Neumann badge colors Purple badge = transistor microphone with transformers. Red badge = Transistor microphone without transformers. Black badge = Tube microphone. Green badge = Dynamic microphone. Blue badge = Digital microphone.
The u87 is a very good balance between the 103 and the 67, the only downside being a slight overemphasis of the midrange in the 500-800hz range on the 87. The 67 has an instant vintage sound, it has to do with the topology I think. All 3 mic’s are worth the price.
Exactly! I own the U87 and I'm very unhappy with the sound. I mean the sounds is perfect, but that midrange it's getting me sick, sounds dull and muddy and even after mixing I still hear that dulliness and even cutting in the eq it doesn't help, or it's too dull or either too thin sounding.
The 103 sounds the clearest and most transparent to me. The u87 has that colored ‘studio’ sound that just seems very familiar because it’s been used on so many recordings. The u67 sounds equally nice but with a slightly different coloration. I don’t think one is better than any of the others, just different flavors for different sound sources.
Had a really expensive mic and ended up selling it and going back to my good ol' NT1 cause my audience never noticed a difference in my voice. Save your money my bois! Great video btw
My voice doesn't sound great on much of anything, but I do notice that with 'tubers I listen to - they will get these very BOOMY mics that are loud and rattle my ears. Then I have to not listen to them as much or lower their volume. People taut the TLM, but... I just don't get it. LCT 540 sounds better, SM7b, and maybe even King Bee. I suppose it's all just really too subjective or maybe my ears aren't trained to hear how great it is?...
Doesnt make sense bro. Of course they dont different mic, because u mix it well. But if you do use the right mic u dont have to struggle in the mix. That goes for everything. But yeah, the nt1 is a pretty solid mic. And if this mic is perfect for your voice then there is no need for a expensive/other one. Look for Nico Santos Like I love u. This song is so god damn well mixed and recorded with nt1 and apollo twin.
I don’t know what kind of music do you sing but everyone can hear something different without knowing what exactly is. I tested this theory with mics, pianos (high end digital vs acoustic grand piano) and even with tubes. They aren’t able to understand what is it but they always choose the higher quality one in a final mix. Of course they don’t know there’s something better out there and this is the reason music quality goes down. We produce lower quality music because is cheaper
The U67 really smooths out those harsh frequencies that the other mics pick up. It sounds very pleasant to the ear. Think about the time spent trying to get vocals to sound good and sit right in a mix. Recording vocals with that is an engineer's dream. It's worth every penny!
I just really love the sound from the u87ai. It sounds pleasing to listen to. All 3 mics obviously sound beautiful and will work, but I think the u87ai just has that comfortable sound. Like familiar sound.
Really cool comparison! This video popped up when I was wearing my AirPod Pros, thought I'd give it a listen not expecting much, but I am bowled over how different the TLM 103 sounded. It took a while for me to be 100% convinced you weren't speaking differently into the 103. I liked your voice much better on the U87/U67 I had a tougher time telling the U87 Ai & U67 reissue apart through the AirPod Pros. Later when I'm at my desk I'm interested in seeing how they sound on a nicer pair of cans. Love this!
I really enjoy the midrange on the U67 - super clear, but also authoritative and warm. I’d love to see the M149. That’s the best sounding microphone (on most sources) I’ve ever heard.
@@Podcastage2 I know odds of you seeing this comment are slim, but here it goes - please do a comparison of U87AI vs U67 vs M149. Can't decide which one would be best for recording male rock/pop vocals and acoustic guitar + bass?
I go tlm103 cause of the price and it sounds great! The body, presence, clarity! Mainly cause it sounds just as good as the others but the price is wayyyyy better
The 103 is a microphone people regularly hate on, then are surprised by later on when they have to use it. I abandoned mine for 2 years. Just started using it again and feel like an idiot. That microphone is fantastic. There is a metallic sheen in the upper mids on male vocals that honestly is so cool sounding. It just sounds so modern and cool.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor that’s true! I went so long before getting one because I kept seeing it in everyone’s studio and I had the tlm102 and didn’t like it. I felt like it was just some cheap mic they through out there to get money from the people that couldn’t afford their higher end mics. But once I got I was shocked! It has this high mid push your talking about that gives it such a presence and body in a mix and sounds so smooth rounded. It is actually a really really good mic.
@@michaelrice6620 It's become the mic of choice for so many artists here in LA the past 5 years. I have all of these lovely tube mics, and it gets picked just as much.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor wow, I guess I could see that. I usually just mix music so I only have a few artist in the area that actually record in my studio but I do use this mic a majority of the time as well just because it’s easy to set up I don’t have to warm up tubes or try m guess what mic will sound best on their voice etc. I mean I only have 6 mics to begin with lol but they are all very good mics Only cheap mic I have is the wa47jr. But yeah the tlm103 sounds good on every bodies voice it seems like so unless there’s something funny going on I don’t switch mics.
@@michaelrice6620 I think overall, that's Neumann's calling card. Buy a mic at whatever price range, and for the most part, it will sound great on whatever. Not easy to pull off! The only mic I really don't like from them is the 102, as an all around mic. It's fine for certain things, though.
I'm thinking abut it, the only reason to get a Neumann is because it will sell better my recording studio, so I'm trying to get a cheap alternative but I'm not convinced about the sibilance, I heard and compared the singing samples on Thomann website
Do you use the tlm for musical vocals? Wondering as I’m looking to purchase one for pop/hiphop vocals (as on my channel). Thoughts on using this mic for these types of vocals?
@@adamdanmusic I just use it for speech but I have seen a bunch of rappers on TH-cam using it without a bunch of sibilance. It comes down to how you eq it and a de-esser wouldn't hurt it either. I'd say if you can try renting one and see if it works out for you. Gotta say though man I checked out your stuff and love it. Definitely got a follow on Spotify from me and a sub on YT for sure. I think whatever you're using right now sounds amazing tbh ♥
@@GigiDAmico Running a de-esser definitely can help and how you EQ it can hurt/help with sibilance. I like how clear mine is and the "s" sounds are more noticeable but I just push my "s" to the roof of my mouth instead of forward and I stop a lot of it there. If anything it makes my acoustic guitar sound incredible and if you listen to movies that mic was used in as well as songs you'll hear the s sounds more, and nobody ever says dang why don't they quit using that Neumann in all these movies
You know what's interesting? The original u67 was regularly modded by engineers because at the time, they felt it was too dark. So MANY of the vintage u67s floating around out there on the market are actually not voiced correctly. The reissued u67 is really exciting because you're actually closer to the original intended tone. Because we're not using as much stuff in the signal path and tape isn't the end medium, darker mics are where it's at now!
This is what's so confusing to me! Tape was supposed to lead to the top end being not as prominent so they would need more top end added to the mics to get the desired end results. Right? When we've moved towards digital we don't have that issue of the medium affecting the tone of the recording, it just captures it all. Yet the vintage mics are darker, and the modern mics are brighter. It has never made sense to me. Shouldn't vintage mics be a lot brighter since they needed to compensate for the medium, while modern mics are more neutral and a bit darker because we don't need that exaggerated top end on the mics to compensate for the medium?
@@Podcastage2 Yeah it's really interesting! It's also often times an "optical illusion" of the ears. Many of the older microphones are VERY bright. But they also have extremely lush, sometimes even wooly (in the case of the U47 and u48 mics) mid range. So basically a very balanced frequency response across the board. Most modern microphones not only sound brighter because their circuits are much simpler, but the capsules themselves are inherently brighter because they are either A: Voiced that way because that's what people want, or B: Are that way naturally because they're made from cheaper materials. Anytime I pull out an ELAM 251 or C12, those mics are VERY bright, but the sibilance from vowels and the boost in the upper midrange area still feel smooth and airy. Whereas many modern mics come across much crispier and aggressive.
