M 160

Name: Beyerdynamic M 160
Brand: Beyerdynamic
Rating: 92 (4 reviews)

Released Dec 1, 1999 · Analysis updated Jun 26, 2026

Rare hypercardioid ribbon microphone with smooth midrange, avoiding crosstalk, for guitar amps, drums, and strings. The Beyerdynamic M 160 scores 92/100 based on 4 expert reviews in the external microphones category. Coverage includes reviews from Musiciannerd, Recordinghacks, Audiofanzine, and Tapeop.

Critic Score

What's this?

based on 4 expert reviews

MusiciannerdRecordinghacksAudiofanzineTapeop

Low confidence · only 4 reviews

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Pros

Hypercardioid pattern is rare and useful for a ribbon mic(2)
Hypercardioid polar pattern helps avoid crosstalk(2)

Cons

Too 'colored' for some as a drum overhead(2)

4 Expert Reviews

Independent publication08/2021

Independent publicationAug 18, 2021

The Beyerdynamic M160 is one of my favorite microphones, and I'm beyond excited for the chance to review it today.

Independent publication12/1999

Independent publicationDec 1, 1999

It’s hard not to like this mic; I don’t have anything bad to say.

Independent publication05/2025

Independent publicationMay 12, 2025

The M160 is a unique and iconic mic that remains difficult to fault, offering a balance of naturalness and openness alongside the smoothness expected from a ribbon microphone.

Independent publication07/2007

Independent publicationJul 1, 2007

The M 160 is a unique hypercardioid ribbon mic that is particularly praised for its smooth midrange on guitar amps and its ability to capture sources with minimal room bleed.