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Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .
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Price
Average Price: $3,630
High-end/Boutique
$100
$401+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Neumann U87". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Neumann U87 Ai is the pinnacle of professional recording technology, adored by musicians and producers for its unparalleled sound quality and versatility. This large-diaphragm condenser microphone is renowned for its ability to capture any instrument or vocal with astounding realism. With its three directional patterns - omni, cardioid, and figure-8 - the U87 Ai can adapt to any recording situation, from intimate vocals to ensemble recordings.
A key feature of the U87 Ai is its flat frequency response and natural midrange, providing pristine sound recordings that truly shine. The mic’s articulate highs, rich lows, and open midrange bring warmth and character to any recording, making it a favorite in professional studios worldwide.
Built to last, the U87 Ai’s premium components and meticulous quality control ensure it will deliver consistent, high-quality recordings for years to come. The U87 Ai is not just a microphone, it's a legacy, a testament to over 90 years of Neumann's tradition of excellence in the world of audio technology.
Key Features:
- Large-diaphragm condenser microphone
- Three directional patterns: omni, cardioid, figure-8
- Flat frequency response and natural midrange
- Articulate highs, rich lows, and open midrange
- Switchable 10 dB pad and low-cut filter
- Extended 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response
- Pressure-gradient transducer with double-membrane capsule
- Requires +48-volt phantom power
- Handcrafted in Germany with meticulous quality control
Product specs
| Microphone Type | Condenser |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8 |
| Diaphragm Size | 1" (25.4mm) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Max SPL | 117dB (Cardioid), 127dB w/10dB Preattenuation |
| Output Impedance | 200 ohms |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | 82dB (Cardioid), 79dB (Omni), 80dB (Figure-8) |
| Self Noise | 12dB (Cardioid), 15dB (Omni), 14dB (Figure-8) |
| Low Cut Filter | Yes |
| Pads | -10dB |
| Connector | XLR |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs. |
| Included Accessories | Wooden Box |
FAQs
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What polar patterns does the Neumann U 87 Ai offer?
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The Neumann U 87 Ai features three selectable polar patterns: cardioid, omni, and figure-8, providing versatility for different recording scenarios.
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Is the Neumann U 87 Ai suitable for vocal recording?
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Yes, the Neumann U 87 Ai is highly regarded for vocal recording due to its warm sound and ability to add positive color, making it a favorite in professional studios.
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Does the Neumann U 87 Ai require phantom power?
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Yes, the Neumann U 87 Ai requires phantom power to operate, as it is a condenser microphone.
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What is the frequency response of the Neumann U 87 Ai?
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The Neumann U 87 Ai has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz, capturing a wide range of audio frequencies with clarity.
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Can the Neumann U 87 Ai handle high sound pressure levels?
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Yes, the Neumann U 87 Ai can handle a maximum SPL of 117dB in cardioid mode and up to 127dB with the 10dB preattenuation pad engaged, suitable for loud sources.
Videos
Podcastage
Neumann U87 Ai Mic Review / Test (Compared to NW700, AT2020, NT1, SM7b, KSM44a, C414 XLII)
Neumann U87 Ai Mic Review / Test (Compared to NW700, AT2020, NT1, SM7b, KSM44a, C414 XLII)
Podcastage
Get Real, Get the Original | The Neumann U 87 Ai
Georg Neumann GmbH
Neumann TLM103 vs Neumann U87 Ai Comparison (Versus Series)
Podcastage
Neumann U 87 Ai: The Industry Standard for World-class Sound
Sweetwater
Neumann U87 AI Demo On Acoustic Guitar
Vintage King
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional sound quality with perfect EQ spectrum
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Built-in noise gate-like quality minimizes background noise
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Accurate reproduction of source sound, setting studio standards
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Versatile, ideal for a range of vocals and instruments
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High-quality build and materials ensure durability
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Multipattern capability with high pass and attenuator adds flexibility
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Vintage models praised for deeper, natural sound
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Complements well with high-end preamps for superior sound
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Recognized as a classic, practical tool in professional studios
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Company provides excellent customer support
CONS
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Significantly more expensive than other high-quality options
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Newer U87Ai models considered to have less depth than vintage
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Requires regular maintenance, especially vintage models
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Some users find the price not fully justified by the performance
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Neumann U87.