@@Podcastage2 Could it be that there is a natural darkening with time? I know for example with Pultecs that is very much the case. Or maybe it's just the progression of the trends in audio, increasingly competing for hyped-up highs
They're all pretty close, but the U67 did sound the "smoothest." That said, if you have a UA Apollo, you can easily smooth out the other mics with a UAD V76 or 1084 unison preamp. Having all three mics though is pretty badass!
I rarely opt for the more expensive option, and you don’t notice at first, but that 67 made both the others sound tinny immediately after hearing the 67
Just picked up a TLM 103 and so far I'm in love. I have a MKH 416 and SM7B in my Mic Locker as well and finnaly feel content with my collection. To me they all have their place depending on what I'm using them for. Great video...Always appreciate your content!
They all sound great and are useable for a variety of tasks. In this comparison, I most enjoyed the U67 as it's very pleasant and seems like it would work the best for vocals to easily cut through a mix with its vintage mid-forward sound, though a bit of EQ would make the others work just as well. I personally use a TLM 67 as my main vocal mic and I think it's pretty darn good, as well.
I love the sound of the U67. So much smoother than the other two. It's ironic though, to pay that much more for a mic when by far the biggest variation amongst them throughout the video is caused by proximity effect and not the mics themselves.
My 2¢: U67 reissue sounds the flattest and most real-to-life, U87i seems a bit hotter and maybe a bit more saturated in the lower end, and the TLM103 sounds a bit thinner overall. Any of them would sound wonderful nearly anywhere (maybe not for recording high dB sources).
Hate to be a cliche, but the most expensive sounds best, followed by the U87 and lastly the TLM103... F Major diminishing returns of course... But there is significant improvement in each price tier..... Even for just spoken word.
The u87 is the best if you’re recording vocals for tracks, you boost those highs up with proper compression and it will sound the best. U67 and tlm 103 you mainly want for raw vocals not processed
the capsule (top part inside the grill) responsble for 90% of the sound that comes out of the microphone. there are two famous, disaired capsules type that neumann based there reputation on them , the k67/87 and the k47/49.all the 3 mics on this video shares the same capsule , the k67/87 (with the exeption of the tlm103 with the k103 capsule that derived from the k87, a more 'modern' bright sound, half sided version of the k87). now, the lower parts of the mics (and the psu for the u67) that represent the rest 10% of the sound are the main diferences between those three mics, soundwise and pricewise!! the 103 is just half capsule(cardioid) with a simple electronic balanced out circuit, the 87 is a dual capsule with an output transformer balanced out fet circuit, and the 67 is same dual capsule but with a tube and balanced output transformer circuit that required an external power suplay unit(psu) to power it up. hope this help...
question is if we are not told, would we know the difference if the song was recorded with $6000 neumann or 100$ at2020 that I read billie eilish used to record some of her songs? I am pretty sure we wouldn’t
*On the subject of Neumann badges, according to **spektrummastering.com** the colors mean this:* Purple badge = transistor microphone with transformers Red badge = Transistor microphone without transformers Black badge = Tube microphone Green badge = Dynamic microphone Blue badge = Digital microphone Note: There are a few exceptions apparently. The early TLM-170 is a transition badge in purple and is actually a transformerless transistor mic. The black badge can also be apparently found on very early transistor mics. Also, other Neumann gear like the U473 compressor also has this badge but it's an etched version that doesn't really indcate anything but not being a mic.
I would pick 103 and 87 both. Seems like, 103 is as clear but its sound shape is in good shape at topping frequency level. u87 may be more accurate for singing; it seems like will impact less notes shape accuracy
All sound great imo coming from a former tlm 103 user. (Still anxiously waits for the LCT 840 review but now also considering the Vanguard V13 mic, and yes I’ve sold my TLM 103 to decide if I should get either the LCT 840, Avantone C-12 or recently on my radar the Vanguard V13)
I have a CV-12. It's very tube-saturated sounding. It makes me laugh out loud it sounds so warm and gooey. It's very flattering on harsh vocals. It's the anti-TLM 103. It's a good option if you aren't buying a U67 (tube). It's very colored, doesn't have much presence but makes even spoken word sound musical. I wouldn't add any additional strong coloration to it other than tape. I used it on the vocals for this track to get a real old-western vintage vibe: th-cam.com/video/pL-4uKx3GHw/w-d-xo.html
Softer sound is the only adjustment I hear on the higher end 1s I love the tlm 102 for my voice but I own the 103 as well so both are very good skip the over paying cuz they have similar sound if your ask me
Honestly, I prefer the sound of the U87 Ai. The difference between it and the TLM103 is pretty big, but the difference between the U87 and U67 isn't huge. But I just like the tone of the U87 more, even if it doesn't sound quite as realistic.
That's interesting, I felt the u87 and u76 were extremely different in the upper mid range where the character of the voice is most clearly represented. I can definitely understand loving the tone of the u87, though. Even if I don't prefer the u87 dry, the fact is it takes a processing chain better than 99% of the mics out there. Running it through a Shelford Channel or Avalon 737 here with light varimu or optical compression sounds incredible.
I feel it like it depends on the kind of music you play. If you are trying to record a powerful r&b vocal go for the most expensive microphone you can buy. But if you’re going to run it through RC-20, distortions, or tons of effects, go for 103 or something a little cheaper like a SM7B.
To the people that say "all mics sound the same" well its probably cause your listening through speakers on your phone or surround system or you have shitty headphones.
Do some reviews on the 3u audio warbler mic range. Ive not seen anyone due a review of those. They are not an expensive mic, I own a Warbler MK1-D and think they sound really good for the money. I would particularly like to hear their tube mic.
This is a very expensive video. XD Great work, Bandrew. I personally would probably go with the TLM103, because I can't hear a HUGE difference and I think it looks cooler. Dumb reason, but that's why. I do think the U67 sounds a tiny bit better though.
I think there's a big difference between the mics, and the tlm 103/102 usually get a bad rap for being harsh sounding, but for use in pop music that "harshness" helps the vocals cut through in the mix and gives that contemporary "airy" vocal sound that is all too common in pop music
@@aperson4051 this is very true, I have a u47 clone and when I compare it to my 102 I feel like I should send it back and get a Sony c800g clone instead idk
Really interesting and organized. I bought a TLM 103. I'd love to see you do a comparison of a Telefunken M-80 and a Sure KSM8. I cannot find a video anywhere comparing these two microphones.
I was thinking to sell my U87ai and getting a U67reissue. But after I heard your demo I will keep my U87ai! For Voice-Overs it still seems to be the best sounding Mic out there. The extra Mid-Mud of the U67 will be a very warm and useful sound for singers, but for spoken word the clarity and directness of the U87 is unbeatable for my ears. I don't like the TLM at all, to me it sounds like a toy. Of course, it always depends on what you are after - to me the U87 is the first choice for professional Voice-Over-Records. Thank you for your demo!
