A definitive legend for decades, the nickel Neumann U 87 Ai Studio Set is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone offering the timeless and special sound that remains highly coveted for singers, voice-over artists, announcers, producers, and recording engineers to this day. By combining the same dual-diaphragm capsule design as the heralded U 67 with FET circuitry and a transformer-balanced output, the U 87 Ai retains the voicing that made the U 87 famous while ensuring low-noise performance and optimal signal purity.
The Gold Standard
The Neumann U 87 Ai may be the best-known and most frequently used studio microphone the world over. Its smooth and refined sound is as iconic as its elegant exterior design. The U 87 Ai is the standard microphone for speech and vocals. Three polar patterns plus pad and low-cut options make it adaptable to a wide range of applications.
Omnipresent and Special
The Neumann U 87 Ai is a true legend. Introduced in 1967, it has shaped the sound of countless hit records for the past 50 years. And when those hits were announced on the radio, many a DJ sat before a U 87 Ai.The U 87 Ai is the epitome of a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Its tapered body and iconic design have become part of the collective consciousness—this is what a studio microphone looks like. The same is true of its sound; the U 87 Ai represents studio quality and has become the gold standard by which other microphones are measured.
NEUMAN U87AI Studio Set
Key Specifications
Microphone Type
Large Diaphragm
Polar Pattern
Cardioid / Figure-8 / Omnidirectional
Element Type
Condenser
Controls
Low Cut/HPF, Pad, Polar Pattern
Frequency Response
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum SPL
117 dB (Cardioid, 1 kHz, 0.5% THD) 127 dB (Cardioid, 1 kHz, 0.5% THD, with Pad)
Analog Output
1x XLR 3-Pin Male
Power Sources
Phantom Power
Microphone
Microphone Type
Large Diaphragm
Polar Pattern
Cardioid / Figure-8 / Omnidirectional
Element Type
Condenser
Sound Field
Mono
Orientation
Side Address
Controls
Low Cut/HPF, Pad, Polar Pattern
Pad
-10 dB
Circuitry
Solid-State (FET)
Performance
Frequency Response
20 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum SPL
117 dB (Cardioid, 1 kHz, 0.5% THD) 127 dB (Cardioid, 1 kHz, 0.5% THD, with Pad)
15 dB (Omnidirectional, A-Weighted)
12 dB (Cardioid, A-Weighted)
14 dB (Figure-8, A-Weighted)
26 dB (Omnidirectional, CCIR)
23 dB (Cardioid, CCIR)
25 dB (Figure-8, CCIR)