87-Style Male Vocal Mic Shootout: Warm Audio WA87 vs Neumann U87Ai vs Peluso P87

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In this video we present an 87-style microphone shootout on acoustic guitar and vocals using the Warm Audio WA87, the Neumann U87Ai, and the Peluso P87. Can you tell which one's which? If you are interested in hearing the results and/or getting ahold of the audio files from this shootout, give us a shout, we'd love to hear from you!
This gear is available for our exclusive, free demo Try Before You Buy program. Just give us a call at [phone], or email us at proaudio(at)soundpure.com.
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[@InsertName130]

Oh, I get it. This was just click bait. I'll remember to avoid your videos from now on so I don't let you waste any more of my time.

[@MOSHAEMUSIC]

the shootout was great but you saying at the begining you'd have the results at the end and finding out you only email results at the end is a little dishonest. I'm thinking you are trying to gain emails for your company which i get but forcing people to watch a 5min video only to find out you get no answers makes me feel the company may be shady. I think giving the answers at the end and having people have the option to be added to a email list would speak better customer service and integrity.

[@MeTuLHeD]

Agreed 100%!

[@JohnTaylor-it3kp]

Thanks for the warning.

[@ebenezer357]

MOSHAE BEATS They don’t give the results because they want people to email them and then spam them with promotions to purchase. Old marketing trick!

[@DavidMilesMusic]

thank you for this comment. Lol at that like dislike ratio.

[@TomPope-z2w]

F U !!! you lied !!!

[@telecasterrok]

my guess : b u87, a wa87, c p87. like b best. clear focused, not zingy

[@JeremyMage]

for those complaining about the distance from the mics on the vocal; the thing is you want to capture the SAME performance. If he came any closer to the mics, the proportional differences in distance would make a HUGE effect on the sound. So being that far back is (my guess) a compromise to minimize proximity variations.

[@ikennafunken8192]

yeah you would find out which mic can handle proximity better lol

[@steveg219]

I like B best in all cases on this material

[@therealbrandonscott]

The crazy thing is I would be happy with any of these mics. What a world we live in where a $599 mic can compete with an 87. Great video SP!!!

[@konradc4599]

George David lol

[@cm88388]

None of them are terrible microphones. But to be honest Mic A sounded pretty low-end in comparison - not terrible, but I'd wager for the money you'd spend on even the cheapest of these mics you could get a better sound for the money from something else. B was great, C was pretty good, but not quite as clear and polished. I think when they're all trying to achieve the same circuit and componentns at different price points, what you're gonna hear is basically the difference between the quality of low- high- and medium-priced gear and the component and build quality that goes along with that. It might be a subtle difference to some, but high-end microphones are ALL about subtlety, it's the plethora of little things that they get *just right* that makes them sound high-end, IMO

[@BeauStephensonVoiceActor]

It was a battle between A and C for me. All in all, C won for me after hearing the mix.

[@travislpatterson]

Same here!

[@andrewbrooks5615]

Same

[@marc_leblanc]

Same.

[@KublaCarn]

Same

[@terrykeefe8386]

Maybe I'm old school but singing that far back makes it hard to figure out the effect of normal close miking techniques on these mic. I hear the room most of all. Haven't been in a commercial studio for awhile but a lot of the mic magic is a bit closer. IMO

[@whataniceday]

I like B best, the smoothest and most solid. Second A and C the last one as it is thinner and sharper. But the differences are very subtle.

[@sosexii1925]

Now I cannot believe I watched the entire video to find out they aren’t going to reveal the microphones. Also for everybody talking about a b and c being better or whatever you don’t know which one they are for all you know it could all be the same microphone

[@marksoutherland384]

In all tests, C is most pleasing to me. Seems to have more clarity .

[@tylernicolo7654]

I think A was warm87...I liked B and C best. I'd guess B was the real 87. C was slightly brighter to me with not quite as much body as B.

