Neumann U87 Ai Mic Review / Test (Compared to NW700, AT2020, NT1, SM7b, KSM44a, C414 XLII)

Today I review one of the best microphones ever made, the Neumann U87 Ai. This is a 3 polar pattern large diaphragm mic that is very expensive. It has a controlled low-end, a forward mid section, and a smooth but detailed top end. It is very unforgiving in terms of tone as it captures what you put in front of it and doesn’t do much to help you out. I also compare it to the Neewer NW700, AT2020, Neat King Bee, sE X1, Rode NT1, Shure SM7b, RE20, CAD E100s, KSM32, TLM102, Mojave MA201 FET, OC818, KSM44a, C414 XLII, and TLM103.
HQ Audio Of Review: podcastage.com/rev/u87ai
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Thomann (Mic): www.thomann.de/intl/neumann_u87_ai.htm?offid=1&affid=2060
Thomann (Set): www.thomann.de/intl/neumann_u87_studio_set_ni.htm?offid=1&affid=2060
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00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer
00:41 - Setup
01:15 - What’s in the Box
01:44 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
02:19 - Specifications
03:04 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
04:02 - Plosive Test
04:14 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
04:32 - Background Noise Test (Keyboard Test)
04:51 - Untreated Room Test
05:04 - Mic Mount Shock Rejection Test
05:23 - Shock Mount Shock Rejection Test
05:42 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
05:57 - High Pass Filter Test
06:18 - Windscreen Test
06:55 - Neewer NW700 Comparison
07:25 - Audio Technica AT2020 Comparison
07:51 - Neat King Bee Comparison
08:16 - sE Electronics X1 Comparison
08:43 - Rode NT1 Comparison
09:14 - Shure SM7b Comparison
09:37 - Electro Voice RE20 Comparison
10:02 - CAD E100s Comparison
10:26 - Shure KSM32 Comparison
10:51 - Neumann TLM102 Comparison
11:16 - Mojave MA201 Fet Comparison
11:44 - Austrian Audio OC818 Comparison
12:10 - Shure KSM44a Comparison
12:45 - AKG C414 XLII Comparison
13:14 - Neumann TLM103 Comparison
13:43 - High End Preamp Demonstration
15:32 - Music Test
16:52 - Pros & Cons
18:50 - Overall Thoughts
21:19 - Recommendation
22:21 - How It’s Made (kzbin.info/www/bejne/omnHf5yXet5pp80)
22:39 - Outro
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[@MaSTARMedia]

God that sounds so clean...

[@Podcastage]

It’s a great mic there’s no denying. It captures exactly what you put in front of it.

[@NinthwaveThe]

@@Podcastage As they say at Linn Audio: garbage in, garbage out!

[@ramencurry6672]

I think this microphone is the common microphone for cartoon voices. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s the microphone used for the Simpsons.

[@NebulonRanger]

@@ramencurry6672 The very same!

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

World's best condenser microphone.

[@matthiaskrause1155]

Impressive, thorough and fun review. I consider the U87 the poor man's microphone. You're poor after buying it.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

But you're rich in other ways. hehe.

[@maxhammer4067]

I had a friend that let me have it for 900 with the wooden box shock mount and foam top

[@tuneunleashed]

I bought a Nord Stage 3 which is 2x more expensive than a U87 and I don’t feel poor lol. I feel fine. A bit of regrets but I love it either way.

[@klite789]

@@maxhammer4067 that was a HUGE DEAL then!!! Hope it’s still doing great for you

[@maxhammer4067]

@@klite789 yea lol iv had it for about 10 years now and it's still good 👍

[@BrainSlamAnimatedScience]

I thought at first 3600 is a little high.. but when you consider that you get also a windscreen then that's quite a deal!

[@Podcastage]

HAHAHAHA! If I wasn't laughing I'd be crying.

[@maelo3582]

No sticker, not buying

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Also sticker is too deal under 3200 bucks.

[@Fluware]

@@maelo3582 they wanted to cut on the excessive accessory just to be more economic. Otherwise stickers added another 100$

[@ElNietoPR]

idk why I'm watching this when I know damn well I'll never buy this thing. I think it's because I like your videos.

[@alutzlft]

Amen to that.