As far as spoken word goes, in my listening environment (a treated mixing space via an Apollo X8p clocked from a BLA Micro Clock MkIII XB to Amphion one15s), The u67 and 103 are much smoother than the u87ai, which isn't all too surprising given that the u87 regularly has a honkiness in the midrange that I'm not enthusiastic about. However, the u67 has this robust low end that sounded AMAZING on you that the 103 just doesn't have. As a professional voice actor, I'm used to hearing most things go to air with the recording hi-passed at 90-120hz, sometimes even higher, which makes all of that velvety low-end pointless from the u67 in most commercial/promo work that I do. They do leave all of that in for movie and video game trailers, so you'll see those guys voicing through a fat vintage tube mic pretty regularly, as long as the self-noise isn't too high. Which is challenging when you're dealing with tubes. And that's why the TLM 103 is a favorite here in Los Angeles, because you get that amazing Neumann sound where it counts at a MUCH more affordable price than even a u87, which retails around $3500. And the self-noise is CRAZY low, so you can really compress the crap out of it if needed and it'll stay useable. Running the 103 through an Avalon 737 is magic, especially when you compensate the thinner low-end with that pultech style EQ, and that also sounds fantastic for music application on male and female vocals. But if we're just talking music, that u67 is so LUSH. That one would be my first pic just based on this test. Do another video with it, please! :)
@Marinair Transformers Another adjective for it would be "nasally." Yeah it's usually most prominent, depending on the voice, somewhere between 1.2khz-3khz. The older u87s didn't have this issue, it's a newer thing that emerged when they started making the AI version.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor you said everything very well! I want to ask about the HONK.! I watched the Shelford Channel review today where people used it with TLM 67. I noticed that on a certain vocals the microphone sounds a little bit strange in the high mids (2-3 khz probably?). It's like some kind of "telephone" effect / ringing resonance or some kind of whistle?!. I also noticed that my U87AI, which has the same capsule as the TLM 67, sometimes sounds similar in this area with that "whistle" resonance. Could you take a couple of minutes to watch the video on the link and give your opinion? Just listen to this, it rings disgustingly in the 2-3 khz area! It starts at 4:11 and it gets worse with eq and compression at 4:44 (on a third "rock" vocalist) th-cam.com/video/nT7G0WD20Dc/w-d-xo.html what could it be?!?! I thought my u87ai was defective, but after I watched this video, I realized that this artifact is common?
They all sound nice like this. But when you hear the 67 in a song it’s a lot less competitive with other frequencies in your beat. The 103 and U87ai require EQ after compression. The 67 is good with little to no EQ. 67 has very little sibilance.
I have those 3 microphones and I use them for voice overs and the truth is, first: those microphones need very good room acoustic treatment. Second, a lot of people can't hear the difference because they listin on the phone or on the computer. But for the engineer it is easy to EQ and they don't need to do too much to finish the commercial. My U67 sounds bigger or different but maybe is the tube? Or maybe because is the original 67? I don't know. But the mic needs to be connected for at least 30 minutes before starting recording to warm up the tube. Ah but I recorded a lot with the Sennheiser 416 and the U87!!! That is what I think! Great video!
I own all three. I can sell the 67 for what I paid for it. Is it worth it HELL YES! A really killer middle ground is the TLM 67 anniversary. We did a shoot out at both VK and Sweetwater. It was the closest to the 67 in the Neumann lineup.
In your opinion, should I save some money and buy the U67 Reissue? Is it worth it? Or is it better to take u87ai? I once had u87ai and it seemed to me very sharp and piercing in the upper mids. Thank you!
@@phillipphillip367 yeah the 67 and 87 are very different animals. I like the sonic signature better on the 67. As I mentioned in my comments the TLM 67 is a great alternative that has a nearly identical sound for less money. That being said make no mistake the original IS the original. The reissue is not a tribute, copy, clone, it is a reissue of the original made to original spec.
That u67 sits perfectly. I have the u87 and love it but u can tell the brightness in the mids.. I'm thinking post can fix that saving 3000$.. They're all great mics 🎤 U67 vs the Sony 10,000 dollar mic 👍🏻
In this line up the TLM 103 sounds like a cheap mic. The 87Ai sounds natural with good sensitivity. The 67 Reissue is natural with more bass emphasis and will be excellent for male bassy voices and for instruments with bass notes. The 87Ai sounds like a safe rendition whilst the U67 has character with richeness. The TLM103 should be bought only if you cannot afford the U 67.
Black: Tube. You'll find the black diamond on Neumann's tube microphones such as the legendary U47, M49, and U67. ... Purple: FET 80 + Transformer. ... Red: FET 100 + No Transformer. ... Blue: Digital. ... Green: Dynamic.
COULD YOU DO A COMPARISON WITH TLM103 AND U87AI WITH EXTREME EQUALIZING? Not using the same eq on both but eq'ed differently to hear each mic at it's best or most extreme eq without distorting it. I don't think you really begin to hear differences in the mics until you begin equalizing and compressing them to extreme levels. Listening to them flat is a very hard comparison. When listening to them flat you'd think the TLM103 was the best in my opinion. I'm here for the U87ai and TLM103 comparison because I own the 103 and about to get the U87ai. I don't know if it's the transformer or the higher impedance that makes the U87ai more detailed when running it in extreme situations. Especially connecting it to a PreAmp that allows you to control and change the impedance. I said the same thing the first time I heard the TLM103...I thought it sounded better than the U87ai...but what people fail to realize it the 103 is equalized more than the U87ai which gives it a brighter sound. SO I don't think it's a fair comparison until we start equalizing both mics in an individual way to get the extremes out of them.
I agree with what you are saying about the differences showing up in eq and compression. I have a TLM67 which I thought sounded good until I upgraded the insides to be the same as a U67 (tube and transformer). Immediately, I noticed that the TLM67, in side by side tests, was rather harsh sounding compared to the U67. I suspect that is due to the lack of transformers, not sure. But when you EQ and compress it in a mix the U67 shines and brings out the emotion/feeling in a vocal that is unlike any other mic I have used. There is no noise either. I've tried a couple of different tubes in it and found the NOS Telefunken EF86 sounds the best, to my ear. NOS Mullards had a dark, closed in sound. I think the 'transformer less' design is a cost saving method, and it shows. If you are just using a mic for voice overs/spoken word, the TLM103 is probably sufficient.
u67 for sure. Hear it clear as day. I hear a rounder lower mid and more pronounced general warmth and bassiness in general, less pokey upper mids. The tlm103 is insanely poky in the upper register and i would only get this for acoustic guitar and if you are drake lol (that high sharp nasal vocal tone, application on trap vocals / rap vocals exclusively for me) I would die for the u67. U87 is beautiful as well. In terms of sharpness to pillow warmth, it goes TLM103 - U87 - U67 too bad i can buy 2 high end PC's for the price of some extra lower mids and warmth ... sigh
I primarily just record vocals and for the music I work on, I'd choose the TLM103 and the U87 Ai. I've always felt like vocals sound too de-essed on the U67 from my experience so that's a big no for me. U87 Ai is great all rounder and works on almost everyone. TLM103 would be good on deep male vocals needing to cut thru a mix.
U67 is my choice. However, if we’re talking about my money, I’ll take a Lewitt 440 Pure for less than $400. It rivals the TLM 103 and I can process it to emulate the 67 if desired.
@@TheZeroSbr but it's not so far from truth. In the context of the whole mix, with voice processed, the difference will be so irrelevant; and in the final, the song will decide. I mean for example "Girls like you" by Maroon 5 will have same success no matter recorded in U87 or let say AT4040. Yes, a good mic is a must, but an expensive one is more for that extra polish which does not make the weather and it is more of a perfectionism stuff.
I have no idea what kind of difference other people hear between these. 103 and 87 sound pretty much identical, while the 67 is so close that if I didn't know its tube and therefore should sound different, I would think the difference was because of autosuggestion.
to my ears, the 103 sounds a bit more "professional radio", the 87 sounds professional VO studio, and the 67 sounds like a professional VO studio from the early 1960's (warmer/more buttery but a microscopic lessening of clarity).