Build quality
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The U87 Ai is often counterfeited; due diligence is required to verify authenticity, especially at unusually low prices.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The U87 Ai excels in capturing detailed sound, making room acoustics crucial; untreated spaces can severely impact the recording quality.
Source -
The U87 Ai is more suited for controlled environments; users warn that it will capture every detail, including unwanted room acoustics.
Source -
For loud vocals, raising the U87 and tilting it down can prevent harshness, offering a simple positional adjustment for better results.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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Heavy base boom mic stands are recommended to safeguard the investment of a U87 Ai.
Source
Mods and upgrades
Comparisons
Features and functionality
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The U87's built-in high-pass filter is considered too severe by some, leading to a thin sound; using a preamp HPF or plugin is recommended instead.
Source
User experience
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 9 Reviews and 90 Ratings
156
Originál U87 je totální klasika
A bavím se samozřejmě o originálu, který používám Neumann U87 ne o verzi Ai. Velmi rád používám tento vintage mikrofon, je to takový univerzál, který sice není vhodný pro každý hlas, ale rozhodně to můžete zkusit a z tohoto bodu se odrážet dále k hledání jiného mikrofonu pro daný úkol. Tento nástroj mám v mém nahrávacím studiu Sunteem records.
129
Fantastic
This is a workhorse mic and I really love how it sounds on acoustic guitars, female vocals, and drum overheads. I combine this with a UA-610 mic pre and it has a silkyness to it that is reminiscent of Frank Sinatra.
41029
similar capsule to the recordings of Frank with a U47 and U67... not the same as the Tele ELAM251 they put in front of him and way different than his earliest work when all that was available n the USA were ribbon mics, usualy RCAs... but you can't go wrong with any Neumann's, they come in different flavors but are al tasty
129
Amen to that!
275
Wonderful Mic
Used in conjuction with four other microphones to record an Orange OR120 for my band's debut album Also used to record vocals on the same record
236
A Classic
People love it so much for a reason. If you can I'd recommend tracking down a vintage model over a newer AI.
134
Best Microphone
Ever since I heard about the Neumann U87, I didn't believe that this would make my vocals sound so amazing.
Artist usage
Add artist
"I asked my sound guy, "Can we get a nice mic?" And he said, "Okay, we'll buy a [Neumann] U87. It's good for a lot of shit.""
Ed Sheeran can be seen singing into a Neumann U87 Condenser Mic in this video of him performing "Wayfaring Stranger" live in the studio. He is using the Nickel version of the U87 (a Matte Black version also exists).
Used on “Back in Black” with Celestion G12-65s, Neumann U67 & U87, and Schaffer-Vega Diversity System.
Used for the robot vocals and talkbox on "I Just Wanna Rock", as can be seen the mini-documentary of the recording of Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock starting at 3:52 and 4:41 respectively. Satriani explained the recording process in this September 25, 2008 Guitar World interview.
GW Tell me about how you recorded all of the voices on the soon-to-be audience-participation favorite “I Just Wanna Rock.”
SATRIANI [laughs] It wasn’t as easy as you would think. People assume recording large groups of people is no biggie: you just gather everybody ’round a mic and—boom!—you’re done. Not so. After three or four passes, if you’re trying to record a crowd, or if you’re trying to make what sounds like a crowd with multiple tracks, the vocals can get in the way of the music.
GW And the voice of the robot on that track?
SATRIANI That’s my voice, recorded three times and heavily distorted, going [in a robotic voice]: “What is your purpose?” That’s what the robot is saying to the crowd. I was using low-fi distortion, a SansAmp and a couple of different plug-ins to change the intensity of my voice. But on the part where the robot is getting into it and saying, “I wanna rock! I wanna rock with you!” I used my Talk Box. I’d been threatening to use my Talk Box for years, but I couldn’t remember how to position the tube in my mouth. So I called ZZ in the room and said, “You gotta help me figure out how to work this thing.”
GW I’m trying to imagine what goes through a 15-year-old’s head: “Aw, jeez. I gotta help my dad with his damn Talk Box!” Are you “cool dad” when this happens, or “dorky dad”?
SATRIANI [laughs] Dorky dad, definitely! Face it: the human race has to progress, and that means that the younger generation will always be cooler than their parents.