[@lenearaujo3117]

@c1rcu1tn3rd qc

[@AndrewTGreen]

Wow. Just . Wow. That is a monstrous amount of hard work. Thank you so much for your contribution to the community!! You sir, are a Rockstar!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Yep. Brain exploded a number of times - love your humor. Amazing comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do this. :)

[@learnerforever6933]

BEST review ever on U87 Ai. Period.

[@BrendanMurphyMIE]

This is by far the best microphone review I have ever watched. The amount of detail you go into and the care you take to make sure your tests are reliable and comprehensive is second to none. You've earned yourself a subscriber.

[@bradferguson9840]

Possibly the best mic comparison vid I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot. Great stuff.

[@alessandrofinocchi5608]

'I absolutely hate myself for doing this, but let's test the plosive rejection of this thing'. Goes on to show THE FRICKING SMOOTHEST PLOSIVES EVER HEARD BY MANKIND.

[@Ado08]

THE ABSOLUTE SMOOTHEST FRFR

[@AFvet1964]

This is one of your very best reviews--and they're all great! No matter what microphone I type in the search window, your reviews seem to always be there, usually right at the top. Yours are my favorites to watch because you hit all the marks and don't waste any time--just right. Love how in the versus series you go back to the featured mic to keep our ears "active" between comparisons. Just freakin' awesome...every time!

[@bryan25cool]

It's so wonderful to say that this video is so nostalgic and never gets old. They're contrast, but being constant of how your video was made makes it feel so exceptional. :)

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

Wow, that was a great review! A lot of work went into this, thank you! The U87 just sounds so good - clean and open. I was pretty surprised at how close the TLM103 was. Definitely worth considering for a whole lot less money (though still not cheap).

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

TLM 103 is a bit harsh at the top end.

[@danielpicard3994]

The Neumann U87 is to microphones what the Fender Precision is to bass guitars. It effortlessly cuts through a mix. Great video, thanks!

[@khanyimahlangu4546]

This is probably one of my top 5 favourite videos I've seen in July...honestly thank you SO MUCH☺

[@rockdoghouse]

Probably the best and thorough review and comparison I have ever watched and listened to on youtube. Defininetlly checking out more!

[@Dracomies]

Dude!!! Thank you so much for doing this comparison video!!! This is awesome! This is a great resource!!!!

[@Josh-sx2lg]

Amazing Vid! The sound of the U87 is so classic, our ears are so costumed to it, we love it no matter what. Now, I'm still impressed with the AA OC818, the clarity of it is so amazing, I was on the verge of buying the OC818, but now i will definitely get it, cause sounded amazing in comparison. Thanks for doing this type of reviews, cause we can actually hear the differences among the mics.

[@00solman]

Wow! WOW! What an amazing review. The amount of work put into this! This show will live in INFAMY in the annals of mic review history. No one has , no one will ever dive this deep into a mic review! ( Really happy to see the Allen got the Neewer NW700 in the mix!) Honestly I hear nothing in the line up that compares. There are MANY great sounding mics in the line up indeed but none compare. First review I did not critically listen and thought the TLM 103 was pretty close. On my second review I hear it's not really as close. FWIW the UA X8 sound really good in my head. Again, this is the BEST mic review of all time! Thank you so much. We're not worthy!

[@MadDoggEntertainment]

Been WAITING on this one!

[@impatrickt]

45s in and the kidney joke finally landed for me. 10/10 even with my brain delay.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for this Bandrew! It is interesting to hear the "sheen" on the U87ai in the highs/high mids yet it manages to avoid the sibilance overload I hear on so many less expensive large diaphragm condenser microphones. Also interesting how much the foam cover mellows out some of that detail. FYI, help is on the way. We sent Allen Williams on his skateboard. He should be there sometime around July 23rd based on our best estimates. Good luck until then.

[@Podcastage]

Thank YOU very much for all you do Curtis. I look forward to seeing Allen skateboarding down the road through crowds of protestors just dripping sweat. And yeah. It’s got some magic. I think the same magic that the KSM32 has. Did you end up being dissuaded from spending too much money on a mic?

[@curtisjudd]

@@Podcastage Yes! You did a fine job and my bank account appreciates this video more than you'll ever know. Also, Allen asked me to tell you that he has some sub $30 microphone with a name I cannot pronounce that he is planning to use to save you. I couldn't totally make out everything he said as the wind on his mobile mic was distorting the signal.