Cool vid...I think I am going to save up for the 87. I honestly could not tell the difference. Buuuuut I am listening thru surround sound speakers that I still own from the 90's. My logic....The mic has a good reputation and it is still not the most expensive. Far from cheap, but not the most expensive. I want to visit a studio near me so I can hear it live and maybe even test my vocals on it to make sure that it is the right fit. We'll see. In my own way, I am happy with my current setup, but I do want to upgrade key components for the opportunity for better quality. Just wanted to say...cool vid and thanks for sharing your experience.
The U-67 clearly sounds the best, no doubt at all. The 103 sound a bit hard and cold compared to it, the U-87 a bit nasal. Although both are very good mics by themselves. But the U-67 beats them both. It sounds smooth, big, round, warm and detailed at the same time, so almost mix-ready.
Very hard to get a comparison when the exact verbal words are not used on each microphone. The levels sound extremely similar, but there might be some eq enhanced areas each mic might have different from each other...such as sibilance, clarity of midrange preference for vocals, or better bass enhancement/rejection qualities. Nice to have a quick review tho...so thank you sir! 👍😎
Time for a tube microphone shootout? Interested in some of the youngins' that are bringing the prices down, like the MXL Revolution II. Also there are bunch of newish ribbons out there too - how well would they work for spoken voice? I don't know!! Maybe you can find out...
The U67 does have the smoothest frequency response to my ears, but honestly I don't hear a $2k+ difference in quality between the 103 and the U87. I just couldn't justify that purchase unless money was no object.
I would get the U87 Ai if money weren’t an issue, currently I have the TLM 103, and it sounds great, and I’m running it thru the Apogee Symphony Desktop mostly using the Neve mic pre emulation. Using the Apogee Pultec eq plugin pretty much gets me exactly what I need. All the mics in this video sound great, some better than others but with the right eq you’re good with any of them imo.
@@imhaydenmelrose Well sound quality wise its been great since day one, but I was a little disappointed feature wise until the software was updated on May 31st. I really couldn't recommend it 100% until then. Before then some of the features being advertised, like dual path monitoring, the desktop control app and other things weren't available yet. Theres supposed to be another software update soon, whenever that is, that will make it better. So to make a long story short, Im really happy with it now all around.
Money no object, I'd probably still go with the U87 Ai for day-to-day work. I liked both the U87 and U67 (I didn't like the TLM 103 as much -- still absolutely usable though), but the U87 Ai has just a bit more on the high-end which would make it a little more intelligible in a mix. Since they have the same capsule in both U87 and U67, it's what's below them that makes the difference, and even then, it's not a night and day difference in sound. The other thing about a U87 Ai is that if you take another U87 Ai, for all intense and purposes, will sound the same. When working with tube microphones, there's more variation between units. (I know there's an older thread on Gearspace that says that there's can be quite a bit of variation between U87 Ai, but that's not what the majority of users think). What's not shown in this video is the fact that it comes with a separate external power supply for the U67 and more parts that could break down over time and more parts that need servicing. If I was doing a long-term project, I'd still look at the U87 in most case. (Money no object, you could get a couple of U67 spares that are matched to sound as close to the main unit to make sure you are never in a situation where you're stuck with a busted tube or another component failure. That being said, there are cases of tube equipment working for decades without issues 24/7, but in most cases, there more moving parts and more chances of things breaking down over time.)
wow the 67 sound so smooth, i think it is not a question of money, it depends what you want to record, the mic has to fit to the source. The 87 is also a wonderful mic and it is different to the 67.
I love the U87 sound... Did you try or test some Stam Audio SA87? I'm very curious to know if it's a good clone, as everyone talks about it. $1000 or $3500, will it be worth it?
If money was no object, u67 all day. It is just so smooth. No graininess, like the TLM103. They all sound pretty great, but to me the u67 refines everything that is good about the other two mics.
@@Podcastage2 I heard something about the transient response being less technically desirable i.e. slower on the u67 than the u87 and that is why it sounds so smooth in the top.
The idea that you can buy 6 103s and still have money leftover in comparison to the 67 is crazy. I'm not someone who has had years of audio training so I can't hear a $6,000 difference between the 103 and the 67. There is definitely a difference but I don't think I can personally justify $7,200 for the 67, even though it sounds absolutely glorious. The 103 should be more than enough mic for most people.
Not that any of these are cheap, but to my ears the TLM103 does really well in this comparison. The TLM103 seems a bit darker… Does it have less comparative presence boost?
@@johnkotches8320 102 doesnt have the presence boost so its darker. 102 freq response and self noise is more aligned with 87...where as the 103 isnt really like the 87 at all
The U67 sounds best to me. I wouldn't buy one for my few hours a month tinkering at home, but totally understand why studios do.
U67 7000 dollar means 560000 rupees.
the U-67 is so smooth sounding. Wow, never knew there was that much of a difference.
Neumann badge colors
Purple badge = transistor microphone with transformers.
Red badge = Transistor microphone without transformers.
Black badge = Tube microphone.
Green badge = Dynamic microphone.
Blue badge = Digital microphone.
I started making this list and then thought "you know what I bet it's already down here somewhere." And boom, here you are. Thanks Jim.
87 for voice and TLM for instruments. 67 for everything.
Or all of em for everything. Because they're all glorious sounding.
67 for everything because you’ve blown your budget for anything else 🤣🤣
@@Seanonyoutube yeah you also sold your instruments your kidney and your vocal chords
No
The u87 is a very good balance between the 103 and the 67, the only downside being a slight overemphasis of the midrange in the 500-800hz range on the 87. The 67 has an instant vintage sound, it has to do with the topology I think. All 3 mic’s are worth the price.
I agree.
Exactly! I own the U87 and I'm very unhappy with the sound. I mean the sounds is perfect, but that midrange it's getting me sick, sounds dull and muddy and even after mixing I still hear that dulliness and even cutting in the eq it doesn't help, or it's too dull or either too thin sounding.
The 103 sounds the clearest and most transparent to me. The u87 has that colored ‘studio’ sound that just seems very familiar because it’s been used on so many recordings. The u67 sounds equally nice but with a slightly different coloration. I don’t think one is better than any of the others, just different flavors for different sound sources.
Had a really expensive mic and ended up selling it and going back to my good ol' NT1 cause my audience never noticed a difference in my voice. Save your money my bois! Great video btw
Most audience won't notice the difference. That's exactly right.
Thats a really sensible thing i have read today!
My voice doesn't sound great on much of anything, but I do notice that with 'tubers I listen to - they will get these very BOOMY mics that are loud and rattle my ears. Then I have to not listen to them as much or lower their volume. People taut the TLM, but... I just don't get it. LCT 540 sounds better, SM7b, and maybe even King Bee. I suppose it's all just really too subjective or maybe my ears aren't trained to hear how great it is?...
Doesnt make sense bro. Of course they dont different mic, because u mix it well. But if you do use the right mic u dont have to struggle in the mix. That goes for everything. But yeah, the nt1 is a pretty solid mic. And if this mic is perfect for your voice then there is no need for a expensive/other one. Look for Nico Santos Like I love u. This song is so god damn well mixed and recorded with nt1 and apollo twin.
I don’t know what kind of music do you sing but everyone can hear something different without knowing what exactly is. I tested this theory with mics, pianos (high end digital vs acoustic grand piano) and even with tubes. They aren’t able to understand what is it but they always choose the higher quality one in a final mix. Of course they don’t know there’s something better out there and this is the reason music quality goes down. We produce lower quality music because is cheaper
The U67 really smooths out those harsh frequencies that the other mics pick up. It sounds very pleasant to the ear. Think about the time spent trying to get vocals to sound good and sit right in a mix. Recording vocals with that is an engineer's dream. It's worth every penny!