GW Even if their parents are in the next room playing with a Talk Box?
SATRIANI Especially if their parents are in the next room playing with a Talk Box! [laughs]
"... I use a 87"
Reply from a question during a livestream when his power went out and he just had a phone and candle
In the section of this article titled "Pulsing Bass", it denotes how Kevin Shields used a Neumann U87 on the bass guitar during the studio recordings.
Chris Cornell used Neumann U87 condenser microphones for studio recording. At least it was so in the Superunknown Soundgarden album in 1994.
It was revealed that Michael Beinhorn, a producer who worked on the production of the 4th album of the band, including quirky details like the voice of Chris was so intense and powerful that he could burn 5 Neumann U87 microphones with or her own voice!
** Other sources: ** https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-04-16-chris-cornells-voice-was-so-powerful-he-would-often-break-microphones/ https://metalwani.com/2019/04/soundgarden-producer-on-chris-cornell-his-voice-was-so-powerful-he-would-often-break-microphones.html
Gearslutz user "Lifted" claims that he worked in a studio that Kanye worked in during Late Registration, and says that he used a Neumann U-47, and a Neumann U-87.
I know Kanye recorded into U47 and U87 in a studio I worked at, God knows what records were those, cause it has been so long ago, I know it was Late Registration album
Blake Eiseman corroborates this, by stating that they used the vintage U-87's.
The one session I worked with Kanye, we used a U87 (vintage). It would have probably been going through a Vintech X73 then into a Manley VariMu.
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vocal tracking at :30, 1:10, 2:30 - Promo video from the song Hello (I Love You) by Roger Waters and produced by James Guthrie (The Wall, DSOTM SACD, and more) for the soundtrack of the film "The Last Mimzy"
"Visconti had no shortage of tricks up his sleeve for the production of the album. . . . He was the proprietor of Neumann U-87 microphones, often using multiple at a time to capture not just vocals but instruments as well as the space of the Hansa hall. . . . Taking full advantage of the large spaces at Hansa, the producer used three microphones to capture vocal takes, one close, one at 15 feet and one at 20 feet."
"All of the OceanLab tracks to date (including satellite) were recorded using a rode NT1, but we've now got a Neumann U87."
Album Usage
The Neumann U87 has been featured on the following albums:
Gloria: In Excelsis Deo (RCA Demo)
Patti Smith (2025)
Thank You New York Knicks
Busta Rhymes & Rakim & Styles P (2025)
Now Is The Time
Rakim (2025)
BK Harlem
Masta Killa (2025)
Please Don't Break My Heart
Method Man (2025)
Why You Claim It
Teena Marie (2025)
Automatic Yes (feat. John Mayer)
John Mayer & Zedd (2024)
Short n' Sweet
Sabrina Carpenter (2024)
![Neumann U87 as heard on Something In The Way (From "The Batman") [Piano Version] by Kurt Cobain (2023)](https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/album/image/260283/something-in-the-way-from-the-batman-piano-version.jpg)
Something In The Way (From "The Batman") [Piano Version]
Kurt Cobain (2023)
Every Breath You Take
Stewart Copeland & Stewart Copeland (2023)
Hackney Diamonds
The Rolling Stones (2023)
From The Start
Laufey (2023)
Keep Going Up
Justin Timberlake & Timbaland & Nelly Furtado (2023)
Ribbons
Ryan Beatty (2023)
Buffalo Stance
Mapei & Robyn & Neneh Cherry (2022)
Meth Lab Season 3 : The Rehab
Method Man (2022)
10:35
Tiësto & Tate McRae (2022)
Non dovevo farlo
gIANMARIA (2022)
![Neumann U87 as heard on Bang a Gong (Get It On) [Outtake] by T. Rex (2021)](https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/album/image/28842/bang-a-gong-get-it-on-outtake.jpg)
Bang a Gong (Get It On) [Outtake]
T. Rex (2021)
NEVER LEFT
Lil Tecca (2021)
![Neumann U87 as heard on Something in the Way (Teaser Trailer From "The Batman") [Medieval Style] by Kurt Cobain & Celestial Aeon Project (2020)](https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/album/image/260284/something-in-the-way-teaser-trailer-from-the-batman-medieval-style.jpg)
Something in the Way (Teaser Trailer From "The Batman") [Medieval Style]
Kurt Cobain & Celestial Aeon Project (2020)
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God (Reloaded)
Busta Rhymes (2020)
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
Busta Rhymes (2020)
Parasite Eve
Bring Me The Horizon (2020)
Virgo World
Lil Tecca (2020)
Between Da Protests
KRS-One (2020)
THE GOAT
Polo G (2020)
Someone You Loved (Sped Up)
Lewis Capaldi (2019)
Five Feet Apart (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Brian Tyler & Breton Vivian (2019)
Firepower
Judas Priest (2018)
?
