Georg Neumann GmbH
Neumann U 87 Ai
Large-diaphragm condenser with three patterns (omni, cardioid, figure-8)
Power Phantom, 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 3
- Sensitivity
- −31.1 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 88%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 92%
- Self-noise
- 12 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 74%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 75%
- Max SPL
- 117 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 3%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 3%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 1986
vs 75 side-address condensers
More output than 88% of 75 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 51% of 99 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 6% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
1 of 2; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the manual, p. 16.
Free field, IEC 60268-4, tolerance ±2 dB (as printed). Distance not stated.
That unit is from the Multi-Angle, Multi-Distance Microphone Impulse Response Dataset (CC BY 4.0), measured at 1.25 m and set to 0 dB at 1 kHz, from 136 Hz up. Not the manufacturer's curve.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the manual, p. 16.
Free field, IEC 60268-4. 125 Hz to 1 kHz drawn on the left half, 2 to 16 kHz on the right; the pattern is taken as symmetric. 5 dB per ring, centre -25 dB.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Values per pattern are printed as omni/cardioid/figure-8; the cardioid value is the main one here. | ||
| Sensitivity | −31.1 dBV/Pa (28 mV/Pa)cardioid, 1 kHz into 1 kohm; ±1 dB; also −34 dBV/Pa, omni; also −33.2 dBV/Pa, figure-8. Printed as 20/28/22 mV/Pa; converted with 20·log10(mV/1000). | p. 3 |
| Self-noise | 12 dB(A)cardioid; IEC 60268-1, A-weighted RMS; also 15 dB(A), omni; also 14 dB(A), figure-8. | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 23 dBcardioid; CCIR 468-3 quasi-peak; also 26 dB, omni; also 25 dB, figure-8 | |
| Max SPL | 117 dB SPLcardioid, less than 0.5% THD; also 127 dB SPL, with pre-attenuation. THD of the microphone amplifier at an input equivalent to the capsule output at that SPL. | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 82 dBcardioid; re 94 dB SPL, A-weighted; also 79 dB, omni; also 80 dB, figure-8; also 71 dB, cardioid, CCIR; also 68 dB, omni, CCIR; also 69 dB, figure-8, CCIR | |
| Output impedance | 200 ohmrated | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmrated load | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"Frequency range 20 Hz...20 kHz"; p. 2 adds that the response extends below 20 Hz. | |
| Powering | phantom, 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938) | |
| Current draw | 0.8 mA | |
| Low cut | off, onSwitchable high-pass filter on the back; frequency and slope not stated (the response graphs show it). | p. 2 |
| Pad | −10 dB"The pre-attenuation switch reduces the microphone sensitivity by 10 dB"; switch on the back. | |
| Connector | XLR-3Balanced transformer output; matching connector XLR 3 F. Pin 1 ground, pin 2 +, pin 3 -. | p. 3 |
| Weight | 500 g | |
| Dimensions | 200 × 56 mmLength × diameter. | |
| Supplied accessories | Wooden boxU 87 Ai (mt). The Set adds the EA 87 elastic suspension; the Stereo Set is two mics, two EA 87, dust covers and an aluminium case. | p. 2 |
| Max. output voltage | -6 dBu | p. 3 |
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C | |
| Minimum operating time with BS 48 i battery supply | approx. 20 hours | |
| Low-cut use | With the high-pass filter on: address from 30-40 cm in cardioid, 15-20 cm in figure-8 | p. 2 |
| Pattern change | Noise may rise for about 30 seconds after changing the pattern, while the capsule recharges | |
| Cable length | Up to about 300 m without effect on the frequency response | |
| Selected accessories | EA 87 elastic suspension (007297), MNV 87 auditorium hanger, DS 120 and SG 367 mounts, PS 15 / PS 20 a popscreens, WS 87 windscreen, BS 48 i battery supply, N 248 power supply, IC 3 mt cable | p. 3 |
| Versions | U 87 Ai and U 87 Ai mt (the manual covers both) | p. 2 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 1986 | |
Documents
- U 87 Ai operating instructions
- Multi-Angle, Multi-Distance Microphone Impulse Response DatasetJuan Carlos Franco Hernández, Bogdan Bacila, Tim Brookes, Enzo De Sena, University of Surrey
- Neumann U 87 Ai | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.