[@swschilke]

@@curtisjudd do you refer to his T-Bone SC 400 from Thomann (Germany)?

[@curtisjudd]

@@swschilke Haha, no, just made that up as a joke. 😀

[@learnerforever6933]

You are so funny guys 😂 love your channels ✌🏼 BTW in your opinion which mic (compared in this video) sounds the closest to U87?

[@ArtVandelay592]

The microphone review to end all microphone reviews and one I've been waiting on for a while. As much as I would love to have a U87 (or any Neumann microphone for that matter) just to say I own it and brag to all my friends about it, that price tag is way too rich for my blood. Great video as always Bandrew. I'm looking forward to that KSM44a review. I thought it stacked up very nicely to the U87 and all the others.

[@paulk.dicostanzo2279]

Excellent review. Something I’d like to see you test in the future are some popular mixers, and put them through their paces. That would be very helpful.

[@amiremad2000]

I've been here since 60k or 40k subscribers. I really love your channel you made me learn a lot of very useful things about improving my setup audio. I wish the best for you and your channel and wish to see you with 1M subscribers and a very big KZbinr. Keep going Bandrew you're awesome 😃👍

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Amir. That really means a lot. I wish you the best of luck on your endeavors as well.

[@VOByRobbins]

Bandrew: You have become the guru of incredible mic reviews and this was your DaVinci of reviews--- wow!! Loved it. I have the Austrian Audio 818 thanks to you and you helped in getting the TLM103. I love my Senn 416 to death--- I'm impressed with the King Bee and Shure KSM44 --- Mic acquisition is a sickness (need to go to MAA) Mic Acquisition Anonymous ( also have a Soyuz 017Fet,) that I got on Reverb a few months back-- wow, I love that mic, that's now my audiobook mic--- sounds sooooo good. anyway thank you for your service to the MAA community, I will nominate you and the Booth Junkie as honorary President and Vice President! Many thanks Bandrew, Chancellor of Podcastage, holder of the golden SM7B.

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Michael. That’s quite the mic locker you have there. I have the Soyuz and have only used it for a little bit but gosh if it’s not a thick low end iirc. I am honored by the nomination. Microphone politics scares me though. =)

[@VOByRobbins]

@@Podcastage Microphone Lockers Matter!

[@RadhikaRaoMusic]

You have done such an incredible job . Love your work . Thank you . And U87 is my dream mic on my list indeed

[@yqreed7977]

Thank you so much for this incredible video, not only did you demonstrate how great this mic is, but also how great many other affordable mics are as well. The tremendous amount of work you put into this video is amazing, like I was expected to watch 10+ videos for comparison and getting the same information. Job well done my friend you earned me to subscribe. From a rockstar to another rockstar, terrific job sir, thank you again!

[@Podcastage]

My goal is to make the most useful video as I can, so thank you for those kind words, it truly means a lot.

[@SleepyTimeTales]

Stunning mic and definitely on my wish list for the distant future. The King Bee is really nice bang for the buck though.

[@weedanwine]

Agreed, I was surprised by the King Bee, never heard it before but it did well.

[@walterwilliams1323]

The Bee sounded surprisingly good for the price in the warm low end and mids.

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Yes king bee also sounds good. It is considered better than AT2020. It is cheaper too.

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

No, King bee is good for voice over and broadcasting. It is not recommended for singing. Now a latest version King bee II has been launched. It is even better than this king worker bee. STC 20, BLUE BABY BOTTLE SL, ASTON ORIGIN are best budget condenser microphones. They sound well for vocals as well as instruments. Pl. check review. Even KSM 32, 43 have drawbacks. So don't fool yourself.

[@romainmotylicki5930]

An incredible review, as usual. I loved the comparison between all those mics. It might have been a lot of work, but it’s really worth the effort. The Neumann U87 is very good indeed, but I was also impressed by the AKG (although it may sound a bit clinical, I loved it) and the Rode NT1 (considered its price). Since I’m looking for a better preamp, I found the comparison very informative. I hope you review other preamp in the future. I didn’t like the Warm Audio sound and prefered the stock preamp in this case. To my opinion, it’s better to use a ”transparent" preamp with voices.

[@liminal12]

Amazing review! Would love for you to do some sort of a compilation of your instrument demos. Like a vid of all the acoustic guitar bits on each mic. This would be a great resource! Thanks for all your efforts!

