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| Neumann U87 vs. CM-87 |
In our current economy, it is difficult to stay on top of the recording industry, buying the latest gear or owning some of the best gear out there. For instance, the legendary microphone, which almost each known engineer has in his or her arsenal, is the Neumann U87. The price of this microphone starts at $3,000 and keeps going up as newer versions are made. Not everyone can afford to buy this type of microphone. Luckily, the patent rights expired for this microphone and Advanced Audio Microphones took advantage of this. They created an almost identical twin to the Neumann U87. They call this microphone the CM-87. You can purchase this cheap professional microphone for $380. You may think this might be a cheap knock off, but it is far from it. I compared this microphone to the original and I had a hard time trying to find differences between them. Advanced Audio Microphones even lets you add parts to customize your microphone to the sound you are looking for. The CM-87 also includes the three polar patterns like the Neumann U87, which are Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and Figure 8. As you can see by the frequency charts below, they are very similar.
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| CM-87 Frequency Chart |
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| Neumann U87 Frequency Chart |
You can check the bottom links to compare the specs from the Neumann and Advanced audio Microphones website. You will find out that they are identical even with their internal parts. You might still be thinking it sounds too good to be true, but you can check the reviews on these microphones from some of pros in the industry. The CM-87 was also featured in Tape Op magazine where they give a run down on the microphone and Advanced Audio Microphone. Therefore, if you are on a budget and need to acquire a microphone that sounds amazing then you should try the CM-87.
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While I have owned, used and enjoyed the AA mics, the CM87 is not an exact copy of the Neumann 87. The components are not the same. The capsule is not the same. They do not sound the same. If you open the two up and compare them for yourself, you will see the truth. Also, TapeOp has not reviewed this mic. They reviewed the 47.
ReplyDeleteBrent is correct. The CM87 is not an exact copy.
ReplyDeleteIt is my version of an improvement to the venerable U87.
The CM87 varies in the following areas:
The U87 has a single class "A"fet ciruit driving a 10:1 ratio output tranformer and the fet can only swing 21 volts. The fet must be a high gain 2N3819 or equiv.
The CM87 uses a two stage fet/discrete class "A" circuit with a 2.25:1 ratio tranformer much like the original 414eb. We use a 2SK170 medium gain fet and reduce the gain in the head amp yielding 14db headroom from the circuit. The output transistor swings 40 volts twice the U87 and the 2.25:1 has 14 less loss than the 10:1 in the Neumann. You are hear more tranformer and even order harmonic distortion in the Neumann which to be fair is quite pleasing.
The CM87 uses a custom 35mm K67 type capsule based on the work of John Peluso and Verner Ruvald's a retired physicist from Neumann who befriended John. The AK67 in the CM87 goes down at 1/2 an octave lower before roll-off. The AK67 has on average 2db less rise past 10khz.
The U87 uses a 32mm K67 capsule which is not quite as smooth through the midrange and has about 2db more rise above 10khz requiring the U87 de-emphasis circuit.
The CM87 does not have the de-emphasis circuit of the U87 and we believe with the slightly smoother response of the AK67 and the added headroom of the circuit does not require this and we leave this "hi frequency limiting" to the recording engineer if needed.
The CM87 was designed not only for voice work or as a Orchestra spot microphone but unlike the U87 can be utilized over the drums and in front of guitar amps.
Cheers, Dave
www.aamicrophones.com