Telefunken TF29 vs TF39: Why the TF39 Offers More Flexibility
The Telefunken TF29 and TF39 share the same Copperhead family concept, but the TF39 adds something important for a studio that needs one microphone to cover more situations: selectable cardioid, omnidirectional and figure-8 pickup patterns. The TF29 is now sold out at ScaleNordic, while the TF39 remains the current Copperhead model available in our store.
Why the TF39 is the more flexible choice than the TF29
The TF29 is fixed cardioid. The TF39 keeps the same Copperhead foundation but adds three selectable polar patterns. That makes the TF39 easier to adapt to different singers, instruments, room perspectives and stereo or two-performer techniques without changing microphone.
| Feature | TF29 | TF39 |
|---|---|---|
| Polar patterns | Fixed cardioid | Cardioid, omni, figure-8 |
| Tube listed | NOS GE 5654W | NOS 5654W |
| Output transformer | Lundahl | Lundahl |
| Practical distinction | Focused fixed-pattern workflow | More recording options in one microphone |
| Price / availability | €1,399.99 — sold out | €1,549.99 — currently available |
Prices checked on 22 September 2026 for Spain, in EUR. The TF29 has sold out and its former price is retained only for comparison. TF39 price and availability can change.
What the two Copperhead microphones share
The TF29 and TF39 are large-diaphragm tube condenser microphones from Telefunken’s Copperhead family. Their product information describes a balanced, natural response built around a 5654W tube and a Lundahl output transformer.
Telefunken states that the TF39 expands the Copperhead design with a dual-membrane K67-style capsule and three selectable patterns. Sonically and component-wise, Telefunken describes the two microphones as otherwise the same. That makes the pattern system the central practical reason to move from the TF29 concept to the TF39.
What the TF39’s additional patterns let you change
Cardioid: a focused starting point
Cardioid favors sound from the front and is a useful starting point for vocals, amplifiers and individual instruments when you want less pickup from behind the microphone. This is also the only polar pattern offered by the TF29.
Omnidirectional: include more of the room
Omni opens the microphone to sound around it. That can be useful when the room is part of the recording, for a more open instrument perspective, or when you want less directional proximity effect than a cardioid setup.
Figure-8: front and rear pickup
Figure-8 accepts sound from the front and rear while strongly rejecting at the sides. It can be useful for two performers facing opposite sides of one microphone and for techniques such as mid-side when paired with a suitable second microphone.
Who was the TF29 aimed at?
- A singer or studio working mainly in cardioid.
- A setup that already had other multi-pattern microphones available.
- A buyer who wanted the Copperhead circuit in the simpler fixed-pattern version.
Why the TF39 offers more flexibility than the TF29
The TF39 is the stronger all-round option when the microphone will be used for more than one fixed recording setup. Its extra patterns do not automatically make every recording better, but they give you more ways to change what the microphone hears before reaching for a different microphone.
- Use cardioid for focused vocals, guitar amps and individual instruments.
- Switch to omni when the acoustic space is part of the sound you want to capture.
- Use figure-8 for front-and-back performer placement or suitable stereo techniques.
- Keep one familiar microphone in the setup while changing the pickup behavior to suit the session.
Plan the complete recording chain
The TF39 is a tube microphone system and uses its dedicated external power supply and tube microphone cable. A conventional three-pin XLR cable does not replace the dedicated microphone-to-power-supply cable.
The current TF39 listing includes the M903 power supply, M803 tube microphone cable, ZC03 shell case, M703 shock mount, M782 stand mount and microphone sleeve. Confirm the exact package on the product page before ordering.
What pattern flexibility means in real sessions
Overdubbed vocals in a home studio
For a single singer recorded one part at a time, cardioid may be all you need. The TF39 still gives you that familiar focused workflow, but it also leaves open the option of changing pattern later if the room, singer or recording idea changes.
Two performers sharing one microphone
In figure-8, two performers can work on opposite sides of the TF39. They must balance themselves through placement and performance because one microphone still produces one combined track, but the pattern creates a setup that the fixed-cardioid TF29 could not provide.
Room sound as part of an instrument recording
The TF39’s omni setting is useful when you deliberately want more of the surrounding acoustic. This can work for instruments or room-oriented recording, provided the room itself contributes something useful rather than unwanted noise or reflections.
Pattern choice changes placement decisions
Changing polar pattern changes which directions are emphasized or rejected, so microphone position should be reconsidered each time. Figure-8 has strong side rejection but hears the rear; cardioid reduces rear pickup; omni includes much more of the surrounding space.
Do not simply change the pattern and assume the old microphone position is still ideal. Record the same passage, adjust distance and angle, then compare. The extra patterns are most useful when they are treated as recording tools rather than as settings to collect.
What the former €150 difference represented
At the previous ScaleNordic price check, the TF29 was €1,399.99 and the TF39 was €1,549.99. The €150 difference bought the selectable cardioid, omni and figure-8 system rather than a claim that the TF39 must sound better in every cardioid recording.
Now that the TF29 is sold out, the TF39 is the current Copperhead choice at ScaleNordic. For a studio that wants one tube microphone to cover a wider range of sessions, the added pattern flexibility is the main reason to choose it.
Before the first recording
Read the supplied instructions before connecting the dedicated microphone cable and power supply. Arrange the cable so it does not pull on the microphone, and use a stable stand suited to the supplied mounting hardware.
Once connected, rehearse the loudest passage and set the recording level with room for peaks. Record a short test, listen for room noise and stand movement, and adjust placement before judging the microphone’s character.
Frequently asked questions
Does the TF39 automatically sound better than the TF29 in cardioid?
No. Telefunken’s own product information presents the major difference as the TF39’s selectable patterns. The value of the TF39 is primarily the added flexibility, not a guarantee that cardioid recordings will always sound better.
Is the TF29 still available at ScaleNordic?
No. The TF29 is sold out at ScaleNordic and its product link has been removed from this guide. It remains in the comparison because it is useful for explaining what the TF39 adds.
Can the TF39 cover the same fixed-cardioid work as the TF29?
Yes. Cardioid is one of the TF39’s three selectable patterns, so it can be used for the same type of focused cardioid workflow while also providing omni and figure-8 when needed.
Choose the flexibility you can use
The TF29 is now sold out at ScaleNordic. The TF39 is the current Copperhead model available in our store, with cardioid, omni and figure-8 patterns in one tube microphone system.
Feature references: ScaleNordic product listings and Telefunken’s Alchemy Series documentation. This guide is based on documented specifications and practical workflow considerations, not a listening test. Telefunken Alchemy Series PDF.