Beyerdynamic M160: Is This Double-Ribbon Microphone Right for You?

The Beyerdynamic M160 is a passive ribbon microphone with a hypercardioid pickup pattern, built around two ribbons stacked in a single capsule. It works very differently from the USB microphones and headsets most people use for calls and streaming. It has an XLR output, needs an external preamp and rewards careful placement. This guide covers what to have in place before buying or connecting one, how to set it up with a computer, how to check the result and what to do when the signal is too quiet, noisy or distorted.

Before you start

The M160 is an analog microphone, and everything happens locally. The mic feeds a preamp, the preamp or audio interface converts the signal to digital, and your computer, recorder or call app sees that interface as its input device. The microphone itself does not use an account, cloud service or driver. Any software requirement comes from the interface or recorder you connect it to, so check that device's documentation.

What you need

• An audio interface, mixer or recorder with an XLR microphone input. The M160 has no USB connection.
• A preamp with plenty of clean gain. Ribbon microphones generally have lower output than condenser microphones, and a preamp that gets noisy near the top of its range will add audible hiss.
• A balanced XLR cable in good condition.
• A stable stand and, for voice, a pop filter. Ribbons are sensitive to strong bursts of air.
• Closed headphones for monitoring, so you can judge the sound without feedback from speakers.

Is it the right microphone for your use?

The M160 suits people who want a natural, focused sound from a single source and are prepared to work with an interface and careful gain setting. Its hypercardioid pattern concentrates on what is directly in front of the mic and reduces pickup from the sides. This helps in rooms with some background noise, but hypercardioid microphones also have a small rear pickup lobe. The mic is commonly chosen for instruments such as guitar amplifiers and drums as well as for voice. If you only need clear speech on video calls and want plug-and-play setup, a USB microphone or headset is simpler and needs no extra hardware. Before buying, check beyerdynamic's current specification sheet for exact frequency response, output and impedance figures rather than relying on retailer summaries.

Step-by-step instructions

These steps assume a computer with a USB or Thunderbolt audio interface. The same order applies to a hardware recorder or mixer. Each step can be undone by turning the gain down and switching your settings back.

• Turn the interface's input gain all the way down, then switch phantom power off for that channel. The M160 does not need phantom power. Follow the guidance in beyerdynamic's manual, and leave phantom power off unless you are using an inline preamp that requires it.
• Connect the microphone to the XLR input with the balanced cable.
• Mount the mic on a stand and point its top end at the source. The M160 is end-addressed, so speak or play into the top of the mic, not its side.
• For voice, start at a moderate distance with a pop filter in between. Moving closer increases the bass because of the proximity effect. Moving farther away reduces the bass but picks up more of the room.
• Connect the interface to your computer. In your operating system's sound settings, select the interface as the input device. Choose your headphones or the interface's headphone output as the output device.
• Set the sample rate. 48 kHz is a common choice for video and calls. Use the same rate in the interface's control software (if it has any), in the operating system and in your recording or call app to avoid resampling artifacts and crackles.
• Speak or play at your normal level and slowly raise the input gain. Stop when the peaks sit comfortably below the clip indicator, leaving headroom for louder moments.
• If you need almost all of the preamp's range to reach a usable level and you hear hiss, consider an inline microphone booster. These boosters are powered by phantom power and sit between the microphone and the interface. Phantom power then feeds the booster, not the mic, so follow the booster maker's instructions.
• In your call app, select the interface as the microphone. Then review automatic gain control and noise suppression, because they can change how the mic sounds. Reduce or disable them if they cause pumping or cut off words, and turn them back on if background noise becomes a problem.

To undo the setup, turn the gain down before you disconnect the cable, then switch the input device in your system and apps back to your previous microphone.

Check the output

Record a short test with the same input device and sample rate your final app will use, then listen on headphones. Speak or play the way you will in real use, including your loudest moments.

• Loud passages stay clean, with no harsh distortion.
• The level stays even and does not jump between quiet and loud.
• Pauses have only low, steady hiss.
• Room echo and background noise stay in proportion to your voice or instrument.
• Words starting with P and B do not produce thumps.

Watch the level meter in your recording app while you test. If peaks hit the maximum, lower the gain at the interface rather than in software, because clipping at the converter cannot be repaired later. Check the recorder's settings or the file's properties to confirm the format and sample rate match your choices. For calls, keep in mind that the platform compresses audio, so the other side will hear less detail than your local recording. If the call app has a built-in microphone test, use it as the final check.

Common problems and next steps

What does double ribbon mean in practice?

The M 160 is described as a double-ribbon microphone because its capsule holds two ribbon elements stacked one above the other. Both ribbons work together, so there is no separate setting to manage. You connect, aim and gain-stage it like any other end-addressed microphone.

No signal at all

Confirm that the cable is plugged into the channel you are monitoring and that this channel's gain is turned up. Check that the interface is selected as the input device in both the operating system and the app. Also check your operating system's privacy settings to make sure the app is allowed to use the microphone. If you use an inline booster, make sure phantom power is on for that channel, since the booster needs it to pass signal. Try a different XLR cable to rule out a faulty lead.

Too quiet or too much hiss

Low output is normal for a ribbon microphone. Move the source a little closer and raise the interface gain. If hiss is still audible, try a preamp with more clean gain or an inline booster. Avoid fixing a weak signal with a large software volume boost, because that raises the noise along with the voice.

Too much background noise or room sound

Reduce the distance between the mic and the source, and turn the mic so that noise sources such as fans or computers sit to its sides. Remember the small rear lobe and avoid placing a noise source directly behind the mic. Soft furnishings near your position can reduce reflections. Use the noise suppression in your call app only as much as needed.

Boomy sound or popping

Excess bass usually comes from the proximity effect, so back away slightly or use a low-cut filter in your interface or app if one is available. For pops, use a pop filter and angle the mic slightly so your breath does not hit the top of the mic directly.

Distortion or crackles

Distortion on loud passages usually means the gain is too high, so lower it and test again. Crackles or dropouts often point to mismatched sample rates or a buffer size that is too small, so make the sample rate consistent everywhere and increase the buffer in the interface or recording software. If the sound stays thin, buzzy or distorted at every level, stop using the microphone. This can follow a strong blast of air or a fault. Have it inspected by an authorized service instead of opening it, because ribbons are delicate.

Once your level, sample rate and placement are settled, write down the gain position and distance that worked so you can repeat the setup. If the M160 still feels like more setup than your use calls for, a USB microphone may be the more practical choice for everyday calls. You could then keep the ribbon for recording instruments or voice.