Electronic music gear tends to lean heavily toward form defined by function, with only a few outliers exhibiting high notes of design. Teenage Engineering, the Swedish consumer electronics company founded in 2005 by Jesper Kouthoofd, David Eriksson, Jens Rudberg and David M"ollerstedt and based in Stockholm belongs to the exception(al) rather than the rule when it comes to design. The elegantly modern CM-15 portable microphone represents the brand’s supreme attention to detail serving needs well beyond function alone.
With a case approximately the size and shape of a pack of cards, the CM-15 lives up to its portable moniker, characterized by its simple controls and intentionally sparse controls. The sum of its machined minimalism is oh-so-Dieter Rams, a wholly intentional modernist affect. From a use case perspective, the little microphone’s utility is aimed toward field production, filming footage, interviews and podcasts, vocal recordings, and instrumentals recordings – the world’s “first all-in-1 mic offering.”
Don’t let the CM-15’s pocketable size fool you. Inside can be found a 1-inch large diaphragm condenser capsule, a rarity portable recording gear, and an addition resulting in a higher depth of sound sans any noise.
CM–15 has multiple outputs that can be used simultaneously: mini xlr, 3.5 mm jack and USB-C. it can also be powered three ways, through phantom power, battery, or USB-C, instantly detecting the right power source for your connected device.
While there is a built-in table stand, Teenage Engineering’s own mini tripod is not included. A 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch tiltable adapter does allow the CM-15 to work with any compatible mic stand or tripod.
Like the majority of Teenage Engineering’s catalog, the CM-15 microphone adds a sizable design premium to its price tag – $1,200. That may seem stratospheric, but we would not be surprised if the Swedish company sells out of this mighty mite of a microphone planned for a June release.
