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Microphones

Neumann - U 87 Ai

Neumann · Released 1986-01-01
U 87 AiNEUMANNRENDER
Expert take · Tier D

Who is the Neumann - U 87 Ai for?

Entry-tier microphone. Below 58 on the Mars Score means several weighted specs trail the category leaders by a wide margin.

Only consider this if there is a specific reason — price, brand loyalty, ecosystem fit. The best-of page shows what your money buys a tier up.

Mars Score is computed from 6 measured specs against the transparent formula for the microphones category. No editorial picks, no paid placement.

The good and the bad

Neumann - U 87 Ai: advantages & disadvantages

Measured against every microphones we track, here is where the Neumann - U 87 Ai gives ground.

Pros

No spec lands in the top quartile of the category normalization window. Strengths sit in untracked specs (build quality, ecosystem, etc.) rather than weighted axes.

Cons
  • Max SPL: 127 dB — below the typical microphones.

Pros are specs scoring ≥75% of the category normalization range. Cons are ≤35%. Derived from the Mars Score formula — no hand-curated lists.

Quick stats

At a glance

Type
Condenser
Connection
XLR
Polar pattern
Multi (3 patterns)
Full readout

All specifications

Spec

Type
Condenser
Polar pattern
Multi (3 patterns)
Max SPL
127 dB

Connectivity

Connection
XLR
Headphone out
false
Mars Labs archive

Latest from the lab

Head-to-head

Popular comparisons featuring the Neumann - U 87 Ai

The 8 closest matchups in the Microphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.

Common questions

Frequently asked

What is the Mars Score for Neumann - U 87 Ai?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai scores 48.6 on the transparent Mars Score formula for microphones, computed from its published specs against the category's weighted normalization.

What category does Neumann - U 87 Ai belong to?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai is a Neumann microphone catalogued in the Microphones category.

When was Neumann - U 87 Ai released?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai was released on 1986-01-01.

What is the type of Neumann - U 87 Ai?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai has a type of Condenser.

What is the connection of Neumann - U 87 Ai?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai has a connection of XLR.

What is the polar pattern of Neumann - U 87 Ai?+

Neumann - U 87 Ai has a polar pattern of Multi (3 patterns).

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