OK. I was a little confused by your initial statement that seemed to equate U87's with 414's. I thought you then explained that you didn't really mean they were all that much alike, and I thanked you for the explanation. Now it appears you want to engage in tedious hairsplitting. I'll cooperate for a miunute or two, but am really not all that interested in arguing about just how much these two mics, which we both know are quite different, have in common...
So I'll make my point, and then if you wish, you can have the last word. I won't inflict this silly argument on anyone else for longer than that. If you think we should discuss it any further, you can PM me.
Dot said:
How do you figure they don't have the same features? They both have a three-pattern diaphragm, pad and roll-off. Seems like they have exactly the same features to me. What am I missing?
The 414's have four patterns, not three. At least all the ones I've owned and/or seen do. I can't speak for the original "C" version, as I don't own one, and last time I saw one I didn't look that carefully. In addition, the 414's have two pad values (-10 and -20 dB) and two roll-off frequencies (75 Hz and 150 Hz), while the U87 has only one of each.
If you had said "they have some similar features" I suppose I couldn't argue. But "exactly the same features?" C'mon. (And you could have included lots of other features that STILL wouldn't make them exactly alike, e.g. both side address, both made of metal, both use phantom power, both designed in Europe, etc.)
Dot said:
As far as pricing, in the big picture they're not that far apart. And they used to be closer in price with the original C and EB [414] and the pre-Ai [87] models. Both of these mics have been around long before budget LDC's. In fact before the mid 90's, the 414 and the 87 were the good budget LDC's available.
414's are available brand new for around $800 if you shop around. I bought a used EB version not long ago for $500. I haven't priced U87's lately, but I would have a hard time believing they are anywhere near that cheap.
Your point about the fact that they were the only good budget condensers of the early 1990's is not quite correct.
The TLM193 was Neumann's budget condenser, not the U87. And you would have to also include mics made by CAD/Equitek in the budget collection of that time period.
Dot said:
Have you worked with any 414's or any 87's, littledog? Which versions and what applications?
There's a truckload of tempting comebacks that passed through my mind on reading that last remark:
(No, I don't actually work with mics. I just buy them and hang them on the walls for decoration...)
(Applications? Well, I particularly like to use the U87 as a counterweight...)
(Versions? I always use the x-rated versions. I don't believe in censorship...)
But if you'll pretend that I didn't say any of the above half-witted comebacks, I'll pretend you didn't ask the semi-insulting question and we'll end on a high note.