[@thor_nay]

There is something about the U87 that differentiates from the rest, itˋs a sensation, something that canˋt be expressed with words. It’s just more pleasant to the ear

[@maomao180]

For its price the NT1 just slays

[@yasuh4550]

Wow, it really did perform incredibly well

[@BB0YMatty]

yup that's why I chose it! amazing!

[@coffeehigh420]

I agree with you 100%. really was just thinking that as soon as I heard that NT1. I'm actually going to go out and buy one lol

[@ErynKnight]

Agreed. It's basically a modified K67 capsule too. I bought an NT1 when I started out VO full time and thought it'd be a nice place to start. Never felt the need to "upgrade". It's right for my voice. That mic basically made me a fangirl. And I'm okay with that.

[@martinkulik9466]

sorry. I heard sharp S's and muddy plosives. nt1 is not as good as they say it is. the only thing going for it is low self noise. plus he was only quietly speaking, if you would put it to the test with singing by different voices I suspect there would be some harshness. spoken word and especially in one voice won't say much. even the 20 bucks mic was comparable, but again it's only one scenario out of many and that's why radio and studios use neumanns, due to it is universal and dependable in all scenarios that other mics aren't. plus neumann can support loads of EQ processing that other cheaper mic don't as the voice falls apart for high fidelity reproduction that u hear only fraction of on youtube

[@cubix_1291]

rip kidney

[@SAMUEL_E_Tellem]

Bro baking soda and water. Research please. Many have no idea how this can help the kidneys. One love bro

[@funnyguy6934]

@@SAMUEL_E_Tellem or mentos and coke

[@hypnosecoachinghombach7517]

A few days ago I watched your review of the Neumann KMS 105 and was amazed by the sound, with that mike you sounded really good! Now, with the U87... wow. It was the first time I consciously listened to the U87. You sound so good! It was also the first time I listened to several Neumanns comparatively. Gosh are they good!!! With that first impression, all the Neumanns made you sound terrifically. From all the compared mikes, the Neumanns were the best. With that said, I hope you'll recover soon and stay around for some more decades!

[@masonkanterbury3007]

So sorry to hear about your health concerns. I have seen lots of your videos and they are very helpful. Cheers to you, fellow baller.

[@mindbendernine]

The Shure KSM44a sounded incredibly close to the U87, which I didn't expect. Very impressive. Otherwise the Neumann TLM103 sounded the best "of the rest." Also, this was one of my favorite videos. It seemed like you were having fun during recording, despite the repeated madness.

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

No TLM is little harsh on high end. Overall aslo U87ai sounds fuller. It need very little EQ to take the vocals.

[@nl4537]

The biggest surprise for me personally, when listening in 1080p with my Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro's was how unbelievably close in tone the Shure SM 7B and Rode NT1 were. I mean, for a dynamic mic, the SM7B was so unbelievably close. So was the NT1, with only slight variance in tone. Also surprisingly, the SE x1 was also very close, albeit brighter. And obviously the 103 shares the same capsule, but was more boosted in the highs. This is a great video, because, let's be honest; every mic ever is always being compared to u87. For someone looking to buy a mic, this is like the one stop shop. Getting to see how these things compare to the undisputed industry standard. The one I'm waiting next is the Manley Reference Cardioid. I've seen it lurking there behind you every once in a while :) Manley vs U87 vs 103 vs NT1 vs 7B would probably be the ultimate VO mic test. I've also seen the SE 2200 and JZ BH2 being used to record VO, so those would also be cool to throw in there. Thanks for all of your hard work, Bandrew! :) :) :)

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

No CM can beat U87Ai.

[@thevoiceoveroutlaw]

Been waiting on this review!

[@DystopianOwl]

Nice review! It's crazy how different it sounds with different pre-amps!

[@guitartricky]

Like so much in audio, it's about subtlety and nuance. It seems like many of the other mics are decent sounding but all have some sort of frequency boosted that's annoying when compared to the U87. The U87 is just so well balanced across the entire frequency spectrum. Pretty amazing how they nailed it back in 1967.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

It's a microphone everyone's heard literally countless times, and yet, here I am having my jaw dropped at how it sounds in isolation. I mean, for the price, it BETTER be that good.