U87 sounds very close tho
@@Mope333 I would disagree. It’s not close at all.
@@matthewwalker9266 Nor far off
@@Mope333 That’s your opinion and I respect that but I beg to differ..
@@matthewwalker9266 Considering how the U87 is the industry standard mic and used the most, it’s a popular opinion I guess
I just really love the sound from the u87ai. It sounds pleasing to listen to. All 3 mics obviously sound beautiful and will work, but I think the u87ai just has that comfortable sound. Like familiar sound.
Really cool comparison! This video popped up when I was wearing my AirPod Pros, thought I'd give it a listen not expecting much, but I am bowled over how different the TLM 103 sounded. It took a while for me to be 100% convinced you weren't speaking differently into the 103. I liked your voice much better on the U87/U67
I had a tougher time telling the U87 Ai & U67 reissue apart through the AirPod Pros. Later when I'm at my desk I'm interested in seeing how they sound on a nicer pair of cans. Love this!
I really enjoy the midrange on the U67 - super clear, but also authoritative and warm. I’d love to see the M149. That’s the best sounding microphone (on most sources) I’ve ever heard.
Will take ages before I can afford the M149. But that'd be a fun one to compare to the U67.
@@Podcastage2 I know odds of you seeing this comment are slim, but here it goes - please do a comparison of U87AI vs U67 vs M149. Can't decide which one would be best for recording male rock/pop vocals and acoustic guitar + bass?
The 67 fills the bottom end out nicely on your voice with warmth
U67 sounds like you're a news anchor, now I know how I'm hypnotized whilel watching mainstream news
Wow... Thank you... I was gonna buy the 103... Now i will save the extra for the 87ai.... This was exactly the video i needed to see.
Same here
Did you get the U87?
@@hrithiksharma7650 not yet.... Still have about 3 more weeks of saving...lol single father...
I go tlm103 cause of the price and it sounds great! The body, presence, clarity! Mainly cause it sounds just as good as the others but the price is wayyyyy better
The 103 is a microphone people regularly hate on, then are surprised by later on when they have to use it. I abandoned mine for 2 years. Just started using it again and feel like an idiot. That microphone is fantastic. There is a metallic sheen in the upper mids on male vocals that honestly is so cool sounding. It just sounds so modern and cool.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor that’s true! I went so long before getting one because I kept seeing it in everyone’s studio and I had the tlm102 and didn’t like it. I felt like it was just some cheap mic they through out there to get money from the people that couldn’t afford their higher end mics. But once I got I was shocked! It has this high mid push your talking about that gives it such a presence and body in a mix and sounds so smooth rounded. It is actually a really really good mic.
@@michaelrice6620 It's become the mic of choice for so many artists here in LA the past 5 years. I have all of these lovely tube mics, and it gets picked just as much.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor wow, I guess I could see that. I usually just mix music so I only have a few artist in the area that actually record in my studio but I do use this mic a majority of the time as well just because it’s easy to set up I don’t have to warm up tubes or try m guess what mic will sound best on their voice etc. I mean I only have 6 mics to begin with lol but they are all very good mics Only cheap mic I have is the wa47jr. But yeah the tlm103 sounds good on every bodies voice it seems like so unless there’s something funny going on I don’t switch mics.
@@michaelrice6620 I think overall, that's Neumann's calling card. Buy a mic at whatever price range, and for the most part, it will sound great on whatever. Not easy to pull off! The only mic I really don't like from them is the 102, as an all around mic. It's fine for certain things, though.
I got the TLM103 and love it. I just don't hear thousands of dollars worth of difference although they do all sound great.
I'm thinking abut it, the only reason to get a Neumann is because it will sell better my recording studio, so I'm trying to get a cheap alternative but I'm not convinced about the sibilance, I heard and compared the singing samples on Thomann website
Do you use the tlm for musical vocals? Wondering as I’m looking to purchase one for pop/hiphop vocals (as on my channel). Thoughts on using this mic for these types of vocals?
@@adamdanmusic I just use it for speech but I have seen a bunch of rappers on TH-cam using it without a bunch of sibilance. It comes down to how you eq it and a de-esser wouldn't hurt it either. I'd say if you can try renting one and see if it works out for you. Gotta say though man I checked out your stuff and love it. Definitely got a follow on Spotify from me and a sub on YT for sure. I think whatever you're using right now sounds amazing tbh ♥
@@GigiDAmico Running a de-esser definitely can help and how you EQ it can hurt/help with sibilance. I like how clear mine is and the "s" sounds are more noticeable but I just push my "s" to the roof of my mouth instead of forward and I stop a lot of it there. If anything it makes my acoustic guitar sound incredible and if you listen to movies that mic was used in as well as songs you'll hear the s sounds more, and nobody ever says dang why don't they quit using that Neumann in all these movies
I have been waiting a long time for this comparison.
You know what's interesting? The original u67 was regularly modded by engineers because at the time, they felt it was too dark. So MANY of the vintage u67s floating around out there on the market are actually not voiced correctly. The reissued u67 is really exciting because you're actually closer to the original intended tone. Because we're not using as much stuff in the signal path and tape isn't the end medium, darker mics are where it's at now!
This is what's so confusing to me! Tape was supposed to lead to the top end being not as prominent so they would need more top end added to the mics to get the desired end results. Right? When we've moved towards digital we don't have that issue of the medium affecting the tone of the recording, it just captures it all. Yet the vintage mics are darker, and the modern mics are brighter. It has never made sense to me. Shouldn't vintage mics be a lot brighter since they needed to compensate for the medium, while modern mics are more neutral and a bit darker because we don't need that exaggerated top end on the mics to compensate for the medium?
@@Podcastage2 Yeah it's really interesting! It's also often times an "optical illusion" of the ears. Many of the older microphones are VERY bright. But they also have extremely lush, sometimes even wooly (in the case of the U47 and u48 mics) mid range. So basically a very balanced frequency response across the board. Most modern microphones not only sound brighter because their circuits are much simpler, but the capsules themselves are inherently brighter because they are either A: Voiced that way because that's what people want, or B: Are that way naturally because they're made from cheaper materials. Anytime I pull out an ELAM 251 or C12, those mics are VERY bright, but the sibilance from vowels and the boost in the upper midrange area still feel smooth and airy. Whereas many modern mics come across much crispier and aggressive.
Beau, you're so right, but its only the old-time engineers that understand this
@@Podcastage2 Could it be that there is a natural darkening with time? I know for example with Pultecs that is very much the case. Or maybe it's just the progression of the trends in audio, increasingly competing for hyped-up highs
Own the 103. Big fan of all three. Nice video brother.
They're all pretty close, but the U67 did sound the "smoothest." That said, if you have a UA Apollo, you can easily smooth out the other mics with a UAD V76 or 1084 unison preamp. Having all three mics though is pretty badass!
I rarely opt for the more expensive option, and you don’t notice at first, but that 67 made both the others sound tinny immediately after hearing the 67
Just picked up a TLM 103 and so far I'm in love. I have a MKH 416 and SM7B in my Mic Locker as well and finnaly feel content with my collection. To me they all have their place depending on what I'm using them for. Great video...Always appreciate your content!
Which is better TLM 103 or Mojave MA 201 fet CM.
I was just looking for a good example of the u67. Perfect timing.
