u87 vs. Kiwi for "all pourpose" mic??

  • Thread starter Thread starter audiophilez
  • Start date Start date

U87 Vs. Kiwi for "all around" studio mic?

  • Neumann U87

    Votes: 10 58.8%

  • Blue Kiwi

    Votes: 7 41.2%
  • Total voters
    17
A

audiophilez

New member
I record mainly pop(Machelle Branch,kelly clarkson, cheyenne kimball type stuff) I am using a blue blueberry to record vocals, acoustic guitar, cello and piano mainly. I love it though I want the next step up. I am thinking of upgrading to a blue kiwi though in the somewhat similar price range, I know many people swear by the u87's, can anyone help me with some suggestions?
 
The U87 is a great mic. But it's not good on everything. It seems to be quite shrill on some voices while full on others. I really like it as a room mic, and for micing bass cabinets. As far as being an all purpose LDC, probably not, but you definately wouldn't regret having one.
 
I find that the newer versions of the U87 are the ones that can become 'shrill'....Also, this mic is very effected by its preamp. Most always a good thing as it allows for color from other devices in the chain, not just the room or the mic only. Before 1985, this mic made its rep as a studio standard for a reason.
 
Yeah the U87 i have experience is from the 80s and I do find it to be shrill at times, but I haven't gotten the chance to use it with a great pre yet.
 
If you can get ahold of a pre ai version U87, you will not regret it. Just make sure it is in good shape. Personally, there are not many mics out there that make a better all around mic. I love the Kiwi, but all around is not how I would describe it.
 
I own a pair of U87s, and dont find them at all to be "all arounders"

I have a pair of Gefell m930s that meet that criteria for me, as well as a pair of AT 4050s, but the u87 to me is fairly limited, IMHO..
 
The polls seems to show they are pretty close competitors! Figuring I dont know if I am prepared to go scouring vast mountain ranges in search of a vintage u87(witch probably wont be the cheapest mic in the world), I think the kiwi will work for now. Perhaps I will pick up a u87 at some other point to add to my arsenal!
 
...I see this is an old poll from 2006 but just as a point of reference, things have changed quite a bit in just a few years...if you're caught up in the "name game" then the Neumann is always an option, but honestly, there are some very inexpensive options that are coming available to give incredible "bang for the buck"...

...the serious mic modders have known for some time now why the chinese mics tend to have harsh, hyped top-end that make them difficult to track with...and the problem has less to do with the capsules and more to do with mismatched circuitry (the U87's circuit is designed to compensate for a capsule that is tuned for brightness)...

...JJ Audio mods the popular MXL V67G with a circuit and FET very similar to the U87's...I own one and it sounds exceptional...soundfiles are available comparing it to the real thing...it is IMHO, much better on vocals than the Blueberry, which has a bit of a scooped midrange (smiley face response chart)...

...Front End Audio now sells the JJ Audio modded mic on their website:
http://www.frontendaudio.com/JJ-Audio-MXL-V67G-Modified-Microphone-p/9999-07949.htm

...MXL has also taken notice of these modded mics and has responded by essentially "pre-modding" at the factory some of their older models...the one that is causing buzz is the new MXL 2003A which actually uses this same circuit and FET, resulting in a sound very similar to the U87...I know you've heard this before from some of the mic companies like Studio Projects, etc...
but this time it's not the company's claim, it's respected audio techs like Michael Joly making the claim (see the thread below about midway down the page):
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/395643-best-budget-mics-my-recommendations-12.html

...I have been using these modded mics for a while now (after years of using U87s in the studio for vocal tracking) and I'm telling you, the gap between the modded mics and the classic German mics is narrowing...

...hearing is believing...I highly recommend checking out both JJ Audio and Michael Joly's Oktavamod for cost effective options that offer great value to today's home studio owners... ;)

http://jjaudiomic.com/
http://www.oktavamodshop.com/

...that's my JJ Audio V67G (w/U87 mod) on the left in the photo below:
 

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I have an older (1970) U87 modded by Stephen Paul. I have never heard it sound bad on anything. Extremely versatile - vox, drums, gtr, tpt, sax whatever it always makes me happy.

I don't know if they are still doing the mods, I know some of his buddies kept the business going, although I've heard of 1 - 2 year turn around times! :( If you listen to old Peter Cetera and Air Supply stuff (don't really like the songs that much) you can hear Stephen's mods even over the speakers at Safeway.
 
BigRay said:
I have a pair of Gefell m930s that meet that criteria for me, as well as a pair of AT 4050s, but the u87 to me is fairly limited, IMHO..
Click to expand...

Yup, the U87 is so "limited" that its delivered consistent vocals for decades with a ton of platimum records to back it up. Not only does it have a solid track record, but it's a standard in which other mics are measured against, for better or worse. An end all mic? No. But certainly not limited, based on its history.
 
How to choose between 2 mics:

1) Make sure you can return them.

2) Order both and try them out.

3) Send the one you don't like back.


Seriously, you have to audition high-end mics and instruments.

Just asking around won't help you.

Your setup and voice are going to be different than everyone else's.....
 
kidvybes said:
...I
...JJ Audio mods the popular MXL V67G with a circuit and FET very similar to the U87's...I own one and it sounds exceptional...soundfiles are available comparing it to the real thing...it is IMHO, much better on vocals than the Blueberry, which has a bit of a scooped midrange (smiley face response chart)...
:
Click to expand...

Hey I just went on the blue website and checked the response chart of the blueberry.
http://www.bluemic.com/blueberry/
It doesn't seem to have a scooped midrange. I believe you that it does, but I'm just wondering do you know what causes that?
 
OK, a resurrected 4 year old thread. I use the Kiwi as my main vocal mic, but that's not because it's an "all around" mic. It's because it likes me. Every woman singer in my life (and there are several) prefer the U87, or for that matter, an Oktava MK319, Rode NTK, AKG C414, or a bunch of other mics that cost a lot less. No, I wouldn't call the Kiwi an all purrpose mic, but they will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.-Richie
 
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