[@reekrodriqguez6552]

But’s it’s not for the price

[@rico879]

Best comparison vid I've watched. Your humour guided me through all he tech specs 'till the very end. :-D

[@ReynaldoIvanPena]

Hey man your videos inspired me and as it turns out, I was streaming my games while talking through a Blue Bird which was backwards. Loved the part where you compared mics. Keep up the good work. Best of luck and stay safe.

[@TedGreen]

Dude, This is your super power...use it wisely. I love your apples-to-apples comparisons and the way you give every mic a fair shot to do their thing. To my ear, there were several of these mics that sounded great on your voice. But of all of them, I felt the U87 was the most neutral, natural, and honest reproduction. If money were no object, that’s definitely where I’d go. Unfortunately, I am not independently wealthy as you appear to be, so money is definitely an object! I’ll have to settle for less. But what I’ve learned from this test is that I won’t be losing that much in performance! Thanks for all your work on this and your other videos!!

[@Podcastage]

My pleasure Ted. Thank you very much for the kind words, and I’m really happy to know the video helped and provided context for how the mic compares to others on the market. It is great, but as you say, there are mics that are 1/3rd the price or less that offer an amazing sound.

[@danielgaudet6114]

@@Podcastage There's always the used market (but your millage may vary). I've seen a few U87 Ai go for $1500 USD with the shockmount and the box in the last year on classified sites.

[@alan2a1l]

U87 sounds perfect. The NT1 was the closest contender to my ear. But the U87...The combination of detail, air, & warmth (midrange), is just amazing. Then again, for $3,600, it damned well better be.

[@mattpennington6493]

Wonderfully done comparison, extremely informative - thanks very much for this video!

[@theebob2008]

This is an amazing channel. I appreciate the palette cleansing! Thank you! Instant sub!

[@KarlGutowski]

What kind of a sad waste of flesh down votes this video? It's the most ambitious mic comparison I've ever seen.

[@AironExTv]

Thank you, especially for the comparison to other mics and preamps. I mix recordings fro THIS mic all day, whcih is ADR dialogue for foreign language dubs. This mic requires creative placement and quite a bit of tweaking for some voices in the mix. Good, but sometimes I wish people took the time to try other mics as well. For me the Austrian Audio appeared to be less prone to sibilance. That would often be my first choice these days. The NT1 on a budget.

[@TeatruSubtitrat]

When doing that stuff, creative placement is required with *any* mic, so the dubbed line sound as natural and true to the picture. Austrian Audio, more similar with TLM103 and I think that's the segment they're after anyway (home recording, podcasting), and it makes sense since that's were the big sales are at.

[@ChavisFlagg]

Yo the effort put into this video is great ! Even the embedded dedicated duration labels

[@markkirschenmann3925]

Thanks so much for this informative and thorough demonstration of this great mic. I have to say, I definitely liked it the best of all of them.

[@LanceisLawson]

Perhaps the best sounding mic you've tested.

[@kesamek8537]

Sounds fantastic. NT1 is also ridiculously good value.

[@DJ-ts1vp]

ksm44a has very similar character with u87. wow.. very impressed. I'm sure you spend a lot of time for making this video and is really helping me. thanks!

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. I’ve heard quite a few comparisons of the KSM44a to U87 Ai. Pretty similar character. Slightly different but really close at 1/3rd the price.

[@squirrel-x8n]

hey man im far from getting a u87 but i promise ill use one of ur links just to support all the countless reviews and countless help youve given me over the years. love you bro if im ever famous ill send sum your way

[@Eric-Thomure]

I still love that Austrian Audio. Jeez man, it is smooth!

[@paweplinta1565]

U87, of course, great class. In my opinion, the Mojave MA201 Fet, Shure KSM 44a and TLM 103 also sound great. Beautiful presentation. Thanks!

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

No mics named by you cannot complete King U87AI.

[@Anya-ip6fd]

Those were the mics I picked out as well

[@paweplinta1565]

@@Anya-ip6fd Sure thing. We have good taste :)

[@sasuke671]

Thank you very much for this review!! The price on this thing is nuts but I think its well worth. Keep up the great work!

[@hayleypardinan]

I love seeing you review S tier mics! even though the same sound quality can be achieved on some lower price points

[@Narwaro]

"Now I tap the boom arm to see how much of that noise it can reject with the shock mount" Spoiler alert: All of it ;D

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. It’s expensive, but it does it’s freaking job...REALLY well.

