tours (kick drum). Phil Collins has also used the M 88 for many decades, on both vocals and drums - there's even a rumor that Phil Collins carried the M 88 in his hand luggage on concert tours to make sure he always had it available!
The M 201 is also a versatile microphone and an excellent all-rounder when it comes to instruments, but its major talking point is its high SPL handling that makes it perfect for loud instruments such as snare drums. Both the M 88 and M 201 feature a hypercardioid polar pattern that makes them shine in situations when isolation from surrounding sources is needed. The M 201 came to the market in the early 1970s and was actually sold as an instrument microphone, but was used for a variety of vocal recordings. "Sweet Dreams Are Made of these" by the Eurythmics, "Take on Me" by aHa and Green Day's breakthrough album "Dookie" were all recorded with it. Dua Lipa (snare drum) was also equipped with a M 201 on her last world tour, which shows how flexible it is.
A microphone lineup wouldn’t be complete without some awesome condensers, and with this new M series we have two: the MC 950 and MC 930 (featured right). They are very similar mics in terms of looks and circuitry, but their polar patterns differ from each other, with the MC 950 offering a supercardioid pattern and the MC 930 offering a standard cardioid setup. These are real condenser microphones, very natural sounding and their high sensitivity and hype-free treble reproduction are nothing short of remarkable. Both are workhorses for any job but they are especially great on drum overheads, pianos and acoustic instruments in general.
Finally, the MM 1 is an omnidirectional condenser and an utility-type microphone with a linear frequency response designed for measuring room acoustics and environments. The MM 1 comes with individual calibration data for absolute precision with the measurements obtained while using it.
A century of excellence
beyerdynamic is about to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2024, which is a remarkable achievement that only a handful of companies in our industry have ever claimed for themselves. The past century built a robust company that was able to adapt to changes and thrive under many different circumstances without losing sight of its past, present or future.
For more on beyerdynamic, please visit: www.beyerdynamic.com
The new M line - from left to right: M 88, M 160, M 130, M 201, MC 950, MC 930 and MM 1
The early 20th century was an effervescent yet highly unstable period as the world was shaken several times by events that shaped the course of history, and beyerdynamic’s trajectory is intimately tied to them: it was a time of tremendous progress in science and technology, but it was also an era of turbulence and social unrest, ultimately defined by revolution and war.
Moving pictures - with sound
At that time, the Weimar Republic was swept by forward-thinking vanguards such as the Expressionist movement, the Bauhaus school of architecture and more intellectual movements, which, combined with accelerated breakthroughs in physics, engineering and chemistry, lead to a highly prolific period in all areas of society. It was a period of swift cultural change, where society was moving at a fast pace and craved innovations that could improve their lives after all the hardships brought by the First World War. This atmosphere inspired Eugen to push forward, and in 1924 he founded his namesake “Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer” (Electrical Engineering Factory Eugen Beyer) to produce loudspeakers. Eugen was fascinated by the advent of cinema and he felt that sound was absolutely paramount for this new art form and communication method to thrive.
Audio from start to finish
Even though Eugen’s true passion was cinema, it was the increasing popularity of radio that propelled his company to new heights. The M 19 marked a turning point for the company as they were now capable of providing an end-to-end solution for audio, from capture of sound to reproduction - they were not a loudspeaker or headphone company anymore, they were an audio company. The Elektrotechnische Fabrik shut down during World War II, and after the end of the conflict Eugen had to start from scratch once again: his factory was totally destroyed in the war and the business had to be completely rebuilt. Eugen relocated the company to the town of Heilbronn in 1948, where it can still be found to this day.
The Heilbronn headquarters in the early 60s
Sound as a family business
Eugen suddenly passed when he was only 56 years old, an unfortunate event that had the potential to severely upend the company. His son Fred R. Beyer assumed the operations at the young age of just 26 and thankfully, under his management the company thrived, achieving unprecedented success: products such as the M 160 and M 201 microphones and DT 770 PRO and DT 990 PRO headphones quickly became industry favourites and firmly established the company as a reliable provider of top-tier equipment. It was also under his watch that the company switched name to "beyerdynamic" in the 1970s.
Fred’s tenure lasted for over 40 years. Skip to today: since 2023, Andreas Rapp holds the CEO position. Despite business trends and many corporate takeovers happening across the industry, the company still stands as a family-owned business.
