DPA 4099chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many reviewers, including long-time 4099 owners, describe a harsh, nasal, honky, or over-accentuated mid/high character that often needs EQ correction, especially compared side-by-side with the Neumann MCM 114.

@gogopie64

Am i the only person hear that likes the condenser mic more? DPA 4099 sounds dark muddy and kinda nasally. Not a fanlaunch

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August 6, 2026

@LennyKMusic

Keep the condenser. The DPA mic is meant for live performances where you can't have a normal mic in front of you and by itself it sound nasal and you gotta EQ it to make it sound betterlaunch

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May 15, 2025

@TomaszMreńca

Very interesting comparison. Thank you for this video. The microphone from Neumann sounds great. Full sound, velvety, pleasant to the ear, realistic. DPA in my opinion has unpleasant hi freq at times (but still great). Neumann sounds like a slightly processed EQ sound. My personal feeling is that this microphone is more \"friendly\" sounding, a bit like a ribbon microphones, sounds more like a ready \"recording\". I am violinist (using DPA for 5 years) and I will buy Neumann mcm 114 now. Thanks! All best.launch

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June 18, 2023

@jen3800

the DPA definitely has a honk to it. the Neumann is silky smooth in the highs, less strident in the high mids. The DPA has it's place, possibly in an ensemble , to cut through the band...but for solo, the Neumann is hands down the winner.launch

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June 16, 2023

Multiple commenters flag the roughly $599-600+ price as steep, noting cheaper pickups can sound comparably good, and questioning the cost for what is described as a small mic on a stick.

@stilllifeproductions5017

Thx for this. I like the fact that it could be placed on any instrument. How is it in solo live scenarios in terms of feedback and picking-up unwanted noise? Is it a a hypercardioid pattern? Why so expensive, it's just a little mic on a stick?launch

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March 16, 2023

@studmuffin1212

Sounds good. But then again, for over $600, it damn well better sound good!launch

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January 18, 2020

@SONGSTICKS

Excellent demo and sounds very nice.. but I think $599 is a tad steep !!\nYou could buy a Rare earth pickup for much much less and would sound every bit as good, if not better. I also noticed at one point when you brought the mic in, it picked up your talking voice. I would imagine when singing and in a crowded place you'd get lots of overspill and possibly feedback problems. Great for home recording though.\nI'd buy one but not at THAT price !!launch

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September 13, 2011

Users report the capsule mount is flimsy and doesn't hold reliably for its price, the gooseneck is weak and can lose its set position during a gig, and the connection to instrument clamps isn't tight.

@DonSoledadGroup

I just sold my DPA 4099 exclusively used for flamenco guitar. I hated the guitar mount and sent numerous emails to DPA - taping the mount takes away from the sleekness of the design. I also feel that the DPA had a bit of a harsher representation of the highs on my flamenco guitars IMO. This was a great A/B video. Thanks for the work! Def worth ordering an MCM just by the better guitar mount design. The warmer and smoother sonic advantages are a plus!launch

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June 8, 2023

@saxophonydominikengel3724

Hey, thanks for testing these to microphones. \n\nis there a reason why the right audio channel is way lower than the left one? Also the speaker audio is very distorted and sounds a little out of phase...\n\nRegards the DPA: it confirms my experiences after using this microphone for more than 8 years on my Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor) - it is overall a great sounding mic making it perfect for live performances even at higher volumes without too much feedback issues. In this video, I don't like how the low, percussive contents of the cello sound are a little suppressed by the 4099 while there is a tiny over-accentuation of the mids, as mentioned before. The Neumann, in my left ear :-) , sounds more accurate, even more studio-like offering more details of what the instrument does sound like. Therefore, it could be a good replacement even for recording situations.\n\nOther things I don't like with the 4099:\n- the capsule mount does not transfer body sound which is better than cheaper microphones do, but for the price that it is very flimsy, it doesn't hold the capsule very reliably.\n- the microdot connectors are not made to last forever, I could not unscrew the cable from the microphone as I would be supposed to destroy it.\n- the connection between the gooseneck and the saxophone clamp mount is not very tight, it may result in a mic drop moment (unwanted, of course)\n- the goose neck is flimsy as well, you will probably loose your favorite pick-up position during an evening of performing\n- microdot-to-Sennheiser-3,5mm-adapter was 99,- Euro back in the days (today: 89,- Euro)\n\nAfter countless gigs and near-daily usage for practicing purposes at home, I'm thinking about getting a replacement. Both the Neumann and the overhauled DPA 4099, as well as some saxophone-specialised solutions from LD Systems or AMT, will be considered.launch

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October 23, 2022

Long-term users report the microdot cable is prone to failure from twisting, is not covered by DPA warranty for that failure type, and the connector is hard to detach without damage, with pricey official adapters.

