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What is the difference between these two mics? does anyone consider other mics to be sonically equivalent to the U87 (soundelux, etc.)?

Comments

KurtFoster Sun, 06/22/2003 - 14:11

The main difference is in the internal electronics, the amp in the mic.. I personally think all mics are different. One U87 will sound different than the next. You have to look for the "good ones". As far as knock offs, same thing applies. But If you want a U87 sound, that's what you should shop for. BTW, the old U87 is supposed to sound better than the newer U87Ai...

omegaarts Sun, 06/22/2003 - 15:55

Happen to lucky enough to have an old U87 and it works real good in a lot of different applications.
One thing I can say is it doesn't sound like any other mic I have.
As far as the knock off's FORGET IT.
It's sorta like an amp simulator, you think the knock off sounds real good untill you put it up against my vintage U87. At that point you hang your head and remember you get what you pay for.
Kurt I've never tried the (ai) verson I'd like to hear the difference someday.
Larry
Larry Howard

Pez Tue, 06/24/2003 - 13:42

The ai mics are basicly the Neumanns made after 1986. They are supposedly a little safer to operate as they have a lower impedance supply lead for the capsule polarizing voltages. They are about 10db louder and Neumann literature states that the signal noise ratio is improved by around 3db.

Stephen Paul Wed, 06/25/2003 - 23:33

It's probably because I don't know what I'm talking about...

After all, over 600 LSD trips... Ladies and Gentlemen, I must wonder...

Why am I qualified to say in any event, anything at all.

I actually recorded at Walley Heider Studios 3&4 wrecked on blotter or gel, some Red Dragon or something, and also at Elektra Studio A, (3M 2" 16 Track M56, with SM64 2 tracks, and a nice API with Quad installed, and I don't know...) and also at a whole bunch of other places on records you wouldn't believe the titles of! :D

Other than that, and my very eccentric, (yes, I know it, and yet, a lot of people out there, seem to really feel that what I have been doing, as I've bitten on the leg of this dog, now with Tony, and tried to sort of Frisbee and wrestle it, and make it go faster, and higher and more and more totality of designer control, so that there are less compromises in the design itself, due to the peculiar needs of directional mikes.

More independent controls so that impulse response and variables become more and more isolatable, so the design can be zero'd in on.

Kelly Johnson the guy who designed the SR71, and U2, had The Lockheed Skunk Works, I have the SPA Passing Windworks.

We'll see if it sticks. The Passing Windworks. The Black Op arm of SPA Inc. Hand me those beans.

I want one that's an honest plus six at 15k with sub micron film, and has an honest low-Q centered at 1k -26dB or better cardioid rejection, wide band as possible.

And a line level transformerless amp.

NOW we're talkin' 409. You know. 454 bored to 488 with a blower. Yes. Mother of Angels, just a Megawatt power supply. Instant total Power on fully damped tap.

Steve's roadside KiloWatt cafe.

Mmmm...

The Arizona desert stretches out to Four Corners and the Plains...

Tetonka... Buffalo.

Yeah, that was good stuff.