Launched in 1970 the LBB9050/05 was Philips flagship dynamic microphone, and was heralded in Philips literature as being a ‘revolutionary new design incorporating high and low frequency systems’. However, a small amount of research reveals more than a passing similarity in technical specifications between the LBB9050/05 and the popular D200 series of microphones by AKG, which had been around for several years.
The mystery unravels further, and the true origins of this microphone become clear when we observe the words ‘Made in Austria’ on the packaging, the storage case, and on the microphone itself. Michael Amon, top technician at AKG for 30 years, has confirmed to me that the LBB9050/05 was indeed made by AKG for Philips in 1969.
Picture above shows Tuchel socket, and ports for the LF capsule.
The Dual Capsule Design.
The original Austrian patent dates from 1960. The full specification appears in the English patent registered by AKG in 1965, and shown below. This makes an interesting read if you want to understand how this clever piece of technology works.
Original AKG Patent for Dual Capsule Microphones
Philips Advertising Leaflets Courtesy of Philips Company Archives.
leafletLBB9050 microphone, leaflet, 1971
So What Does It Sound Like CLICK HERE for a short clip of Blues Guitar
In Conclusion
Just like its AKG cousins the D200, D202, D222 and the D224, the Philips LBB9050/05 is a serious quality professional microphone, exhibiting a wide frequency response, tight cardioid polar pattern, and no proximity effect. Sadly, these days it is much less well known than the AKG models. But maybe Philips is to blame? If you were to choose a completely unmemorable name for a product you really couldn’t do better than to call it the LBB9050/05! Two minutes from now you will probably have forgotten it!
Martin Mitchell's Microphones 
Every time I get a /Martin Mitchell’s Microphones Mail/ my day is lit up THANK YOU, Mr.Mitchell, for having me on your mailing list 🙂
Greetings from Tom, collector of 50s+60s table microphones amateur/semi-pro……Grundig GDM12 – “timeless” design AND pretty cool blues-harp mic (maybe not quite as cool as the “green bullet”)……Sennheiser MD4303 (nice on a snare, though maybe not quite as lekker as the AKG C414!)
Thanks Martin! :-)tom
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Thanks Tom. Good luck with your collecting.
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Hi Martin, nice article. You have just bumped up the used price for these! 🙂
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Hi Martin,
Thanks for your article i can eventually put a name on what i have found in my parent’s attic 🙂
I think the microphone i have found might still work but i can’t find what kind of cable to use, unfortunately it doesn’t fit standard xlr cable, do you have any clue what kind of connector it requires?
I have found a site where i can buy an adapter but i’m not sure if it would fit (here is the link : https://reverb.com/item/9799500-din-klein-tuchel-to-xlr-adapter-cable-for-sennheiser-mkh-405t-406t-416t-md421-beyer-m160-m88)
Could you please tell me what adapter you are using?
Thanks in advance.
Sacha.
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Hi Sacha, I assume that the connector on your mic looks exactly the same as the one in the last photograph on my blog post? The 3 pins are smaller than an XLR and the outer sleeve is threaded. This type of connector is a Tuchel connector. These came in two sizes, large (Grosse) and small (Klein) . This mic has a Klein Tuchel connector. So yes, the item in your link is the right connector. Just take care not to cross thread the knurled locking ring when doing it up. Sometimes the thread on the mic is a bit worn.
Good Luck.
Martin
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Hi Martin,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes I confirm, it looks exactly the same.
I will buy this adapter, i can’t wait to test it, I will let you know how it goes 🙂
Thanks again.
Kr.
Sacha.
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hi martin,
I recently came across one of those, and thanks to your expertise I picked it up, and paired it with my AKG D222 (which I love). to my ears the philips sounds a tad different, probably due to the different housing, a slightly different capsule design (does anyone know about the differences between AKG D200, 202 and 222, btw?), or maybe just its age, but still very, very nice. so I just took the opportunity to bid on another one, and hope to get a nice stereo pair out of them.
now there’s just one little issue – this microphone is, so to say, a bit chubby, and doesn’t fit into your usual clip holder. it’s got a little nub on the underside which is meant for a special holding clip in the style of the infamous sennheiser 421 plastic thingy. while the latter is known to be quite fragile, the 421 is still on the market, and so are the replacement parts (albeit very expensive – “pharmacy pricing”, as we say in germany). but getting one for the LBB9050 is probably close to impossible (and even if I find one, it will surely be thrice the cost of the mic itself).
does anyone have any good advice of how to fix the little tubby – or other “fat” dynamics – onto a stand? the only reasonable solution I can think of is an LDC shockmount from rycote or the like, which should be working fine, but also turn out to be clumsy in certain places (e.g. drumkit). any other ideas?
all the best, stefan
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Hi Stefan, The various AKG dual capsule mics do sound slightly different to each other. This is probably due to differences in body shape and also perhaps some variation in components. It might be worth contacting Michael Amon who worked for AKG as head of repairs for many years. He is an expert on these mics https://en.mikrofonservice.at/ .
I have often used a Rycote shock mount for these ‘chubby’ mics. They work really well and hold the mic very securely. However, I do have a spare clip for the LBB9050/05 . If you would like to email me your details I can send it to you. ( martin @instantmusic.co.uk )
All the Best
Martin
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dear martin, thank you for the quick reply! 🙂 you’ve got mail!
stefan
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I was carelessly cruising through your website when I was astounded to see this Philips LBB9050… I bought one several years ago, but since it doesnt bear any identification except “Philips”, I could not identify it and therefore couldn’t find any information on it. Well now I know!
I always found it good sounding, and it’s a favourite for toms. My unit came without the special clip, so I had to hack something out of a regular clip in order to use it. tha plastic housing is also cracked around the clip slot, and has burn marks. But it’s definitely is a useful microphone.
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Thanks for that. It is indeed a really useful microphone. 🙂
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