Vintage Series Mics Compared!: 67 vs 47 vs 12 vs 11 (Classic Condenser Shootout ft. JZ Microphones)

[@VinceWhitacre]

Sold. I've been considering the V11 (I'm going to high pass below 100 on most non-bass sources anyway, so that bump in the lows doesn't scare me). What I love is the detail in the high end, while at the same time suppressing sibilance - to my ears, it's a pre-deessed mic. Which is basically a dream come true.

[@sarahneczwid366]

Really wouldn't have expected how well your speaking voice was going to showcase the sonic variance between these mics. Really well done Justin.

[@aloneinthedev]

I have the Vintage 11 since 3 years, it's a killer microphone, especially for spoken voice, singing or rap vocals. It's makes everything larger than life which is very useful in many cases. Not super realistic, but definitely one of my favorite mics.

[@danielgregory7842]

I loved the subtle, but not TOO subtle differences between each of them. The v12 on vocals is the closest to the end result of how I'd eq vocals for a podcast. What surprised me was the v11 on what it did on the guitar and the drums respectively. For guitar it instantly made it smoother and richer, but it lacked that top end, which immediately made it seem further away. While my eyes we're telling me the guitar player was 4 feet away, my ears were telling me it was in some sort of concert setting like I typically hear with recordings of classical guitar and strings. For the drums, it immediately took away the harshness of the cymbals, which would be perfect for a room mic if I had a drummer who was cymbal heavy, or in a song where the drums are supposed to be more in the back. This was really helpful.

[@richardpenrose1968]

I've been using the V11 for years. This is a mic that often slips under the radar but deserves a lot more attention. I also have a Shure KSM32 which sounds similar but without the low-end bump. The V11 is a good compliment to my other mics.

[@mattheap-producer]

Love my V67s on vocals and guitars but man that V47 rocks on the drum room! Didn't really love the other two as much, but absolutely didn't dislike them either. Need me some 47s!

[@tomnaumann2104]

Thank you for this comparison. I’ve wanted something like this for a while. Kudos!

[@kurtralske4026]

Love the V67 on soprano sax and flute (my main instruments). It's also been great on gtr amp, accordion, vibraphone, and percussion. I just received the V12 but haven't used it on a session yet. Seems like it will be great on vox and drum OH.

[@maddog10195]

I love my v11, with a nice mic pre it's amazing on anything; full, thick, open and smooth. Great mic.

[@josefvillarama4250]

Love your videos. Been a long time subscriber of your. Thanks for this detailed comparison!

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

I used a 67 at a prestigious studio last week. We started on the Neumann and switched over to the JZ one and it was good to go. Pre-amp and compressor will also make a difference too. I want the JZ Vintage 67 badly. It has to find it's way to my studio

[@SonicScoop]

Luck you! Right now they are 40% off with the code SONICSCOOP at checkout. Ends Monday, so get on it if that's helpful to you! Thanks for the comment and hope that's useful, Justin

[@ajschot]

I have the v11 (was my first jz mic) and love it. Last month i bought the V67 too and love that one too! I am thinkiing about getting one more v67 but also would like to try the v47… have not enough money to spend to get them both… (Btw they ditched the ballhead so people order also a shockmount) Nice review Would love more classical instruments like violin, cello or woodwinds like clarinet or oboe.

[@CLdwyer]

The guitar playing! Exquisite! 😭 The 47 was flattering to both sources. Tamed the drums and immediately put the guitar into vinyl lo-fi vibes. :) V67 gives me all rounder impressions too. seems like a powerful choice for someone’s first “high quality” mic. Versatile w/ strong “chest” and “clarity” response. V12 gives a very predictable low end response w/ very little resonance. Lots of detail from the clarity frequencies. I think it would respond well to EQ & provide very even saturation results (which would further tame & excite the high end). A decent high pass & mid range control and this thing could provide a very clean (polished/shiny) vocal sound. V11 is a wild card to me! Really liked how conversational the mic was actually. I’d be curious how this sounds for a rap & classic hip hop vocal & indie/folk. Just gotta be careful of the proximity effect on it.

[@CLdwyer]

Thanks Justin for the demo!

[@makemusicordie]

This was probably the best comparison video for Jay Z microphones I have seen yet! Happy owner of a V67 and Black Hole BH1s. Wanted one bright and modern choice and one less bright but balanced so started with those two. Honestly going to be hard to resist collecting pairs of just about every mic of theirs lol. The definite plan is to get another BH1s to have a stereo pair, and definitely at least one of each of the V 47, V12, V11. Beyond that I shall have to see 🤔 either way a big fan of most aspects of this brand and their mics!

