Neumann KMS 105 Handheld Supercardioid Condenser Stage Vocal Microphone

Neumann KMS 105: Supercardioid Studio Condenser for the Loudest Stages

The Neumann KMS 105 is a handheld supercardioid condenser stage vocal microphone, a studio-grade capsule with the tightest pattern in the KMS line for the loudest, most demanding stages. Its supercardioid pattern offers the highest gain before feedback of the family, pulling the vocal forward while pushing monitors and band spill hard to the sides and rear. A gentle treble lift adds presence so the voice cuts through a dense mix. A transformerless 50-ohm output drives cable runs up to 1,000 feet to front of house. Winner of both TEC and MIPA awards, it is widely cited as a studio-grade live vocal reference.

Supercardioid for Maximum Gain Before Feedback

The KMS 105's defining trait is its supercardioid pattern, tighter than the cardioid KMS 104 and built to squeeze the most gain from a stage before feedback. On a loud stage with wedges in front and a band behind, that extra rejection is the difference between a clear vocal and a ringing system. The narrower pattern does ask the singer to stay more on-axis, the trade for its isolation. For engineers fighting volume, it is the KMS to reach for. It keeps the vocal present when everything around it is loud.

A True Studio Condenser Capsule

Inside the handheld body is a genuine condenser capsule, not a dynamic element, resolving the breath and nuance a singer brings to a performance. That detail is what makes a KMS 105 vocal sound produced rather than merely amplified. Sensitivity of 4.5 mV/Pa gives front of house a strong, clean signal. The body is engineered around the capsule to control handling noise and wind. It is studio capability in a road-ready form.

A Presence Lift That Cuts Through

The KMS 105 adds a gentle lift in the treble that lends the voice presence and articulation over a busy band. Unlike a harsh peak, this rise is voiced to bring intelligibility without sibilance or edge. The result is a vocal that sits on top of the mix without extra console EQ. Consonants stay crisp and the singer's diction reads clearly to the back of the room. It is a subtle tuning that pays off in real venues.

Wire-Gauze Pop Protection

The KMS 105 uses a foam-free wire-gauze pop filter that stops plosives while resisting the moisture of touring life. Because there is no foam to break down, the protection lasts across years of nightly use. The mechanical design also shields the capsule from handling noise as the singer grips and moves the mic. A transformerless circuit keeps transients fast and the tone honest over long cable runs. It is built to survive the road without losing its sound.

150 dB SPL with a Quiet Floor

The KMS 105 handles up to 150 dB SPL, so even the most powerful vocalist working the mic close never overloads it. At the quiet end, 18 dB-A self-noise and a 76 dB signal-to-noise ratio keep the channel clean enough for the capsule's detail to matter. That span covers a whispered intro and a full-voiced chorus in one mic. The honest, uncolored behavior means less corrective processing at the console. Studio dynamics arrive intact on the stage.

Where the KMS 105 Excels

Touring lead vocals on loud stages are its calling, where its supercardioid pattern holds gain the cardioid 104 could not. Live worship, theater, and festivals rely on it for intelligible, studio-quality vocals in difficult rooms. Singers who want their studio tone reproduced live gravitate to it. As a true condenser it also spot-mikes instruments in untreated rooms when needed. Wherever volume and feedback are the enemy, the 105 keeps the vocal clear.

In the Box and Who It's For

The KMS 105 ships with an SG 105 stand clamp and a padded nylon bag in a nickel finish. It suits the touring vocalist and front-of-house engineer facing the loudest stages, where maximum gain before feedback matters most. Singers who prefer a slightly wider, more forgiving pattern may choose the cardioid KMS 104, while those wanting extra low-end warmth can look to the KMS 104 plus. Worship, theater, and festival professionals are its core users. It is the studio condenser that redefined what a live vocal mic can be.