Description

The M81 is Telefunken’s follow-up to the M80, one of the most widely used dynamic microphones in modern studios and live rigs. Rather than simply repeating that formula, Telefunken tuned the M81 to fill a different role: a flatter, slightly darker top end paired with the same low proximity effect and strong feedback rejection that made the M80 popular.

That voicing makes the M81 particularly useful when a source already has plenty of brightness. Guitar amps, snappy vocals, and cutting brass all get a bit of smoothing on top, while the mic’s clear midrange keeps the source from sounding buried or dull. On the flip side, it’s just as effective adding weight and body to thinner-sounding instruments – horns, hand percussion, and toms that need more presence in the mix.

Housed in the same flint gray body and tri-chrome grille as Telefunken’s R-F-T AR-51, the M81 was actually voiced to pair well with that mic, particularly for miking electric guitar cabinets with both at once. Its rugged build and broad usefulness across instruments make it a practical one-mic solution for studios that need a dynamic that isn’t limited to a single job.

Type: Dynamic moving coil
Capsule: 25 mm
Transformer: Custom-wound Telefunken T80
Polar pattern: Super cardioid
Frequency range: 50 Hz – 18 kHz
Sensitivity: 1.45 mV/Pa
Output impedance: 325 Ω
Max SPL (1% THD): 135 dB
Dimensions: 184 mm L x 48 mm dia.