Product Information

U87Ai Large Diaphragm

Georg Neumann GmbH, • Ollenhauerstr. 98 • 13403 Berlin • • Tel.: +49 (30) 417724-0 • Fax: +49 (30) 417724-50 E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] • Website: www.neumann.com he U 87 is probably the best known and most widely used Neumann studio micro- phone. It is equipped with a large dual-diaphragm capsu- le with three directional pat- terns: omnidirectional, car- dioid 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 pressure levels up to 127 dB without distortion.

Furthermore, the low fre- quency response can be reduced to compen- sate for proximity effect.

Applications

The U 87 Ai condenser microphone is a large diaphragm microphone with three polar pat- terns and a unique and transient re- sponse 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 micro- phone for all types of music and speech.

Acoustic features

The U 87 Ai is addressed from the front, mar- ked with the Neumann logo.

The frequency response of the cardioid and figure-8 directio- nal characteristics are very flat for frontal sound incidence, even in the upper frequency Features range. • Variable large diaphragm • Switchable low frequency The microphone can be used microphone roll-off very close to a sound source • Pressure-gradient transducer • Switchable 10 dB pre- without the sound becoming with double membrane capsule attenuation unnaturally harsh. • The studio microphone classic • Ideal as main and as support • Three directional characteri- microphone in the most By means of a high-pass filter stics: omni, cardioid, figure-8 differing recording situations interferences through subsonic and low are reduced remarkebly. U 87 Ai Large Diaphragm Microphone

Polar patterns Application Hints The dual-diaphragm capsule is elastically • For universal use mounted and protected by a • The classical studio mic for vocalists (soloists and large headgrille. background vocalists) A switch below the headgrille • Announcer’s mic for broadcasting, dubbing, selects the three directional voice-over patterns: omnidirectional, car- • Overhead dioid and figure-8. • Spot mic for A window above this switch - wind instruments - strings (especially cello and double bass) shows the symbol of the selec- - piano ted characteristic. - percussion • Note: To record instruments with very high levels we recommend our mics with Electrical features TLM circuitry

The letter A in the name indicates a more re- These are just some of the most common cent generation, as compared to the U 87 i applications. We recommend additional experimen- that were built from 1967 to tation to gain maximum use from this microphone. 1986. Modifications apply to the electronic components of the microphone only; the cap- sule remained unchanged. The present-day circuitry increases the ope- rational headroom of the U 87 Ai by supplying the bias voltages for the capsule through a re- Delivery Range duced resistance. The result is a higher sensi- Microphone U 87 Ai (mt) tivity of 10 dB for identical sound pressure le- Wooden box vels, and an improved S/N ratio of 3 dB. Catalog No. U 87 Ai ...... ni ...... 07022 Filter and attenuation U 87 Ai mt ...... blk ...... 07023 A switch located at the rear attenuates the sen- Selection of Accessories sitivity by 10 dB. When this switch is activa- ted, the microphone accepts Battery supply, BS 48 i ...... blk ...... 06494 Power supply, N 48 I-2 (230 V) ...... blk ...... 06500 sound pressure levels up to Power supply, N 48 I-2 (117 V) ...... blk ...... 06502 127 dB (equivalent to a sound Power supply, N 48 I-2 pressure of 45 Pa) without dis- (without plug-in mains unit) ...... blk ...... 06504 tortion. Auditorium hanger, MNV 87...... ni ...... 06804 An additional switch at the Auditorium hanger, MNV 87 mt ...... blk ...... 06806 rear allows to change the Elastic suspension, EA 87 ...... ni ...... 07297 microphone's cutoff frequency. Elastic suspension, EA 87 mt ...... blk ...... 07298 This reduces low frequency in- terference directly at the input Stand mount swivel, SG 367 mt ...... blk ...... 06145 of the microphone amplifier. Popscreen, PS 20 ...... blk ...... 07346 This setting also compensates Windscreen, WS 87 ...... blk ...... 06753 for the unavoidable bass boost Microphone cable, IC 4 mt that occurs with all pressure (with stand mount swivel) ...... blk ...... 06557 gradient transducers when they are used at close distance A complete survey and detailed descriptions of all (proximity effect). accessories are contained in the accessories catalog. The cardioid characteristic maintains a smooth frequency Meaning of color codes: response at a distance of 30 to blk = black 40 cm, the figure-8 characteristic even at a di- ni = nickel stance of 15 to 20 cm. °

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Technical Data

Acoustical operating principle ...... Pressure gradient transducer Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation...... 127 dB Directional pattern ...... Omnidirectional, cardioid, figure-8 Maximum output voltage ...... 390 mV Frequency range ...... 20 Hz...20 kHz Dynamic range of the microphone amplifier DIN/IEC 651 ...... 105 dB Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm ...... 20/28/22 mV/Pa* Supply voltage ...... 48 V ± 4 V Rated impedance ...... 200 ohms Current consumption ...... 0.8 mA Rated load impedance ...... 1000 ohms Matching connector ...... XLR3F Equivalent SPL CCIR 486-3 ...... 26/23/25 dB* Weight ...... 500 g Equivalent SPL DIN/IEC 651 ...... 15/12/14 dB-A* Diameter ...... 56 mm S/N ratio CCIR 486-3 ...... 68/71/69 dB* Length ...... 200 mm S/N ratio DIN/IEC 651 ...... 79/82/80 dB* Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% ...... 117 dB (cardioid) * Omni-directional / cardioid / figure-8

Errors excepted, subject to changes • Printed in Germany • Publ. 11/00 58152/A03