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Dummy Head

KU 100

Dummy head microphone for a truly immersive sound experience

  • Binaural stereo microphone for a 3D-sound experience
  • Headphone playback optimized, loudspeaker compatible
  • Diffuse field equalized
  • Battery, external PSU, or phantom powering
KU 100
KU 100

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Suited for:

Max. SPL
145 dB
S/N Ratio
78 dB
Sensitivity
20 mV/Pa

Get Inside the Sound

The KU 100 is a dummy head microphone for a truly immersive binaural listening experience with headphones. Although it uses only two channels, its spatial depiction appears three dimensional and shockingly realistic. The KU 100 can be used to great effect in music and audio drama productions. Moreover, KU 100 recordings are loudspeaker compatible.

Dealer Description

The Easiest Way to Create 3D Audio

Conventional recording techniques attempt to transfer an acoustic event into the listener’s environment. The result is often dissatisfactory because the original room is put into a second room. Dummy head recordings are a much more immediate experience, because they transfer the listener into the environment the acoustic event originally took place. Moreover, head related stereo recordings are truly immersive: While conventional stereo recordings are limited to left and right and, at best, a sense of depth behind those speakers, head related recordings create a three dimensional sonic image surrounding the listener.

The KU 100 dummy head is a binaural stereo microphone. Two omnidirectional condenser capsules are built into artificial ears mounted on an enclosure resembling a human head. KU 100 recordings played back over high quality headphones thus give the listeners an experience almost identical to what they would have heard with their own ears at the recording position, with stunning lateral and vertical localization and a breathtaking sense of space and a room decay that surrounds the listener. Immersive sound has never been easier: Simply place the KU 100 at the optimal listening position! Unlike older dummy head microphones, the KU 100 is compatible with loudspeaker playback, too, creating a stereo image similar to conventional microphones yet with a superior sense of space and depth.

Thanks to its state-of-the-art transformerless circuitry, the KU 100 has very low self-noise and can handle high sound pressure levels of up to 135 dB without audible distortion and up to 145 dB with the –10 dB preattenuation switch activated. A second switch offers three low cut options, 150 Hz, 40 Hz, and linear. Both switches affect both channels. The KU 100 has a balanced XLR 5 stereo output and unbalanced BNC outputs. Three powering options are available: P48 phantom power, internal battery, and external PSU (included). The KU 100 is mounted to standard microphone stands at the top or the bottom side, with a 5/8"-27 female thread, plus thread adapters to connect to 1/2"- and 3/8" studs.

Recommended Sennheiser Blueprints:

Sennheiser offers the free plugin Ambeo Orbit, that facilitates the mixing of immersive binaural content during post-production.

We need your consent to display this content

By clicking on "Accept" you agree to the data processing to. Further information on data processing can be found under "More information".

Applications

Due to its natural and transparent sound, the KU 100 can be used for all kinds of head related recordings. Typical applications range from classical recordings and radio drama productions to experimental pop and ambient recordings. In addition, the Neumann KU 100 is also often used for industrial applications, e.g. documenting and examining noise in automobiles or work places.

  • Dummy head microphone for immersive sound experience with headphones
  • Loudspeaker compatible
  • Natural sound with flat diffuse field response
  • Transformerless circuitry for low noise and distortion
  • Switchable pad and dual stage low cut
Acoustical operating principle Pressure transducer
Directional Pattern Ear
Frequency Range 20 Hz ... 20 kHz
Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm 20 mV/Pa
Rated Impedance 50 ohms balanced, 200 ohms unbalanced
Rated load impedance 1 kohms
Equivalent noise level, CCIR¹⁾ 29 dB (23 dB lt. BA)
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted¹⁾ 16 dB-A
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%²⁾ 135 dB
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation²⁾ 145 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR (re. 94 dB SPL)¹⁾ 65 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted (re. 94 dB SPL)¹⁾ 78 dB
Maximum output voltage 8 dBu
Supply voltage (P48, IEC 61938) 48 V ± 4 V / 6 x 1.5 V
Current consumption (P48, IEC 61938) 2 x 3.5 mA
Battery supply 6 x 1.5 V (AA) “round cell”
External power supply unit (supplied) 9 V
Matching connector XLR 3 F / XLR 5 F
Weight KU 100 without batteries approx. 3500 g
Weight with carrying case approx. 9500 g
Height 280 mm / 360 mm (case)
Width 180 mm / 390 mm (case)
Depth 220 mm / 260 mm (case)

1) according to IEC 60268-1; CCIR-weighting acccording to CCIR 468-3, quasi peak; A-weighting according to IEC 61672-1, RMS

2) measured as equivalent el. input signal

Diagrams

Ear KU 100

Ear KU 100
TLM 49 Set

WSB

Windscreen

WSB
TLM 49 Set

N 248

Power Supply

N 248
TLM 49 Set

MF 4

Floor Stand

MF 4
TLM 49 Set

MF 5

Floor Stand

MF 5
TLM 49 Set

STV 4

Stand Extension

STV 4
TLM 49 Set

STV 20

Stand Extension

STV 20
TLM 49 Set

STV 40

Stand Extension

STV 40
TLM 49 Set

STV 60

Stand Extension

STV 60
TLM 49 Set

IC 5 mt

Microphone Cable

IC 5 mt
TLM 49 Set

AC 20

Adapter Cable

AC 20
TLM 49 Set

PA 100

Pistonphone Adapter

PA 100

KU 100

Color black

CAT. NO. 007130

KU 100
  • KU 100 Dummy Head
  • IC 5 Microphone Cable
  • AC 20 Adapter Cable
  • Plugin Mains Unit
  • Aluminium Case

Suited for:

Max. SPL
145 dB
S/N Ratio
78 dB
Sensitivity
20 mV/Pa

WARNING (for California residents only): This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm. For more information go to: www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

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