Do the digital version of tlm 103 a review
They all sound great and are useable for a variety of tasks. In this comparison, I most enjoyed the U67 as it's very pleasant and seems like it would work the best for vocals to easily cut through a mix with its vintage mid-forward sound, though a bit of EQ would make the others work just as well. I personally use a TLM 67 as my main vocal mic and I think it's pretty darn good, as well.
I love the sound of the U67. So much smoother than the other two. It's ironic though, to pay that much more for a mic when by far the biggest variation amongst them throughout the video is caused by proximity effect and not the mics themselves.
He’s standing equally close to every single mic, what are you talking about proximity effect for? And yes I agree, the U67 sounds best.
My 2¢: U67 reissue sounds the flattest and most real-to-life, U87i seems a bit hotter and maybe a bit more saturated in the lower end, and the TLM103 sounds a bit thinner overall. Any of them would sound wonderful nearly anywhere (maybe not for recording high dB sources).
Hate to be a cliche, but the most expensive sounds best, followed by the U87 and lastly the TLM103... F
Major diminishing returns of course... But there is significant improvement in each price tier..... Even for just spoken word.
I'm between the TLM103 and the U67. The U87 sounds a bit darker but all 3 of them are pretty even
The u87 is the best if you’re recording vocals for tracks, you boost those highs up with proper compression and it will sound the best. U67 and tlm 103 you mainly want for raw vocals not processed
I work with TLM103 since 2021. All records are in my YT channel. In my opinion is - TLM103 a little crispy in highs.
the capsule (top part inside the grill) responsble for 90% of the sound that comes out of the microphone. there are two famous, disaired capsules type that neumann based there reputation on them , the k67/87 and the k47/49.all the 3 mics on this video shares the same capsule , the k67/87 (with the exeption of the tlm103 with the k103 capsule that derived from the k87, a more 'modern' bright sound, half sided version of the k87). now, the lower parts of the mics (and the psu for the u67) that represent the rest 10% of the sound are the main diferences between those three mics, soundwise and pricewise!! the 103 is just half capsule(cardioid) with a simple electronic balanced out circuit, the 87 is a dual capsule with an output transformer balanced out fet circuit, and the 67 is same dual capsule but with a tube and balanced output transformer circuit that required an external power suplay unit(psu) to power it up. hope this help...
question is if we are not told, would we know the difference if the song was recorded with $6000 neumann or 100$ at2020 that I read billie eilish used to record some of her songs? I am pretty sure we wouldn’t
*On the subject of Neumann badges, according to **spektrummastering.com** the colors mean this:*
Purple badge = transistor microphone with transformers
Red badge = Transistor microphone without transformers
Black badge = Tube microphone
Green badge = Dynamic microphone
Blue badge = Digital microphone
Note: There are a few exceptions apparently. The early TLM-170 is a transition badge in purple and is actually a transformerless transistor mic. The black badge can also be apparently found on very early transistor mics. Also, other Neumann gear like the U473 compressor also has this badge but it's an etched version that doesn't really indcate anything but not being a mic.
I was right then. I just said blue instead of purple because I'm dumb and my eyes are broken and suck at seeing color.
I would pick 103 and 87 both. Seems like, 103 is as clear but its sound shape is in good shape at topping frequency level. u87 may be more accurate for singing; it seems like will impact less notes shape accuracy
My fave in this example is actually the u87 ai
All sound great imo coming from a former tlm 103 user. (Still anxiously waits for the LCT 840 review but now also considering the Vanguard V13 mic, and yes I’ve sold my TLM 103 to decide if I should get either the LCT 840, Avantone C-12 or recently on my radar the Vanguard V13)
I have a CV-12. It's very tube-saturated sounding. It makes me laugh out loud it sounds so warm and gooey. It's very flattering on harsh vocals. It's the anti-TLM 103. It's a good option if you aren't buying a U67 (tube). It's very colored, doesn't have much presence but makes even spoken word sound musical. I wouldn't add any additional strong coloration to it other than tape. I used it on the vocals for this track to get a real old-western vintage vibe: th-cam.com/video/pL-4uKx3GHw/w-d-xo.html
Softer sound is the only adjustment I hear on the higher end 1s I love the tlm 102 for my voice but I own the 103 as well so both are very good skip the over paying cuz they have similar sound if your ask me
The u87ai sound almost the same as the u67... I use the u87ai with the avalon vt737sp tube preamp.
Honestly, I prefer the sound of the U87 Ai. The difference between it and the TLM103 is pretty big, but the difference between the U87 and U67 isn't huge. But I just like the tone of the U87 more, even if it doesn't sound quite as realistic.
That's interesting, I felt the u87 and u76 were extremely different in the upper mid range where the character of the voice is most clearly represented. I can definitely understand loving the tone of the u87, though. Even if I don't prefer the u87 dry, the fact is it takes a processing chain better than 99% of the mics out there. Running it through a Shelford Channel or Avalon 737 here with light varimu or optical compression sounds incredible.
It´s not about the mic, it´s about the performance! 😉
I’d love to hear the u67 in comparison to a tlm 49
I feel it like it depends on the kind of music you play. If you are trying to record a powerful r&b vocal go for the most expensive microphone you can buy. But if you’re going to run it through RC-20, distortions, or tons of effects, go for 103 or something a little cheaper like a SM7B.
To the people that say "all mics sound the same" well its probably cause your listening through speakers on your phone or surround system or you have shitty headphones.
Love your channel and underlying humor. Thanks for making this video.
Something about the 103 I just love, liked the U87 the least. Thanks for making this!
Sounds a bit like the U87's gain - and to a lesser extent the U67's - is set slightly higher? Perhaps its because of increased air and bottom end?
I tried to level match them as well as I could. Even using a LUFS leveler didn't perfectly match them.
Do some reviews on the 3u audio warbler mic range. Ive not seen anyone due a review of those. They are not an expensive mic, I own a Warbler MK1-D and think they sound really good for the money. I would particularly like to hear their tube mic.
This is a very expensive video. XD Great work, Bandrew. I personally would probably go with the TLM103, because I can't hear a HUGE difference and I think it looks cooler. Dumb reason, but that's why. I do think the U67 sounds a tiny bit better though.
I do like the chonky boy look of the 103 and I always wonder why more mic manufacturers don't try a stouter but shorter look
I think there's a big difference between the mics, and the tlm 103/102 usually get a bad rap for being harsh sounding, but for use in pop music that "harshness" helps the vocals cut through in the mix and gives that contemporary "airy" vocal sound that is all too common in pop music
@@aperson4051 this is very true, I have a u47 clone and when I compare it to my 102 I feel like I should send it back and get a Sony c800g clone instead idk
Really interesting and organized. I bought a TLM 103. I'd love to see you do a comparison of a Telefunken M-80 and a Sure KSM8. I cannot find a video anywhere comparing these two microphones.
I was thinking to sell my U87ai and getting a U67reissue. But after I heard your demo I will keep my U87ai! For Voice-Overs it still seems to be the best sounding Mic out there. The extra Mid-Mud of the U67 will be a very warm and useful sound for singers, but for spoken word the clarity and directness of the U87 is unbeatable for my ears. I don't like the TLM at all, to me it sounds like a toy. Of course, it always depends on what you are after - to me the U87 is the first choice for professional Voice-Over-Records. Thank you for your demo!