[@makemusicordie]

Oh also planning on for sure getting a second V67! 👌🏻

[@Mister_Jahn]

This really is the best shootout for jz mics and I found it extremely helpful. The drum test in particular was perfect. Really depends on what you want/need but JZ is on my short list.

[@SonicScoop]

Awesome to hear! Glad to be useful. -Justin

[@nekcod]

Great video! I really liked the 67 on speaking voice and was surprised to like the 12 for the guitar and drums. Would love to hear all 4 on singing, which would be my main purpose. I have been on the fence between the 47 and 67, and this only helped confuse me more. HAHAHA

[@CrystalizedSound]

The 12 reminds me of my C414, bright, crisp & detailed. I love that mic on anything but vocals! Just a tad too bright there for me, especially on female voices where it can get a little strident, but an excellent all rounder generally. Acoustic/classical guitar, percussion, drums, even guitar cabs. The 11 just sounds a little odd to me... a disparity between the bass and the treble, as if the mids have been scooped. Didn't really do it for me. I liked the 67 and the 47, so it would be between those two if it was my money, I appreciate the diiferences between them, but could easily find uses for either/both.

[@hizhaus]

Great comparison. I liked the 11 on your voice, probably because of the dip in the sibilance area. The 47 killed on the room and I was surprised that the 12 didn't accentuate the air more on the guitar.

[@SonicScoop]

I think to a degree the absence of "air" on the classical guitar with the V12 has to do with it being a nylon sting. It jus doesn't put out nearly as much top end energy as a steel string, so comparing the amount of "shimmer" there becomes difficult. In hindsight I wish we had recorded this test with steel string as well. I think we would have heard a more significant difference from the V12 in that context, Thanks for the comment, Justin

[@ELkhemit]

The 11 sounds smoother than the 47

[@Triumphinchrist1]

V12 sounds great but may need a de-esser? I sold my v 11 as I it sounded a bit too muddy without much highs & picked up plosives a lot.Thinking of getting the Amethyst now!

[@queenpurple8433]

For the speaking voice, I was surprised how harsh the S’s were based on how the top end was for everything else. For this reason I prefer the v12 on vocals just because the high end is more present but without makjng the S’s any harsher

[@vladlabyrinth6335]

11 sounds really natural in mids and higs, just -2db below 100hz will change everything. v67 a little our of control on sibilance

[@doctorscoot]

from what i heard, you tube algorithm and all that, over my studio monitors, the drums, i thought the V12 sounded best (so i'm thinking here of that sound applied to a kit with individual mics also). with the guitar, the V11 ! which surprised me. I liked the U67/47 and was sorta umming and ahhhhing, cringed at the V12, but damn the V11 had body without losing clarity. in those cases. at that distance. with the players and room you had? yeah.

[@PeteSimmons-of1ls]

You should make a video about gtz87

[@khlymore]

v47 mid range v11 v shaped v12 bright v67 Balanced v67 favorite winner.

[@PrantoKoX]

Very good comparison, the differences on these (excellent) mics are obvious to hear, and well explained. 👍 Agree with Justin: was interested in the V47 and wanted to like it, but the V67 is the best of the bunch, not only a happy & well balanced middle ground, but also the closest to the classic colour of a good U67. IMHO and as someone having & using the originals of both, they missed the mark with the V12 (there is a lot more air & tube sparkle in a real C12, and also more proximity effect and extreme low end) and the V47 (too heavy handed on that eq curve, there's less mud and more chest, more vocal midrange push and gentle tube top end on a real U47). Still, vastly superior mics to all those harsh, hyped top end modern cheaper mics, especially the China lineage ones. A good company, JZ - just a bit too aggressive and overzealous with the marketing and emailing. 🤐😉

[@CLdwyer]

I agree. The U67 gives me the strongest Neumann vibe. V47 could be over-colored. I feel the need to saturate the V12 more and bring out more of the low end to balance better with modern tracks.

[@huberttorzewski]

@@CLdwyer I think it's a good idea to sing very closely to V12 to utilize the proximity effect to the max benefit and balance the highs that way

[@MusicChannel-rf5zz]

V 12 sounded best on drums. Maybe because of its brightness.

[@OZKitchen]

Where are these manufactured

[@tomhigham88]

Latvia :)

[@kusurrr]

Which headphones do you use? :)

[@SonicScoop]

Those are the Blue Mix-Fi

[@David13Rome]

I don't get why you used a nylon string guitar. Steel string would have been a lot more revealing for a better comparison.

[@dantig]

v67....