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Neumann U
87 Ai Switchable Studio Microphone |
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Product Code: U87Ai
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The Neumann
U 87 Ai - voted as THE best microphone
The readers of the SOUND ON SOUND magazine have voted: U 87 Ai - the BEST
MICROPHONE, announced during the Winter NAMM show 2012 in Anaheim, California.
The SOS award went to products, that "have made our lives in the studio all the
more enjoyable". It is a further evidence for the reputation of the U 87 Ai as
the world famous, professional standard studio condenser microphone. Until today
the U 87 sets the mark in the microphone industry by which all others are
measured.
The U 87 presents a wide range of features and versatility that make it to one
of the most desirable mics available. Our users are recognising the microphone
immediately by its distinctive design. Well-known for its warm and well balanced
characteristics - your perfect choice as vocal microphone for all types of music
and speech. The usage as main microphone for orchestra recordings or as spot mic
for single instruments make it the most general-purpose microphone - in studios,
for broadcasting, film and television.
The U 87* is equipped with a large dual-diaphragm capsule with three directional
patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8. These are selectable with a
switch below the headgrille.
A 10 dB attenuation switch is located on the rear. It enables the microphone to
handle sound pressure levels up to 127 dB without distortion.
Furthermore, the low frequency response can be reduced to compensate for
proximity effect.
Applications
The U 87 Ai condenser microphone is a large diaphragm microphone with three
polar patterns and a unique frequency and transient response characteristic.
Users recognize the microphone immediately by its distinctive design. It is a
good choice for most general purpose applications in studios, for broadcasting,
film and television.
The U 87 Ai is used as a main microphone for orchestra recordings, as a spot mic
for single instruments, and extensively as a vocal microphone for all types of
music and speech.
Acoustic features
The U 87 Ai is addressed from the front, marked with the Neumann logo. The
frequency response of the cardioid and figure-8 directional characteristics are
very flat for frontal sound incidence, even in the upper frequency range. The
microphone can be used very close to a sound source without the sound becoming
unnaturally harsh. By means of a high-pass filter interferences through subsonic
and low frequencies are reduced remarkably.
Polar patterns
The dual-diaphragm capsule is elastically mounted and protected by a large
headgrille. A switch below the headgrille selects the three directional
patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8. A window above this switch
shows the symbol of the selected characteristic.
Electrical features
The letter A in the name indicates a more recent generation, as compared to the
U 87 i microphones that were built from 1967 to 1986. Modifications apply to the
electronic components of the microphone only; the capsule remained unchanged.
The present-day circuitry increases the operational headroom of the U 87 Ai by
supplying the bias voltages for the capsule through a reduced resistance. The
result is a higher sensitivity of 10 dB for identical sound pressure levels, and
an improved S/N ratio of 3 dB.
Filter and attenuation
A switch located at the rear attenuates the sensitivity by 10 dB. When this
switch is activated, the microphone accepts sound pressure levels up to 127 dB
(equivalent to a sound pressure of 45 Pa) without distortion.
An additional switch at the rear allows to change the microphone's cutoff
frequency. This reduces low frequency interference directly at the input of the
microphone amplifier.
This setting also compensates for the unavoidable bass boost that occurs with
all pressure gradient transducers when they are used at close distance
(proximity effect).
The cardioid characteristic maintains a smooth frequency response at a distance
of 30 to 40 cm, the figure-8 characteristic even at a distance of 15 to 20 cm. |
�
Variable large diaphragm microphone
� Pressure-gradient transducer with double membrane capsule
� The studio microphone classic
� Three directional characteristics: omni, cardioid, figure-8
� Switchable low frequency roll-off
� Switchable 10 dB pre-attenuation
� Ideal as main and as support microphone in the most differing recording
situations |
| Acoustical operating
principle |
Pressure gradient transducer |
| Directional pattern |
Omnidirectional, cardioid, figure-8
plus |
| Frequency range |
20 Hz ... 20 kHz |
| Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1
kohm |
20/28/22 mV/Pa |
| Rated impedance |
200 ohms |
| Rated load impedance |
1 kohms |
| Equivalent noise level, CCIR |
26/23/25 dB |
| Equivalent noise level,
A-weighted |
15/12/14 dB-A |
| Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR (rel. 94 dB
SPL) |
68/71/69 dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted (rel. 94
dB SPL) |
79/82/80 dB |
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Maximum SPL for THD 0.5
% |
117 dB (cardioid) |
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Maximum SPL for THD 0.5 % with
preattenuation |
127 dB
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| Maximum output voltage for THD <
5% |
-1 dBu |
| Dynamic range of the microphone amplifier
(A-weighted) |
105 dB |
| Supply voltage (P48, IEC
61938) |
48 V ± 4 V |
| Current consumption (P48, IEC
61938) |
0.8 mA |
| Matching connector |
XLR3F |
| Weight |
500 g |
| Diameter |
56 mm |
| Length |
200 mm |
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