As far as spoken word goes, in my listening environment (a treated mixing space via an Apollo X8p clocked from a BLA Micro Clock MkIII XB to Amphion one15s), The u67 and 103 are much smoother than the u87ai, which isn't all too surprising given that the u87 regularly has a honkiness in the midrange that I'm not enthusiastic about. However, the u67 has this robust low end that sounded AMAZING on you that the 103 just doesn't have. As a professional voice actor, I'm used to hearing most things go to air with the recording hi-passed at 90-120hz, sometimes even higher, which makes all of that velvety low-end pointless from the u67 in most commercial/promo work that I do. They do leave all of that in for movie and video game trailers, so you'll see those guys voicing through a fat vintage tube mic pretty regularly, as long as the self-noise isn't too high. Which is challenging when you're dealing with tubes. And that's why the TLM 103 is a favorite here in Los Angeles, because you get that amazing Neumann sound where it counts at a MUCH more affordable price than even a u87, which retails around $3500. And the self-noise is CRAZY low, so you can really compress the crap out of it if needed and it'll stay useable. Running the 103 through an Avalon 737 is magic, especially when you compensate the thinner low-end with that pultech style EQ, and that also sounds fantastic for music application on male and female vocals. But if we're just talking music, that u67 is so LUSH. That one would be my first pic just based on this test. Do another video with it, please! :)
@Marinair Transformers Another adjective for it would be "nasally." Yeah it's usually most prominent, depending on the voice, somewhere between 1.2khz-3khz. The older u87s didn't have this issue, it's a newer thing that emerged when they started making the AI version.
@@BeauStephensonVoiceActor you said everything very well! I want to ask about the HONK.! I watched the Shelford Channel review today where people used it with TLM 67. I noticed that on a certain vocals the microphone sounds a little bit strange in the high mids (2-3 khz probably?). It's like some kind of "telephone" effect / ringing resonance or some kind of whistle?!. I also noticed that my U87AI, which has the same capsule as the TLM 67, sometimes sounds similar in this area with that "whistle" resonance.
Could you take a couple of minutes to watch the video on the link and give your opinion?
Just listen to this, it rings disgustingly in the 2-3 khz area!
It starts at 4:11 and it gets worse with eq and compression at 4:44 (on a third "rock" vocalist)
th-cam.com/video/nT7G0WD20Dc/w-d-xo.html
what could it be?!?! I thought my u87ai was defective, but after I watched this video, I realized that this artifact is common?
103. Amazing for the money. 67 is just so clear. 87 great voiceover mic.
I have heard many comparisons with the u87 I think it sounds good but is too boomy
They all sound nice like this. But when you hear the 67 in a song it’s a lot less competitive with other frequencies in your beat. The 103 and U87ai require EQ after compression. The 67 is good with little to no EQ. 67 has very little sibilance.
I have those 3 microphones and I use them for voice overs and the truth is, first: those microphones need very good room acoustic treatment. Second, a lot of people can't hear the difference because they listin on the phone or on the computer. But for the engineer it is easy to EQ and they don't need to do too much to finish the commercial. My U67 sounds bigger or different but maybe is the tube? Or maybe because is the original 67? I don't know. But the mic needs to be connected for at least 30 minutes before starting recording to warm up the tube. Ah but I recorded a lot with the Sennheiser 416 and the U87!!! That is what I think! Great video!
I own all three. I can sell the 67 for what I paid for it. Is it worth it HELL YES! A really killer middle ground is the TLM 67 anniversary. We did a shoot out at both VK and Sweetwater. It was the closest to the 67 in the Neumann lineup.
In your opinion, should I save some money and buy the U67 Reissue? Is it worth it? Or is it better to take u87ai? I once had u87ai and it seemed to me very sharp and piercing in the upper mids. Thank you!
@@phillipphillip367 yeah the 67 and 87 are very different animals. I like the sonic signature better on the 67. As I mentioned in my comments the TLM 67 is a great alternative that has a nearly identical sound for less money. That being said make no mistake the original IS the original. The reissue is not a tribute, copy, clone, it is a reissue of the original made to original spec.
Great comparison as always. If you can, get the U47 fet, for me it sounds stunning with a very strong forward character.
True. U47 too sounds like AK47.
That u67 sits perfectly. I have the u87 and love it but u can tell the brightness in the mids.. I'm thinking post can fix that saving 3000$.. They're all great mics 🎤 U67 vs the Sony 10,000 dollar mic 👍🏻
I will pick up U87AI since it sounds fuller. Mic sounding warm gives best recording.
Listening through focal 6 be and see differences but not too crazy, best u67, good video!
In this line up the TLM 103 sounds like a cheap mic. The 87Ai sounds natural with good sensitivity. The 67 Reissue is natural with more bass emphasis and will be excellent for male bassy voices and for instruments with bass notes. The 87Ai sounds like a safe rendition whilst the U67 has character with richeness. The TLM103 should be bought only if you cannot afford the U 67.
Pls do a review on TLM 107 if it is possible 🙏
I like how the u87i sounded the clearest, but yes I do think it's worth it and I can hear the difference
Black: Tube. You'll find the black diamond on Neumann's tube microphones such as the legendary U47, M49, and U67. ...
Purple: FET 80 + Transformer. ...
Red: FET 100 + No Transformer. ...
Blue: Digital. ...
Green: Dynamic.
COULD YOU DO A COMPARISON WITH TLM103 AND U87AI WITH EXTREME EQUALIZING? Not using the same eq on both but eq'ed differently to hear each mic at it's best or most extreme eq without distorting it. I don't think you really begin to hear differences in the mics until you begin equalizing and compressing them to extreme levels. Listening to them flat is a very hard comparison. When listening to them flat you'd think the TLM103 was the best in my opinion. I'm here for the U87ai and TLM103 comparison because I own the 103 and about to get the U87ai. I don't know if it's the transformer or the higher impedance that makes the U87ai more detailed when running it in extreme situations. Especially connecting it to a PreAmp that allows you to control and change the impedance. I said the same thing the first time I heard the TLM103...I thought it sounded better than the U87ai...but what people fail to realize it the 103 is equalized more than the U87ai which gives it a brighter sound. SO I don't think it's a fair comparison until we start equalizing both mics in an individual way to get the extremes out of them.
I agree with what you are saying about the differences showing up in eq and compression. I have a TLM67 which I thought sounded good until I upgraded the insides to be the same as a U67 (tube and transformer). Immediately, I noticed that the TLM67, in side by side tests, was rather harsh sounding compared to the U67. I suspect that is due to the lack of transformers, not sure. But when you EQ and compress it in a mix the U67 shines and brings out the emotion/feeling in a vocal that is unlike any other mic I have used. There is no noise either. I've tried a couple of different tubes in it and found the NOS Telefunken EF86 sounds the best, to my ear. NOS Mullards had a dark, closed in sound. I think the 'transformer less' design is a cost saving method, and it shows. If you are just using a mic for voice overs/spoken word, the TLM103 is probably sufficient.
u67 for sure. Hear it clear as day. I hear a rounder lower mid and more pronounced general warmth and bassiness in general, less pokey upper mids. The tlm103 is insanely poky in the upper register and i would only get this for acoustic guitar and if you are drake lol (that high sharp nasal vocal tone, application on trap vocals / rap vocals exclusively for me)
I would die for the u67. U87 is beautiful as well. In terms of sharpness to pillow warmth, it goes TLM103 - U87 - U67
too bad i can buy 2 high end PC's for the price of some extra lower mids and warmth ... sigh
I primarily just record vocals and for the music I work on, I'd choose the TLM103 and the U87 Ai. I've always felt like vocals sound too de-essed on the U67 from my experience so that's a big no for me. U87 Ai is great all rounder and works on almost everyone. TLM103 would be good on deep male vocals needing to cut thru a mix.
U67 is my choice. However, if we’re talking about my money, I’ll take a Lewitt 440 Pure for less than $400. It rivals the TLM 103 and I can process it to emulate the 67 if desired.
Uhh... that's wishful thinking.