[@Narwaro]

@@Podcastage Its also really amazing how well it rejects plosives without anything attached. Its a really good microphone.

[@n.snd9]

@@Narwaro @Podcastage looked like he was holding back on the plosive test.... I don't blame him. It made me wince a bit, hahaha

[@Narwaro]

Nathan Willis Yeah, that is correct, but in my experience its still really good in that regard as it is. The U87 is so nice that you start degrading sound quality with pop filters which is bonkers. Sadly I gave mine away as a long-term loaner so I cant confirm right now but really good from memory.

[@pedrodominicci2045]

And the NT1

[@rionshin3556]

This is a very good review method. The U87ai has an amazingly accurate tone. The KSM32 has the most similar tone. It looks good as an alternative.

[@screwitup512]

Get well soon bro! Thanks for the review!!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@AkosTothHotClub]

Your voice sounds so detailed with this. I would listen forever.

[@intheblink]

As an NT1 owner, I was really surprised by how bass heavy the NT1 was and how the high end transients were a little more “spitty”. Ugh… now I want a U87 :(

[@delta61]

Try spitfish, it's a vst plugin which can take away heavy transients, or a transient processor. The rest can be solved with a bit of clever eq.

[@xavibsa]

Austrian Audio OC818 sounds very smooth and similar to a Neumann u87 ia. Good job!

[@tb1235]

That's what I thought too, especially for the money. Banger deal for $1200, don't think the OC818 will stay around $1000 forever once Austrian Audio makes their name widely known.

[@Jemmeh]

I've been watching you gently throw the box for a couple of weeks while I learn things but this time was SO AGGRESSIVE I jumped ahaha. Thank you for the good info yet again though!

[@walterwilliams1323]

I know it's almost a year since you recorded this shootout, but I'm glad I finally viewed it. Don't know how it escaped me. Anywho great review. U87AI is an exceptional mic, but I think my 49 gives it a run for its money in the VO Dept. There were some pleasant surprises in the line up including the Bee. I've already got the NT1 and agree it's boxing well above its price. From all Down Under well done and look after that kidney incision my friend it was worth the cost.

[@f5770]

The best mic shootout on KZbin! Thank you! I was impressed by nt1 and the king bee, and how they are not so far from u87ai for tuning and for details specially for the rode nt1. It would had been good to include also Aston Spirit and Lewitt 440 or 441, that with nt1 and king bee are in my top 4 of affordable mics. I am going to buy my very first condenser mic, for my tenor fat voice for sing and voice over, now I record all through my shure beta58a that is very limitating. I'd very appreciate a suggest between the 4 mics mentioned, rode nt1, aston spirit, lewitt 440 and neat king bee! Great review!

[@kesamek8537]

Oh that Warm Audio WA-73EQ sounds excellent here too.

[@walterwilliams1323]

Yep that was by far the warm-est sounding of the lot.

[@EvanYoungMusic]

Got lucky. I got a U87 and shockmount for 2200 bucks total. The mic is a dream.

[@Sakekku]

Hey Podcastage ! This comment doesn't concern this video but your whole channel. I'm a French musician who loooves music but doesn't really understand how sound is supposed to work etc. I've found your channel and it's so professional but also so easy-to-understand that you're improving my knowledges ! I've recently bought a Rode NT1 (still waiting...), and many of your videos learnt me how to configure it without issues, and optimise the sound. Sorry if I do some mistakes haha ! But keep going man ! You are the best audio KZbinr I've ever met ! Thanks for all !

[@RigoMurillo]

The sound characteristics of both KSM32 and KSM44a are incredibly similar to the U87ai! I absolutely LOVE my KSM32! I have other more expensive microphones and they have their uses but the KSM32 keeps being the most versatile mic I have. My other favorite mics are modded/custom mics. One of them is a very close U87 clone, made with the same schematics.

[@RigoMurillo]

One of the best mic shootouts I've ever seen. Great job with the format and execution!

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

@@RigoMurillo Pl. also watch MOJAVE MA 201 FET and MOJAVE MA- D dynamic mic reviews.

[@immortalitytherapper23]

Great review! The U87 sounds awesome but not awesome enough to spend $3600. I'm happy with my Samson C01 and Sterling Audio ST51. Both sound great.