[@matthewray5343]

I got the files from sound pure and did a blind test (mute and solo and guess which is which) I won't reveal the results out of respect for soundpure but let me just say in my personal subjective experience with the test I did, I found the warm audio to sound the closest to the neumann and not just in a relative sense. It was identical except in two ways and it makes perfect sense as to why they differ the way the do. First the Highs on the wa87 were more present than the u87ai, this makes perfect sense given that ,unlike the wa87, this specific u87 ai is not a new mic and has been ran through the ringer in what I imagine is a very busy studio causing it to mellow in the highs over time. So the difference in the highs is to be expected. The second difference was in the mid range. The u87ai had a slightly more pronounced mid range than the wa87, Again this makes sense given that the u87ai has been known to have more of a midrange bite compared to it's vintage version. The P87 was oddly the darkest sounding mic of the bunch (I say odd only because my experience with it is that it was bright with a thin glossy top end) and had this mid range presence(between 800-1k area) that really didn't sound like either of the other options. Another thing I noticed was the u87ai and the wa87 had the same soundstage (not sure if that's the right word for this...maybe imaging?) Almost like they were more "open", picking up more details in the room compared to the p87. The p87s scope of what it was picking up seemed to be tighter (think hyper cardio compared to cardioid).

[@BulgarianVoiceover]

It seams you told it all. B u87 ai, c wa87 and a - p87. My order of preference was bac though J

[@matthewray5343]

ask sound pure for the files. Open them in your daw and pick two of them and solo between the two while closing your eyes and then take a guess which one you are listening to. I think your answer may be a bit different if you try that.

[@tylernicolo7654]

I got the results. B is not the Neumann.

[@tecno8335]

@@tylernicolo7654 just say which one is which

[@chuckh5491]

"Out of respect" for the shysters doing this to us. What a joke. In war your called a defector.

[@PlottingTheDownfall]

I'll play along. A: P87 B: WA87 C: U87ai ive used two of the 3 before.

[@Leo_Vulkan]

In vocals I liked in this order C -> A -> B ps: This is not a kind of 87 suited vocal.

[@mikewalker3337]

Well " A" cleary brought out all the depth of emotion of the performance. It was stunning. B was so crystal clear that you could actually sense the human anguish. C, on the other hand seemed to only follow the herd, an obsequious sound;;unexceptional compared to the others. The passion and pathos enhanced so well by the first two, seems resigned and slightly greyed.

[@TheSalatech]

I liked A on guitar and C on vocals.

[@ElBeeEss]

Yes! Me too! And B on the mix :)

[@Drunkengotaku]

Absolute same here. Guitar it was ACB for me Voclas CBA, in the Mix B was the allrounder.

[@redmcmannus]

Liked A best, C second. Hated B. My guess is that C is the U87, just sounds like it has a slightly more present upper mid range, almost gives it a loudness for want of a better word. Didn’t particularly like that in isolation but can see how that would probably make it an effective mic in most vocal cases. Wish I knew what A is. Most annoying video I have ever seen. It’s bad KZbin form to literally never give the results of a blind test.

[@regstudios1]

I think it's pretty obvious A is the U87. It's got the most 3D depth and clarity/definition that B & C are lacking. B is the most muddy/unclear one of the 3. C has more clarity and depth then B but not much. so my guess is A: U87ai B: WA87 C: P87 I really would be surprised if I'm wrong. In fact i hope I'm wrong. I hope A is the WA87 lol.

[@BSD2000]

My thoughts exactly.

[@tylernicolo7654]

A is not the Neumann. I just got the results. I thought A sounded like ass tbh.

[@regstudios1]

I got the results shortly after I commented. and couldn't believe it either. Didn't want to comment that my answers are wrong but since you guys did....well we at least know my answers aren't right lol

[@LouisAdamsDiaz]

Based off of everything I've read A is the wa audio B is the pa C is the nueman

[@richardsmithmusic]

I'll guarantee you, no-one can tell the diff with a tiny bit of EQ here and there when needed. Why spend $3k more on a mic just so you don't have to eq it, when you'll prolly need to eq the Neumann anyway to some degree. Different isn't necessarily better, even if there is a diff. Charging exhorbitant $$ for Neuman's is just extracting money from folks who are willing to part with it for reasons they've made up in their head. it has nothing to do with real sound science. It's all feelz, marketing and BS. Buy the cheap one and go on a nice vacation with the rest.

[@WOODENYOKE]

B has cleaner sibilance, more color and character than C. I think A is the Warm because of the sharper Esses and it has the tone/vibe all of the other warm gear has, its thick in the upper low mids. To my ears its B-Nuemann A-Warm and C-Peluso. Warm Audio is releasing Gem after Gem. Excellent shootout Sound Pure!