@saxophonydominikengel3724

Hey, thanks for testing these to microphones. \n\nis there a reason why the right audio channel is way lower than the left one? Also the speaker audio is very distorted and sounds a little out of phase...\n\nRegards the DPA: it confirms my experiences after using this microphone for more than 8 years on my Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor) - it is overall a great sounding mic making it perfect for live performances even at higher volumes without too much feedback issues. In this video, I don't like how the low, percussive contents of the cello sound are a little suppressed by the 4099 while there is a tiny over-accentuation of the mids, as mentioned before. The Neumann, in my left ear :-) , sounds more accurate, even more studio-like offering more details of what the instrument does sound like. Therefore, it could be a good replacement even for recording situations.\n\nOther things I don't like with the 4099:\n- the capsule mount does not transfer body sound which is better than cheaper microphones do, but for the price that it is very flimsy, it doesn't hold the capsule very reliably.\n- the microdot connectors are not made to last forever, I could not unscrew the cable from the microphone as I would be supposed to destroy it.\n- the connection between the gooseneck and the saxophone clamp mount is not very tight, it may result in a mic drop moment (unwanted, of course)\n- the goose neck is flimsy as well, you will probably loose your favorite pick-up position during an evening of performing\n- microdot-to-Sennheiser-3,5mm-adapter was 99,- Euro back in the days (today: 89,- Euro)\n\nAfter countless gigs and near-daily usage for practicing purposes at home, I'm thinking about getting a replacement. Both the Neumann and the overhauled DPA 4099, as well as some saxophone-specialised solutions from LD Systems or AMT, will be considered.launch

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October 23, 2022

@philroach6000

I use a DPA 4099 on about 150 gigs a year. The microdot cable has proved annoying; I recently had to order a new cable because the first one failed, and DPA does not cover that type of failure (twisting and untwisting a cable is asking for problems yet that is their design). \n\nI like the smoother and darker tone of the Neumann. I like their cable attachment infinitely better than the 4099. I don't mind the big windscreen but I do mind how the cable comes off the violin on a diagonal. If they fix this I will most likely switch to the Neumann.launch

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September 26, 2022

One long-time early adopter reports two units failed during important gigs, prompting a search for alternatives, and another user chose to sell theirs after dissatisfaction with the mount and tone.

@DonSoledadGroup

I just sold my DPA 4099 exclusively used for flamenco guitar. I hated the guitar mount and sent numerous emails to DPA - taping the mount takes away from the sleekness of the design. I also feel that the DPA had a bit of a harsher representation of the highs on my flamenco guitars IMO. This was a great A/B video. Thanks for the work! Def worth ordering an MCM just by the better guitar mount design. The warmer and smoother sonic advantages are a plus!launch

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June 8, 2023

@duanepadilla3330

Thanks for doing this comparison!! I was an early adpoter of the DPA4099 when they first came out but two of them failed me on two really important gigs so I have been looking for a different option for years now. The Neumann looks hopeful.launch

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September 21, 2022

Some commenters find the 4099 thinner or lacking bass and presence compared to large-diaphragm condensers or the Neumann MCM 114, describing it as muted or muddy on certain instruments.

@guillermoramirez8444

Thank you for sharing this video. I feel the violin sounds so much more natural with the large diaphragm condenser microphone. The violin sounds muted with the DP4099 small-diaphragm supercardioid condenser. Does not sound bad, but prefer the large diaphragm mic. It's another sound for your arsenal. If you want to obtain an orchestral sound, you need to use different violins. Took me some time and many violins to figure that out, lol. Check out my deadmou5 recording, you'll see what I mean about the different violins. The other thing that also helps a lot is acoustically treating your room. I see you figured that one out :D Congrats!launch

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July 23, 2025

@vilhelmprumpuson7853

Dear Guitarune! I'm really inspired by your sound you get with the DPA on the nylon strings. So much that I got my hands on a DPA 4099. I have been trying it out, but I don't seem to get as good sound as you! It lacks the bass, the presence and the clarity. Can you please give my any tips? Are you using any EQ, special preamps, anything that improves the sound beyond the DPA itself? Thanks in advance!launch

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May 9, 2017

A user researching extremely quiet, delicate compositions notes the roughly 23dBA self-noise spec seems too high for that use case.

@mecrushed1

Do you think these Mics are too noisy for Studio work? 23 DPA seems very noisy. \n\nI'm into music like Alvin Lucier and Elaine radigue, very quiet delicate classical drone music. And stuff like taku sugimoto which has lots of Silence in the compositions\n\nI've been working on extended techniques with my ebow and acoustic guitar that can't be amplfied by normal guitar pickups i was hoping these mics would work but 23dba of self-noise seems too much. Does anyone have any experience with super quiet delicate music and these mics?launch

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May 13, 2024