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Upgrade to STC 20. C01 misses a lot of low and high.

[@michaelgamble296]

Many years ago I bought a pair of Electro-Voice PL20's (they're actually RE20's but grey in colour - I also bought a pair of their Omni RE55's -FLAT 40Hz-20kH!) I was pleased you put the RE20 in your comparison selection - and more pleased to hear that the RE20 is a fair comparison. There is ONLY one 'down-side' to the RE20 - eventually (and this happened to both of mine) the foam which encapsulates the 'Motors' breaks down and you can use the RE20 as an expensive baby rattle. I did the foam replacement myself, having found a source in the UK for replacement foams - and they are both now it tip-top condition. I do so enjoy your in-depth videos and wish I had enough money to buy the U87Ai - but there we are! Keep on producing you splendidly funny yet serious youtubes!

[@qkhuve]

Aside from the audio quality itself, I am really impressed by how fine it sounds no matyter what angle you talk into the microphone, the sound doesn't really change which it does on a lot of microphones. The volume just gets lower.

[@KevinWuOfficial]

would you do a video on the Chandler Limited TG mic?

[@NoOffensePies]

吴老师也来研究麦克风？ Chandler 的东西可以跟客服聊聊，我的经验的话都很平衡，单纯看口味 （而且挑preamp）

[@themarcos150591]

I really want that too, but one year has past...

[@Alexandra-Rex]

400 dollars for that shock mount? WHY? I am shocked. Also, great intro!

[@Jdpanzone]

If you are that shocked you probably need a mount that can help reduce said shock! 🙃

[@simonchasnovsky1835]

The kidney should cover that

[@tomekvilmovskiy6547]

yeah, that's why it's called SHOCK mount. )

[@rafbass]

Some people pay $1000 for a monitor stand 😂

[@14phgerard]

It's only 200 for the mount. The windscreen is another 200.

[@midoriprovideos2322]

I never make youtube comments, ever. But this video was insane to me. 16 mic comparison??? Bandrew the amount of time and quality you put into this video and every video is just madness. Insane mic comparisons, just endlessly helpful for so many people looking for so many different types of products. I know this is fun for you as a creator, but the resource that you are is a real gift to youtube - or any site you should decide to post your videos. Just phenomenal. I'll get off my soap box now. I don't have a kidney to offer you as you venture on to create more content, but I subbed a membership just now.

[@Podcastage]

Midori - THank you so much for the kind words. I’m happy to have you as a part of the server, you’re always a pleasure to chat with. Keep being amazing!

[@frankinvan]

That was a fantastic review. Thanks for doing it. I have a U87 and I have to say out of them all, it is the goat.

[@coffeehigh420]

the C414 sounded pretty amazing compared to the 4k mic (really the closest I thought) ... but for the price, that Rode NT1 is awesome! - long story short in my opinion, you basically get what you pay for with a few exceptions meaning one of them for example, if you are a crappy engineer, it doesn't matter which mic you choose, it will all wind up sounding like crap.

[@NKWTI]

It’s important to understand that if you need an equally effective mic for a single application such as voice over… plenty of other mics can compete with the top shelf mics. The top shelf mics are top shelf because they can be used on everything and everyone, it doesn’t mean a person can’t find a mid priced mic that does a single application just as well.

[@RavenWednesday]

I was watching your videos when your new one Popped up, I just wanted to say I think your videos are extremely educational and have so much value to them and I really respect that especially to someone like myself that has a hard time comprehending things but always still is willing to learn even if I have to do it twice, I just bought another microphone that I believe will be right for my voice I’m giving up my blue yeti and went with at2005 It does both and that’s my next question I really want to know if I should be looking into an interface? what would be the benefit of it ? I love doing tutorials and reviews but also I dabbled in a couple ASMR short stories which I want to continue , I love talking close to the microphone and I love the warm sounds I hope I said that right again learning....Thank you so much for your input I really appreciate always going to your channel if I ever need any advice or I want to learn about something a little bit more

[@Podcastage]

There is a benefit with an XLR interface with the ATR2005 USB/XLR mic, but it’s slight. You can absolutely continue to use it as USB and get years of use out of it without any issues.

[@RavenWednesday]

@@Podcastage thank you so much

[@RavenWednesday]

@@Podcastage oops any one you might recommend?

