Product Information

U 87 Ai
Large Diaphragm
Microphone

www.neumann.com

Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin • Ollenhauerstr. 98 • 13403 Berlin • Germany • Tel.: +49 (30) 417724-0 • Fax: +49 (30) 417724-50
E-Mail: headoffice@neumann.com, engineering@neumann.com, catalog-info@neumann.com • Web: www.neumann.com

he U 87 is probably the best known
and most widely used Neumann studio microphone. It is equipped with alarge dual-diaphragm capsulewith three directional patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8. These are
selectable with a switch below
the headgrille.
A 10 dB attenuation switch islocated 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 formost general purpose applications in studios,for broadcasting, film and television.
The U 87 Ai is used as a main microphone fororchestra 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 arevery flat for frontal sound incidence, even in the upper frequency range.

Features• Variable large diaphragmmicrophone• Switchable low frequency
roll-off• Pressure-gradient transducer
with double membrane capsule• Switchable 10 dB preattenuation• The studio microphone classic• Ideal as main and as support
microphone in the mostdiffering recording situations• Three directional characteristics: omni, cardioid, figure-8

The microphone can be usedvery close to a sound source
without the sound becoming
unnaturally harsh.
By means of a high-pass filter
interferences through subsonicand low frequencies are reduced remarkebly.

U 87 Ai

Polar patterns
Application Hints
The dual-diaphragm capsule is elasticallymounted and protected by alarge headgrille.
A switch below the headgrilleselects the three directional
patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8.

• For universal use• The classical studio mic for vocalists (soloists andbackground vocalists)• Announcer’s mic for broadcasting, dubbing,voice-over• Overhead

A window above this switch
shows the symbol of the selected characteristic.

• Spot mic for- wind instruments- strings (especially cello and double bass)- piano- percussion

Electrical features• Note: To record instruments with very high soundpressure levels we recommend our mics with
TLM circuitry

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 to127 dB (equivalent to a soundpressure 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 to40 cm, the figure-8 characteristic even at a distance of 15 to 20 cm.

These are just some of the most commonapplications. We recommend additional experimentation to gain maximum use from this microphone.

Delivery Range
Microphone U 87 Ai (mt) in Wooden box
Stereo-set: 2x U 87 Ai (mt) Microphone, 2x
EA 87 (mt) Elastic suspension in aluminium case

Catalog No.
U 87 Ai ................................................................ ni ......... 07022
U 87 Ai mt ........................................................ blk ...... 07023
U 87 Ai Stereo-set ....................................... ni ......... 08505
U 87 Ai mt Stereo-set ............................... blk ...... 08506

Selection of Accessories
Battery supply, BS 48 i ............................. blk ...... 06494
Power supply, N 248 (Euro) ................ blk ...... 08537
Power supply, N 248 (US) .................... blk ...... 08538
Power supply, N 248 (UK) ................... blk ...... 08539
Auditorium hanger, MNV 87 ................ ni ......... 06804
Auditorium hanger, MNV 87 mt ........ blk ...... 06806
Elastic suspension, EA 87 ...................... ni ......... 07297
Elastic suspension, EA 87 mt .............. blk ...... 07298
Stand mount swivel, SG 367 mt ........ blk ...... 06145
Popscreen, PS 20 a ..................................... blk ...... 08488
Windscreen, WS 87 .................................... blk ...... 06753
Microphone cable, IC 4 mt ..................... blk ...... 06557
A complete survey and detailed descriptions of allaccessories are contained in the accessories
catalog.
Meaning of color codes: blk = black, ni = nickel

°°°Technical Data
Acoustical operating principle ................................. Pressure gradient transducer
Directional pattern ............................................. Omnidirectional, cardioid, figure-8
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 ..................................................................................... 1000 ohms
Equivalent SPL CCIR 468-3 ............................................................... 26/23/25 dB*
Equivalent SPL DIN/IEC 651 ........................................................ 15/12/14 dB-A*
S/N ratio CCIR 468-3 ............................................................................. 68/71/69 dB*
S/N ratio DIN/IEC 651 .......................................................................... 79/82/80 dB*
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% .................................................... 117 dB (cardioid)

Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation ........................... 127 dB
Maximum output voltage ................................................................................... 390 mV
Dynamic range of the microphone amplifier DIN/IEC 651 ........ 105 dB
Supply voltage ...................................................................................................... 48 V ± 4 V
Current consumption ............................................................................................... 0.8 mA
Matching connector ................................................................................................... XLR3F
Weight .................................................................................................................................. 500 gDiameter .......................................................................................................................... 56 mm
Length ............................................................................................................................ 200 mm* Omni-directional / cardioid / figure-8Errors excepted, subject to changes • Printed in Germany • Publ. 03/05 58152/A04