Although beyerdynamic fully embraces new endeavours and keeps a close eye (and ear!) on rising technologies, their focus remains on delivering high quality equipment for professional audio. In addition the company’s vast portfolio encompasses products for content creation, gaming, mobile work, custom headsets and wireless audio as well.
Hand-made perfection
On the outside, their Heilbronn facility still has the same charming facade from when it was built, but inside is a modern workshop. A vast majority of their production happens in the same factory, with skilled workers assembling microphones and headphones by hand and taking very good care at all manufacturing stages in order to make sure the microphones and headphones they release are in total accordance with their high production and delivery standards.
This combination of tradition with modern technology lays the foundation for the company, and is reflected in how their core products are made: the line of headphones production at beyerdynamic is simply state-of-the-art, with specialized machines built by beyerdynamic themselves to precisely meet their requirements. On top of that, some of the membranes and driver systems are still being built by hand to ensure their quality.
The microphones are made by hand in the old tradition established by Eugen, as machines are simply not able to accomplish certain steps of production. An example is the insertion of the double-ribbon element on the M 130 and M 160, which is currently done by only a few employees who are able to carry out this crucial step. The dynamic microphones also have very complex components. For instance, the manufacturing of the sound capture system for the M 201 and M 88 requires over 70 individual processes! Another aspect that highlights how complex it is to make a microphone is the fact that workers receive 6 to 12 months of training in order to be fully prepared for the job.
The M 130 in production and testing
The new M line
beyerdynamic’s ethos of combining tradition with innovation is perfectly represented with the new design of the M line of microphones, which entered production in 2023. This update is all about the future while firmly keeping the legacy alive: the circuitry and sound pickup element of these microphones hasn’t changed, thus maintaining all the sonic characteristics that made them famous but giving them a classy updated matte-black finish and adding the new logo. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
Both the M 130 and the M 160 were released in 1957 and were considered groundbreaking compact ribbon microphones at the time. Their innovative "double ribbons" design increases the microphones' sensitivity, and what is particularly special is the embossing technology of the aluminum ribbon, which is unique in the industry. The M 160 has also earned many accolades: it's part of the NAMM Tec Award Hall of Fame since 2019. In addition, it was the mic used by Jimi Hendrix, and Bill Botrell recorded the riff for Michael Jackson's "Black or White" with it.
Next up, we have two dynamic microphones. Let’s start with the M 88, a classic dynamic microphone with a full-bodied yet balanced sound that is perfect for capturing just about anything that is put in front of it - it can handle everything from ferocious kick drums to screamy vocals with ease. The traditional silver grille that was absent from recent editions of this mic now makes a comeback, keeping the vintage spirit alive. The M 88 was first introduced in the early 1960s, and it is still very popular today: it can be heard on Bruno Mars (Lesslie Cabinet instrument microphone on his recent 24k Magic tour) and on the last Rolling Stones tours (kick drum). Phil Collins has also used the M 88 for many decades, on both vocals and drums - there's even a rumor that Phil Collins carried the M 88 in his hand luggage on concert tours to make sure he always had it available!
The M 201 is also a versatile microphone and an excellent all-rounder when it comes to instruments, but its major talking point is its high SPL handling that makes it perfect for loud instruments such as snare drums. Both the M 88 and M 201 feature a hypercardioid polar pattern that makes them shine in situations when isolation from surrounding sources is needed. The M 201 came to the market in the early 1970s and was actually sold as an instrument microphone, but was used for a variety of vocal recordings. "Sweet Dreams Are Made of these" by the Eurythmics, "Take on Me" by aHa and Green Day's breakthrough album "Dookie" were all recorded with it. Dua Lipa (snare drum) was also equipped with a M 201 on her last world tour, which shows how flexible it is.
Finally, the MM 1 is an omnidirectional condenser and an utility-type microphone with a linear frequency response designed for measuring room acoustics and environments. The MM 1 comes with individual calibration data for absolute precision with the measurements obtained while using it.
A century of excellence
beyerdynamic is about to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2024, which is a remarkable achievement that only a handful of companies in our industry have ever claimed for themselves. The past century built a robust company that was able to adapt to changes and thrive under many different circumstances without losing sight of its past, present or future.
For more on beyerdynamic, please visit: www.beyerdynamic.com