@@TheZeroSbr but it's not so far from truth. In the context of the whole mix, with voice processed, the difference will be so irrelevant; and in the final, the song will decide.
I mean for example "Girls like you" by Maroon 5 will have same success no matter recorded in U87 or let say AT4040. Yes, a good mic is a must, but an expensive one is more for that extra polish which does not make the weather and it is more of a perfectionism stuff.
I am drowning in in my own drool. Nice one Bandrew.
I have no idea what kind of difference other people hear between these. 103 and 87 sound pretty much identical, while the 67 is so close that if I didn't know its tube and therefore should sound different, I would think the difference was because of autosuggestion.
to my ears, the 103 sounds a bit more "professional radio", the 87 sounds professional VO studio, and the 67 sounds like a professional VO studio from the early 1960's (warmer/more buttery but a microscopic lessening of clarity).
Cool vid...I think I am going to save up for the 87. I honestly could not tell the difference. Buuuuut I am listening thru surround sound speakers that I still own from the 90's. My logic....The mic has a good reputation and it is still not the most expensive. Far from cheap, but not the most expensive. I want to visit a studio near me so I can hear it live and maybe even test my vocals on it to make sure that it is the right fit. We'll see. In my own way, I am happy with my current setup, but I do want to upgrade key components for the opportunity for better quality. Just wanted to say...cool vid and thanks for sharing your experience.
The U-67 clearly sounds the best, no doubt at all. The 103 sound a bit hard and cold compared to it, the U-87 a bit nasal. Although both are very good mics by themselves. But the U-67 beats them both. It sounds smooth, big, round, warm and detailed at the same time, so almost mix-ready.
I love this, I have the AKG c12 vr I’m curious how that compares to the u67 reissue🤞🏼
1.U67 2.U87AI 3.TLM103 The U67 is one of the best spoken word / voice-over mics ever made :)
If money is not factor I would pick up U87AI since it sounds fuller and rounded. TLM 103 is my second choice.
Can you compare these Neumann mic with the Telefunken mics such as the T51 and others? I am having a hard time choosing a mic.
Money no object my favorite would be U87 Ai
Very hard to get a comparison when the exact verbal words are not used on each microphone. The levels sound extremely similar, but there might be some eq enhanced areas each mic might have different from each other...such as sibilance, clarity of midrange preference for vocals, or better bass enhancement/rejection qualities. Nice to have a quick review tho...so thank you sir! 👍😎
Finally. A video without an SM7B in it👍
that u67 is absolute velvet.
If the 103 was the expensive one.
People would be writing about how beautiful it sounds.
People will be people.
They all sound great to me.
when you do these what daw do you use ?
Time for a tube microphone shootout? Interested in some of the youngins' that are bringing the prices down, like the MXL Revolution II. Also there are bunch of newish ribbons out there too - how well would they work for spoken voice? I don't know!! Maybe you can find out...
I think the U87 sounds best, followed by the TLM103, followed by the U67.
The U67 does have the smoothest frequency response to my ears, but honestly I don't hear a $2k+ difference in quality between the 103 and the U87. I just couldn't justify that purchase unless money was no object.
For my voice U87 Ai best.. i love this microphone
I would get the U87 Ai if money weren’t an issue, currently I have the TLM 103, and it sounds great, and I’m running it thru the Apogee Symphony Desktop mostly using the Neve mic pre emulation. Using the Apogee Pultec eq plugin pretty much gets me exactly what I need. All the mics in this video sound great, some better than others but with the right eq you’re good with any of them imo.
How do you like the Symphony Desktop? I was looking into that recently.
@@imhaydenmelrose Well sound quality wise its been great since day one, but I was a little disappointed feature wise until the software was updated on May 31st. I really couldn't recommend it 100% until then. Before then some of the features being advertised, like dual path monitoring, the desktop control app and other things weren't available yet. Theres supposed to be another software update soon, whenever that is, that will make it better. So to make a long story short, Im really happy with it now all around.
so with my eyes closed, the second one sounded "fuller" than the first one, but the second and third sounded no different to me
i hear a little bit of a difference but its barely noticeable
Money no object, I'd probably still go with the U87 Ai for day-to-day work.
I liked both the U87 and U67 (I didn't like the TLM 103 as much -- still absolutely usable though), but the U87 Ai has just a bit more on the high-end which would make it a little more intelligible in a mix. Since they have the same capsule in both U87 and U67, it's what's below them that makes the difference, and even then, it's not a night and day difference in sound. The other thing about a U87 Ai is that if you take another U87 Ai, for all intense and purposes, will sound the same. When working with tube microphones, there's more variation between units. (I know there's an older thread on Gearspace that says that there's can be quite a bit of variation between U87 Ai, but that's not what the majority of users think).
What's not shown in this video is the fact that it comes with a separate external power supply for the U67 and more parts that could break down over time and more parts that need servicing. If I was doing a long-term project, I'd still look at the U87 in most case. (Money no object, you could get a couple of U67 spares that are matched to sound as close to the main unit to make sure you are never in a situation where you're stuck with a busted tube or another component failure. That being said, there are cases of tube equipment working for decades without issues 24/7, but in most cases, there more moving parts and more chances of things breaking down over time.)
I'd love to hear your opinions on the U47FET by neumann.
Honestly with a little Eq you could get the u87 spot on
87 has a bit more low end than the 103…so maybe with EQ boosting the 103’s low end would sound very similar to the more expensive 87? 🤔
What do you have these mics going into? It sounds very clean. This is completely raw??
wow the 67 sound so smooth, i think it is not a question of money, it depends what you want to record, the mic has to fit to the source. The 87 is also a wonderful mic and it is different to the 67.
U87 Ai is the microphone
The slightly smoother nature of the u67 is the only real improvement over the u87 ai, the u87 is probably the better value “endgame” mic
Less upkeep as well because you'll have to replace the tube on the U67 in the future as well.
I love the U87 sound... Did you try or test some Stam Audio SA87? I'm very curious to know if it's a good clone, as everyone talks about it. $1000 or $3500, will it be worth it?
If money was no object, u67 all day. It is just so smooth. No graininess, like the TLM103. They all sound pretty great, but to me the u67 refines everything that is good about the other two mics.
And the thing that's crazy. It's the oldest design. That's what's so weird.
@@Podcastage2 I heard something about the transient response being less technically desirable i.e. slower on the u67 than the u87 and that is why it sounds so smooth in the top.
The TLM 103 sounds very good compared with the other ones but I would pick the $7k one as I love the voice clarity on it.
Thanks. Wondering if TLM103 vs U87 is best for voiceovers with my MixPre pre-amp/recorder. All sound pretty good to me. About the same.
The idea that you can buy 6 103s and still have money leftover in comparison to the 67 is crazy. I'm not someone who has had years of audio training so I can't hear a $6,000 difference between the 103 and the 67. There is definitely a difference but I don't think I can personally justify $7,200 for the 67, even though it sounds absolutely glorious. The 103 should be more than enough mic for most people.
Cool microphones, but please tell us about the flashlight! ;)
I believe I mention it in this video: th-cam.com/video/DyTRogS5neU/w-d-xo.html
Not that any of these are cheap, but to my ears the TLM103 does really well in this comparison. The TLM103 seems a bit darker… Does it have less comparative presence boost?
You must be confused, the TLM103 has by far the biggest upper mid range and presence boost out of the 3 mics
@@DMKahn Typo, I meant the less expensive TLM102.
@@johnkotches8320 102 doesnt have the presence boost so its darker. 102 freq response and self noise is more aligned with 87...where as the 103 isnt really like the 87 at all