[@andivax]

A: P87 , B: WA87, C: U87ai

[@Spidouz]

I didn't like A that much. I actually loved B more and then C. I'd love to know which mic it is :)

[@soundpurestudios]

Hi Phil! We'd be happy to send you the results and/or hi res files so you can have a closer listen. Just shoot us an email at proaudio(at)soundpure.com.

[@peterosipov400]

I liked all three and didn't find any of them sound horrible. But I'm not a great studio engineer, just a singer-songwriter occasionally helping friends to make their songs. Mics sound a bit different though, but I'd be happy with any of them, so if I'll need another LDC, I will seriously consider WA87. Thank you for comparison!

[@TheRealNewBlackMusic]

sorry but being so far back is not how we are going to hear the true mic flavor. who records vocals like that? Love you guys though!!

[@JoseyStranded]

I liked the C most. I've got no clue which is which. What this comparison taught me through reading all the comments is that we all here things a bit differently. There seems to be no better, just different.This one guy prefers the mic B and this other guy prefers mic C or A, so in the end you just go with your ears and buy the one you like most. I'm a musician, not a tech, but I've been recorded for 25+ years now, so I too know and hear thing or two that the great audience does not necessarily notice. I have no studio, nor I'm ever gonna start recording professionally, which means that I only have to please myself with the results. That makes things a whole lot easier for me. I would buy the mic C, 'cause that was the most pleasing to my ears. B was too upfront and I didn't like the S's that much. A was nice too. I know my voice and mic C would work best with me. PS. I really liked this shootout. I liked the singers voice and he had great mic technic.

[@ronnieaux5290]

I don't always *thumbs-down* videos i dislike... but I do, when the video is a shootout that doesn't tell me what A B and C are...

[@DietmarSchillinger]

No point in checking next time if I have to send an email !!!!!

[@franciscomoralesmusic]

A: Warm Audio WA87 B: Peluso P87 C: Neumann U87Ai and in my humble opinion I consider the best in the next following: A: Warm Audio WA87, C: Neumann U87Ai, B: Peluso P87

[@DavidRosario69]

Preference order: A, C, B

[@josephloesch9270]

Good singing! Nice mixture of strong and sensitive tones. A young Colin Blunstone singing "I Love You" and "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season." You've got it, man. Regardless of which mic.

[@ashavari]

MIC C IS MY FAVE OMG I need the results 😭😭😭

[@Agregori67]

A- W87 B-P87 C-U87 ... just my guess. Love C with A in a nice second place overall... B works pretty nice with guitar though.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

So you don't reveal the microphones within the video?? Anarchy!

[@haz4rd906]

ikr

[@donhyr2045]

I had some trouble loading the video; what is the correct order of the microphones used in this demo?

[@ashavari]

Why would you notttttt share the results at the end omg

[@InsertName130]

GUITAR: A & B tied; C distant third VOCALS; 1st place: A; 2nd B; 3rd C

[@michaelshreve6455]

I like Mic C over all

[@wackdad60]

I think I got it figured out: A is clickbait b is how dare you waste our time! C is what a crappy song!

[@DarioAgrilloPhoto]

My two cents: A and C are the (IMHO) best sounding. C is more natural and flat. B is muddy and full of mids.

[@CLaw-tb5gg]

Given none of the three seemed to be the resounding winner in the comments - in other words, that the Neumann wasn't the clear winner - I think it's remarkable that a microphone as cheap as the Warm can be as good as a U87.

[@impulseproman]

For me ACB

[@wampampiror3]

Greetings. I live in a country where I don't think there are Pelusos within my reach to try in person. So I have to decide what I am going to buy to produce my music studying videos, it would help me a lot if someone tells me which microphones are a, b, c. Because so far Peluso is beginning to be my first purchase option. Thank you, viva la musica.

[@rocnroll0065]

All three are great microphones... Now the C had less harshness while still warm and balanced.

[@Jordansparte]

What the fuck were the results? Which was which?

[@MrSollex1]

That's not how this things works godamn it. You need to tell us which one's which. So what mic is A ?

[@jemarmitchell5555]

This is my answer in my opinion of experience A -warm audio less sibulant n slight brittle but great B -puleso this has the sizzling top end which almost buttery smooth n good mids n overall great C - neuman u87 which is buttery smooth again and compress alround in a great way Again these mics a extremely great wen recorded on they all need a bit of polishing that's where they shine in a mix they are all great n have their place This is the same order for the female shoot out But I enjoy watching that instrument sing he is funny in is back n forth technique which ends out good Again warm audio is not a Neuman nor poleso nor Neuman is any of those they they all have a different tone yet similar tone It's for the engineer now to try n find that tone that works great for that mix thats the secret. But I like c like b n will happily work with a.

