Apex 460 vs Neumann U87ai hear for yourself

[dintymoore]

... Barely ever used 'em. Honest. Don't get me wrong - They're wonderful mics for picking up exactly what's in front of them.

But seriously - How often do you actually want to pick up exactly what's in front of them...?

I've used U87's a lot - my main mic for 20 years. My opinion is that it's not flat at all and seriously modifies the tone. Here's the graph:

It would be the first mic I would buy if I didn't have any mics because you can do anything with it and I've yet to hear it sound bad. I would be very surprised if it wasn't the most commonly used pro mic for lead vocals on major recordings in the last 30 years.

 

[mustardeer]

hmm, ok dinty maybe you're judging the singing? it was the first take of an unfinished original song, it wasn't supposed to be good.. also the room is not treated so i had to stay pretty close to the mic. Also the gain was set at +45 on the preamp, should have been higher but i was too lazy to redo.. If you have tips i'm all ears not sure what else i could have done, it was meant to test the mics only. If you owned U87 for 20 yrs you should be able to tell it apart from a two hundred dollar mic, but no pressure.

 

[WhiteStrat]

My guess: A is the Neumann; B is the Apex.

 

[dintymoore]

I did listen and my call is that neither is a U87 - they both sound like garbage.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I did listen and my call is that neither is a U87 - they both sound like garbage.

You should come out of your shell and just say what you mean.

 

[dintymoore]

You should come out of your shell and just say what you mean.

Hey, someone farts into a mic like they're ordering a milkshake at 4 am at Jack in the Box after 25 bong hits and some E and they expect me to listen to it?

 

[WhiteStrat]

Hey, someone farts into a mic like they're ordering a milkshake at 4 am at Jack in the Box after 25 bong hits and some E and they expect me to listen to it?

Sounded more like Taco Bell to me.

 

[mustardeer]

Cool sounds like i got my first fan i didnt know i had any. Dinty, thx for your support and check your mail for a t-shirt.

 

[RawDepth]

B is the Apex.
A is the Neumann.

I can hear obvious differences in the upper mids and highs. The Apex always needs de-essing. (And I am listening on cheapo computer speakers.)

 

[mustardeer]

wow Raw, this is getting interesting.
So far 2 people think A is Apex and two think B is Apex.
As soon as we get the 5th vote I'll post which is which.

and Dinty, the only one inside the box is you, leave Jack alone.

 

[jlewis]

im listening on headphones and I think B is the neumann it sounds richer than A.

 

[dintymoore]

you might want to check your connections

 

[mustardeer]

congrats to:

IDO
MORESOUND
JLEWIS

They guessed it right:
B=Neumann U87ai
A=Apex 460

 

[RawDepth]

Wait a minute...was B listed first? Did the order change? Now I am confused.

(Oh well, never mind. It doesn't matter anyway.)

 

[mustardeer]

yeah B was listed first so technically you got it right too.

So I guess 4 out of 5 people got it right. Not bad.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Well screw it...that's what I was trying to say too. I didn't realize they were listed in reverse order.

In any case, I'll keep my U87. Makes a great doorstop.












(No. I don't have a U87. Someone get the defib machine for Dinty. )

 

[mustardeer]

WhiteStrat, that's what i thought you were trying to say, pardon miscommunication. And I'm sure you were listening to it on your iphone. 5 out of 5 it is.

I'll keep the Neumann anyway. My friends will take my set up more seriously and will let me record them. All my musician friends know and respect that mic. I think that's one mic everyone's heard of. Not sure if I should keep the Apex, I have 5 pro mics already.

 

[RawDepth]

The Apex is a good candidate for upgrading the tube.

Or you could always have it Hot-Rodded by one of the resident expert modders. They do good work.

 

[mustardeer]

know anyone in Hollywood or anywhere in Los Angeles?
I've heard there are so many ways to mod the apex 460, all that information was stressing me out. If someone knows what s/he doing i'd mod it.

 

[dastrick]

I'll keep the Neumann anyway. My friends will take my set up more seriously and will let me record them.

They should want you to record them because you do a good job, not because you have a $3000 mic.

Like someone said earlier...you can make crap with $5 worth of gear or $5000 worth of gear. In the end, it's still crap.