Neumann U87AI Studio Set

Neumann U 87 Ai Studio Set – The Voice of Modern Recording

There are microphones, and there is the U 87. Introduced in 1967 and refined into the current Ai version, Neumann’s large-diaphragm condenser has captured more era-defining vocal performances than any microphone in history, and it remains the first name engineers reach for when the take has to be right. The Studio Set pairs the microphone with the EA 87 elastic suspension shockmount and Neumann’s wooden case – the complete, ready-for-the-stand package of the most recognisable silhouette in recording.

Key features

• K 87 dual-diaphragm condenser capsule, hand-built in Berlin
• Three switchable polar patterns: omni, cardioid, figure-8
• -10 dB pad and low-cut filter switches on the body
• 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response
• Low 12 dB-A self-noise (cardioid) for quiet sources
• Handles 117 dB SPL, 127 dB with the pad engaged
• EA 87 elastic suspension shockmount included in the set
• The studio reference against which vocal microphones are judged

Three patterns, every session covered

The dual-diaphragm K 87 capsule lets one microphone be three: cardioid for the focused, present sound that defines modern vocal recording; omnidirectional for natural room capture and closely-miked instruments; figure-8 for duets, mid-side techniques and rejection of sound from the sides. A single U 87 Ai covers vocal, acoustic guitar, piano, overhead and voice-over duties that would otherwise justify a locker of specialised microphones.

Why it became the benchmark

The U 87’s midrange is the story: present without harshness, detailed without sterility, flattering to voices while remaining truthful enough for broadcast and classical work. The Ai generation’s electronics lowered the noise floor and raised headroom over the original, so the same character survives quieter sources and louder ones alike. Engineers learn its sound once and read every other microphone against it for the rest of their careers.

The Studio Set, complete

The EA 87 shockmount isolates the microphone from stand-borne vibration – essential when a capsule this sensitive shares a room with foot traffic and floor resonance – and the wooden case stores the instrument properly between sessions. At this level a microphone is a decades-long asset; the set is specified to keep it one.

For studios equipping a flagship vocal chain, and for artists building the room they will record in for years, the U 87 Ai Studio Set is not a purchase to deliberate over for long. It is the reference, bought once.