[@alyxgonzales]

Listening on Audeze LCD-X and an Apollo interface. For vocals I liked A the most by a small margin over C and liked B the least. Would really like to know which one's which.

[@nbl95]

I feel like C was the Nuemann, sounded to me to be the most detailed out of the 3. I did love the brightness of Mic A for the acoustic guitar though. Mic B really didn't do it for me.

[@BobbyWashingtonvlog]

I called and got the answer as to which mic is which: MIC A = WA87 , MIC 2 = Peluso 87 and MIC 3 = Neumann U87Ai Thank me by checking out my channel...

[@zackingraham8718]

If there is a difference, its minimal, subjective, etc. Getting the U87 is more for being a collector then for sound. I AM SOLD on the WA87. Rather spend the 3k difference on pre amps , comps and EQs... Way to go Warm Audio. Blind test was great. Any chance you can post the results(A., B., C.) here???

[@bradalford9829]

The great thing here is that its so close to me I don't care which is the real 87. If I cant really tell then that's all I need to know. I would think it would be obvious. One has a flatter top end I think. But sooo close. If they had labelled the mics everyone would say the real 87 and it wasnt even close LOL. I really enjoyed reading through the results, everyone has a wild guess about which is the 87. Couple guys probably got it right. In another video comparing the Rode K2 to the 87 the guy labelled the mics wrong and most picked the K2 not knowing they had picked against the neauman. . We hear price sometimes. Hard to fing a comparison like this. I prefer not knowing, then I have no expectations that the real 87 will kill the others. If they post then anyone that comes here 5 years later will not have an unbiased listen.

[@MelomanTheNerd]

Email sneak-moves aside, Mic ' B ' was able to deal with the singer's dynamics the best when he'd start at the top of his line " AAAHH-IIIIIII-EEEeeee !!!". ' B ' had a way of sopping up those transients better than ' C ' and WAY better than ' A '. Mic ' A ' was OUCHIE !! big time .. made my ear drums flex ... harsh, no good. Mic ' A ' is definitely an EQ/compress-while-tracking mic ! Also, so not the right mic for that singer; still so hard to beat a 58/SM7 for us belters. Although, I must say, Mic ' B ' was not exactly blowing me away on that acoustic guitar track .... I preferred the other 2 mics. Mic ' A ' and ' C ' had better cut for that kind of strumming.

[@6933CH]

which interface you use?I think is something wrong with the Converters not the mics. which song is this?

[@rkeyology81]

I don’t think he is far enough back from the mic. He should be in the parking lot across the street next time.

[@Doctaj54]

Thanks, Did you guys also do a close mic recording of the 3?

[@epg2501]

I liked A on everything solo, disliked B on solo (too congested and round), C was similar to B but more coherent. In full mix I liked C, after that A. I could see myself going with A and then just adjusting accordingly in the mix.

[@ksrhys-]

Is this just so you have people's emails on your email list? If so that's completely disingenuous and not a good way at all to conduct business or relationships.

[@stevenjaywalters]

Please tell me which was which. I personally liked B the best, 2nd place was C and third place A. Curious to hear from you. Thanks, Steve

[@user-hr9kf3yu4u]

very close to you. B or C is best (one time B and one time C) and A I dont like that much. What a stupid youtube channel, if they doi not say, which one is which! Dislike and I hate this channel!

[@EriksonRudy]

B sounds best.. it sound smooth. A come second. C a little bit harsh on the top end compared to A... what's the result?

[@soundpurestudios]

Hi Erikson! Shoot us an email at proaudio(at)soundpure.com and we can send you the hi res files and the results.

[@scottykunkel]

Hey emailed you guys a couple days ago and didn't get an answer.

[@MrObelisk2290]

All work fine the quality /cost gap has really shrunk lately

[@jasonparkREAL]

I like B -> A -> C A is warm , but The sound is inaccurate. B is Crispy. Best Mic C is Cold. mid range little bit noisy Genelec 8030A & Genelec 1031A used.

[@Paulhartrocks]

jason park crispy is what makes it the worst one. The sibilants. If it want crispy then buy a $100 Rode or MXL and you have the best mic on the market lol

[@ferencferdinandweisz8248]

Acuostic guitar: A: balanced B: needs something in mid-lowa C: more highs Vocals: I can't decide about guy's vocal sound

[@JBrm]

Writing this before knowing which is which. If Warm Audio is not B I'll order one immediately.