[@slicespitfire3544]

Raven Wednesday just got the scarlett 2i2 it’s quite good and it’s around 130 dollars i think. If you want to get a more expensive interface maybe go for the motu m2 for around 170 dollars

[@RavenWednesday]

Slice Spitfire thank you

[@cliffordgwekwe9853]

man i enjoy your reviews .thanks a lot

[@eltonesound]

You my friend were born for this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 . Great Review . Respect

[@Up_All_Night]

The KSM32 has put the final nail into the coffin of any desire I had to own a U87.

[@mentoneman]

another bonus is that the shure KSM series is a great mic for live use on pianos and acoustic guitars as it is less prone to feedback than most other condensers I’ve used in that capacity.

[@JohnGlasscock]

Incredible mic and an incredible price 😅

[@1ssac633]

incredible price my ass

[@babyyoda2190]

@@1ssac633 ughhhh 😩😩😩😩😩

[@funnyguy6934]

@@1ssac633 incredible in a bad way

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

So, what. People dream for U87Ai.

[@danmahoney11]

I really like the results you got with the U87ai (but I own one so I'm slightly biased). I did like the Se, Rode Nt1 and the KSM's, as well as some of the medium price stuff (Austrian Audio, Mohave, and maybe a couple others). I think for the money they do a great job...Thanks again for doing these reviews, @Podcastage. You do a great job!...

[@jprmercado]

I wasn’t expecting this, but what I noticed the most during the multi-mic test was the difference in terms of the low-frequency rumble that each mic would pick up. [The only time I heard the U87 pick up really noticeable rumble was right after you reviewed the other Neumann mic.]

[@BACHKA]

You sold your kidney for this microphone?? 🤔

[@Tim_ArtistName_Tallent]

Lol! That’s what I was thinking

[@dfab512]

bruh

[@Mediaright]

That's the joke. ;)

[@larryhinze8658]

@@Mediaright Blew a kidney drinking moonshine.

[@richardk.7700]

If you recall the Blues Brothers movie, the character played by Dan Aykroyd sold his previous Bluesmobile for - a microphone!

[@SavoxYT]

They're significantly cheaper in the UK. They go for around two grand.

[@Podcastage]

Lucky duck.

[@BI11YB0NE5]

Yea, that conversion from pounds to dollars is brutal though….

[@jakematters2454]

This is single-handedly the best tech review I've ever seen.

[@rodmur]

Does sound great. The one mic I wish you had compared it with was the Neumann TLM107, since it has adjustable patterns, too.

[@jimpurcell]

Sure this was a pain to record, but thank you!!!!

[@swschilke]

In Germany it's about 25% cheaper 😉 Yaay! Still more then all my audio equipment cost (probably 3-4 times or so)

[@trailtracing]

It's like butter. If I had the bucks, I would get one. I do own an NT-1 and appreciate hearing it compared to the U87. The NT-1 is great for my voice and it's price is quite reasonable (IMO). Also, please don't put down your voice. I actually enjoy the sound of your voice and there's no need for self-deprecation. Your mic reviews are consistently excellent. Thanks for the service you provide.

[@rosevan5485]

Great work . Thank you from Quebec, Canada

[@saintmora]

That's weird, I woke up in a similar situation when I bought up my U87. The last thing I remember is being asked if a rag smelled like chloroform or not.

[@Podcastage]

“Here. Smell this washcloth.” Is what I heard. Then I woke up with an incision and a u87 next to me.

[@SimplyRusty]

@@Podcastage lol

[@no-pz8gi]

Plot twist the mic was your kidney

[@blankfrank23]

@@no-pz8gi He had the mic he needed inside of him all along

[@Liowen]

I went to the ATM to see if I had enough money to buy this microphone....the ATM followed me home and hasn't stopped laughing at me. Should I be worried by this at all??

[@Jdpanzone]

Yes. The ATM kink shaming you for your desire for a high end microphone is not acceptable. I would recommend having a stern talking to with the ATM. If they don't stop, call the police and tell them an ATM followed you home and you just want it to leave now.

[@kc-ug6gu]

wow so much work on this video , thank you so much my man

[@kylesquance824]

Haha! I just spit hard cider all over myself with that intro. I found your channel tonight and you're super well suited for this game. Best of luck, buddy. And thanks for all these detailed reviews.

[@kylesquance824]

And... AKG C414 all day long for my ears.