U87AI hmmm?

[R D Smith]

I thought the AKG sounded clearer/cleaner compared to the NT1. I would go with the AKG myself.

I have an NT1 that I use primarily for vocals and I usually cut some of the lows because it sounds too thick or maybe a little muddy with my voice. After listening to your take, it sounds very similar, so maybe it's not so much my voice, but the NT1.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Fwiw - I listened closely to both of those clips in a/b fashion- I also preferred the P420 clip. Smoother and more open to my ears.

BTW Rich - you have a nice voice.

 

[TalismanRich]

BTW Rich - you have a nice voice.

Thanks.

 

[CoolCat]

The AKG p420 is such a well built mic, its not like it sounds good but is made cheaply.but instead, it sounds good and is a heavy metal, nice sturdy headbasket grill, everything internally clean in a heavy cast metal body. the package included at todays clearance prices makes it an amazing value too.

just add off topic? lol, I went into the AKG rabbit hole "lite" a little with getting a 414, 214, WA14, 420.

the 420's like my Squire 51 guitars, so cheap there's no "money" to be worth selling. (unlike the U87ai which could be bit of cash always a possible sale)
Rich, your samples double confirmed for me 420's a "nice tuned" mic and gets really close on the U87 thing for cheap! thanks again.(U87AI was circuit board #6 )
420 will remain here.

the 414 is just a feel of quality and all the versatility its known for. (using podcasts to hear all the EB to P48 to XL to ULS to todays TL2 and XLS versions)
It was $700 but came in LTD version of 2007 made limited edition and Austria made !! and has shockmount, AKG pop-screen, foam, and case and papers, kind of collectors thing, of the XLS. Its sound to me more like my KSM32, its a neutral mic even more than the specs show its not flat on recording hacks. oh well, its crisp and clear, very well built. imo. (I'm keeping it as it near its 45 day trial end) but for some reason I like having all the switches and the sensitivity- voltage to capsule design is cool.

C214 seemed to be liked a lot by voice singers in podcasts. For $200 Used price, it came with a case ($39) and the AKG shockmount ($120) and Foam($25) and was impressive but seemed EQ'd-tuned to be crisp, sparkly, for voice. It has a Cardiod only and makes sense if a person likes that "EQ" or capsule, its a favorite and great deal Used Price like this one was. $200 with all the extras. I returned it but really only because I don't need so many mics. For the price, the shockmount and case cost would make the mic $50. amazing deals.

the WA14 was built well, the "EB version DIY." Its heavy and larger and it had its sound too. It was nosier but that's in a anechoic silent test which really isn't an issue if a guitar or instrument begins. $244 Used, it had two mic holders and a vinyl pouche and the WarmAudio very well done box. It didn't sound like the 214 or 414 and maybe a bit more like the 420, but not really. I wont have a EB to compare to with the discrete, transformer, brass ring...so I cant say. P420 has that hefty transformer too, maybe that "tunes" the mic some. I returned this as it was different enough from the 420 and 414. very nice sound and impressive build in a components way. Mint Used $244, amazing deal.

Im still searching around for EB ala transformer + C12 -ish capsules and listening to podcasts. Seems like the U87, every "inspired by" mic maker does a version of the
classic EB 414.

I wonder what was the history like when these were released? Anyone recall 414 memorys? Somehow it became kind of a main mic but like the U87 went through some changes too. Anyone recall the 2015 era, when Transformers were being yanked out and spat on and deemed "bad"? weird how that stuff happens one minute The Best, next minute noisy bad and yuk and then 40yrs later its some Magical Holy Grail Magical Transformer and brass ring capsule Majestic Microphone for $5932 used. lol

 

[TalismanRich]

Sweetwater has a history of the different 414 models. The logic behind the changes kind of make sense, but it does make things confusing if you haven't studied it.
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/history-akg-c414/

It's not as bad as all the variations that Gibson and Fender have made to the Les Paul and Stratocaster, but it's getting there! I'll bet there are over 50 different versions of the Les Paul. Thin neck, thick neck, 2 piece body, pancake body, one piece body, 3 piece body, all mahogany, weight relief, pickup changes, fretwire changes, Vintage Spec, Vintage Original Spec, Studio, SG, long tenon, short tenon, 14° headstock angle, 17° headstock angle.

Yeah, it's a Les Paul!

 

[CoolCat]

good article. agree, it sounds like the Neumann history of the U87i and all its circuit board changes and component changes, per some boards the capsule changing.

AKG article left out that after they tried simplifying the line to XLS and XLII, they then added the 214 and 314 ...lol

I find the history timeline interesting , the point in the P48 era especially, which is the 1980's.
414 microphones went to 48v and the FET mics, discrete components , most with transformers still , were born.
U87 era. AKG 414 - P48 v, mentioned in the article. The XLR plug!! noteworthy timestamp. So now 414 has a XLR plug and 48v phantom power!

a)The articles interesting explaining the decision to leave the C12 capsule because it was simply expensive to make and had many parts, enter the nylon capsule.
Business decisions not always based on sound. I wonder why would they mess with a known good thing? cut costs of course!

By 1980 the 48v only, 414. XLR and by mid 1980's the engineers start dabbling in noise floor reducing. This again can be good but changes the tones and sound. Then later in the 1980's it says "transformer removed"...ouch!! ? or better?
Seems the transformer vs distortions spec started earlier than I had thought. 1980's were a busy time for AKG it seems. Maybe Change was in the Air! and Old was bad?

1990's wasn't that the ADAT era, digital moving into the Studios, Reel to Reels out, Alesis ADAT VCR tape units ruled!
I do recall the 1990's-2000's when digital was called sterile and dry and so adding some warmth and distortion was being sold. ART MPA/VLA TUBE!, JOEMEEK VC, OPTO and TRANSFORMER!! return etc.

Now maybe the engineering, the SMD, the knowledge and tools, Tube mics are quieter, LDC with transformers and high sensitivity clean up the noise stuff.
It makes sense why the P420 might sound thicker with its large transformer and weight, and also be quiet, while the WARM "EB WA14" was well built but follows the spec and the noise floor is of the older ages. The XLS 414 is noticeably quieter than the "EB WA14". Its common people notice the U67RI, 47 tube mics as "noisy". 17dba, vs a 414 6dba, or NT1 silence.

but the noise floor of a HR room and the noise floor of a microphone becomes a non-problem at what level?
A) when the drums start playing
B) when a band starts playing
C) doing silent passages of a classical piece
D) my brains fried