[@visualintake]

I like B. Which one is that?

[@caspermaster-com]

A and C worked best for me but not really a big difference

[@MikeBroderick33]

AB for me. B was warmer, but I preferred A.

[@gezor20]

wait, we dont get the results?

[@RanarioAcido]

B is the Winner

[@DLuxProdbeatz]

I liked c..A was just bad. not right for the vocalist. b was cool too

[@friendsfamilycomicpressing8449]

C has thank honk I expect with a AI, A was equally as nice with less honk so it's a tie there. Didn't really like the sibilant character of B or the way the eseses were processed so I think that is the warm audio one.

[@csilt]

I preferred mic A the most. It sounded less sibilant and smooth to my ears. I also like how it presented the mids. It sounds the most professional and expensive to my ears.

[@benjaminvandenbroucke861]

I'd be glad to get the Warm Audio. C was my least favorite.

[@ebenezer357]

They don’t give the results because they want people to email them and then spam them with promotions to purchase. Old marketing trick!

[@vadimmartynyuk]

so much difference in the sound. why do they even name the "clones" with "87" in the name ?

[@AleksandarStanojkovic]

just listen to the sibilants and the upper midrange. Mic B is the u87ai.

[@AleksandarStanojkovic]

Rob Liano share them with us, then :)

[@YoDudeRock]

I figure the real U87 is the one with the sweetest, slightly "forward" midrange. Those are the frequencies that human ears are most sensitive to and make words most intelligible. The "brighter" mics are always the copies.

[@Paulhartrocks]

Aleksandar Stanojkovic I'm surprised you say that because the sibilants on B are the harshest/brightest and will bother you the most later when you're hitting compressors and trying to get it back out of there. I would have never guessed that one as the U87.

[@tecno8335]

@Rob Liano dude it's been quite some time what's the results

[@Schilliebillie]

Definitely B :)

[@LordFingers1]

You should not have a gap between them. No results? Preposterous.

[@danieljakubovic2294]

i liked A the most

[@stillphil]

1:08 1:36 2:02 3:40 4:07 4:32

[@goestryder6261]

Mic C was the best

[@paulcope834]

B for me

[@Gemberland2004]

Mic B cuts through much better

[@Banksyyt]

May I know the results plase?

[@soundpurestudios]

Hi Alexander! Email us at proaudio(at)soundpure.com and we can send you the hi res files to compare and the results!

[@JBrm]

@@soundpurestudios thanks for nothing

[@cathyjones4702]

I get to the end of this video and I gotta email or call someone? How many times can I hit the dislike button?

[@Nico7780]

This email trick at the end is not cool. I'm not subscribing.

[@scshepherd]

Soundpure, the worst product comparisons in the business. Teenagers in their bedroom do a better job, at least they give the results without phishing for your personal information.

[@hermesmusicAlbania]

B

[@danielrains2055]

U didnt just make me listen to a blind comparison n not say which was which. That really kinda pisses me the fuck off for real. If I knew u weren't going to say I would not have wasted my time. Wtf.

[@DonZiglioni]

Gtfoh.... Did anyone get the results that wouldn't mind sharing? These guys... omg...

[@user-hr9kf3yu4u]

Please, people, dislike the video unlike they say which mic is which one! This is stupid and waste of time seeing this video, if they dont say, which one is ehich! Or they need our email addresses to spam our mail boxer, this is the reason for this video?!? Shame! 😞

[@doraysmith]

very little difference

[@futurepilotedavion]

I wan't this guy for 599$, not the mic.

[@peterthomson7050]

Oops I forgot I would not watch your click bait mince again, I got as far as "mic A" just tell it like it is guys !!!!!

[@TomPope-z2w]

Results??? YOU LIED !!! I'll NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM YOU.

[@gezor20]

ffs

[@user-hr9kf3yu4u]

Which one mic is which one? Stupid comparsion, if you do not say, which is which! What sould say me this comparsion? If I say, A or B or C is the best, but I dont know, which is which, this is the lost time seeing this video! Fail! Dislike!!!

[@toddj9548]

Clickbait

[@murraypollard]

No answers revealed. What a waste of time video. Subscribe? Not a chance. Block? Yup.

[@SNDTEK1]

B