Neumann U 47 FET Cardioid Microphone With Wooden Box Certificate

The legendary U 47 fet microphone has returned to production after decades away, bringing back the smooth, refined sound that defined 1970s recordings. Originally launched in 1972 as the solid-state successor to Neumann’s iconic tube U 47, this microphone quickly became a studio favourite by combining the balanced character of its predecessor with enhanced clarity and operational simplicity. Though it fell from favour during the more aggressive recording trends of the mid-80s, top engineers continued to discover new applications for the U 47 fet with guitar cabinets and kick drums, while renowned vocalists across genres eventually reestablished its reputation as a versatile vocal microphone.

At its core, the U 47 fet maintains the same K 47 large diaphragm condenser capsule and headgrille design as the original tube U 47 that revolutionised recording from 1949 to 1960. The microphone features a similarly oversized output transformer for sonic continuity, paired with an advanced transistorised head amplifier that achieves an impressive 119 dB dynamic range. This engineering allows the microphone to handle extreme sound pressure levels up to 137 dB, extending to 147 dB with the –10 dB pad engaged.

The U 47 fet excels across diverse recording applications thanks to its smooth top end, rich midrange, and exceptionally clear low frequencies. Its ability to handle high SPLs makes it ideal for bright, loud instruments like brass and electric guitar, while the uncluttered bass response suits upright bass and bass cabinets perfectly. Many leading engineers regard it as the ultimate kick drum microphone, and its beautifully balanced frequency response with subtle upper-mid presence boost makes it equally effective for both intimate crooners and powerful rock vocalists. The microphone includes practical features like a unique one-sided swivel mount for easy positioning, plus rear-mounted pad and low-cut switches, with an additional 6 dB output attenuation switch near the XLR socket for compatibility with vintage preamps.