XXXTENTACION (2018)
Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
Greta Van Fleet (2018)
Meth Lab Season 2: The Lithium
Method Man (2018)
Wonder Years
Sean David Grant (2017)
Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho
HUNCHO JACK & Quavo & Travis Scott (2017)
Luv Is Rage 2
Lil Uzi Vert (2017)
Paper
David Banner (2017)
Rewrite The Stars
Zendaya (2017)
SVIIB
School Of Seven Bells (2016)
Song for the Life
Jerry Jeff Walker (2016)
Do What Thou Wilt.
Ab-Soul (2016)
Plotting
Dizzy Wright (2016)
Sweatshirt
Jacob Sartorius (2016)
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen (2016)
Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight
Travis Scott (2016)
Drones
Muse (2015)
Repentless
Slayer (2015)
Oz
Missy Higgins (2014)
Random Access Memories
Daft Punk & Daft Punk (2013)
Le Milleuna
Demetrio Stratos (2013)
Take Me to Church EP
Hozier (2013)
States
The Paper Kites (2013)
Ghostory (Deluxe Version)
School Of Seven Bells (2012)
Sneak Peek: Finally Rich
Chief Keef (2012)
Boys & Girls
Alabama Shakes (2012)
True
Solange (2012)
Audio, Video, Disco.
Justice (2011)
Live in Paris: I Just Wanna Rock
Joe Satriani (2010)
Pássaro De Fogo
Paula Fernandes (2009)
Sex On Fire
Kings of Leon (2009)
Congo Square
Teena Marie (2009)
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon (2008)
Mood Muzik 3 (The Album)
Joe Budden (2008)
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock
Joe Satriani (2008)
Funplex
The B-52's (2008)
Because Of The Times
Kings of Leon (2007)
Icky Thump
The White Stripes & Jack White & Jack White (2007)
Curtis
50 Cent (2007)
Kickin' Out The Footlights... Again: Jones Sings Haggard, Haggard Sings Jones
Merle Haggard & George Jones (2006)
Continuum
John Mayer (2006)
Back To Black (Deluxe Edition)
Amy Winehouse (2006)
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Arctic Monkeys (2005)
Lullabies To Paralyze
Queens of the Stone Age (2005)
Occasion: Connick on Piano 2
Harry Connick, Jr. (2005)
Late Registration
Kanye West (2005)
Deliverance
Bubba Sparxxx (2003)
Tha Last Meal
Snoop Dogg (2000)
Pop
U2 (1997)
The Colour And The Shape
Foo Fighters (1997)
Dreaming Of You
Selena (1995)
Sueño Stereo (Remastered)
Soda Stereo (1995)
Superunknown (Super Deluxe)
Soundgarden (1994)
Second Coming
The Stone Roses (1994)
Linger
The Cranberries (1993)
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
The Cranberries (1993)
Infamous Angel
Iris DeMent (1992)
Into The Great Wide Open
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1991)
Nevermind
Nirvana (1991)
Mosquitos
Stan Ridgway (1989)
Cosmic Thing
The B-52's (1989)
She Blinded Me With Science
Thomas Dolby (1987)
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Duran Duran (1983)
Ark
The Animals (1983)
Alturas de Macchu Picchu
Los Jaivas (1981)
Back In Black
AC/DC (1980)
Women and Children First (Remastered)
Van Halen (1980)
Van Halen II (Remastered)
Van Halen (1979)
Who Are You
The Who (1978)
Metrodora
Demetrio Stratos (1976)
Rocks
Aerosmith (1976)
The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd (1973)
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye (1973)
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye (1971)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Neumann U87, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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