Product: Neumann U89
Price Paid: US $500 used
Submitted
10/28/2005
at
01:42pm
by
Todzilla
Email: harmcent at sickofthiscrap<dot>com
Reviewer Background
:
Making Music since 1968
Recording since 1972, mostly home brew
Recorded to analog tape until 2004, now recording through Demeter preamp to 896HD to MOTU's DP 4 on a G5
Listening equipment is primarily Audix 1A monitors.
Overall Rating
:
9
Great multi-purpose LDC mic. It has about 7 polar patterns, including omni, figure 8 and many variations on cardiod shapes. It's my one awesome Boutique mic, so I don't have much direct experience with the competition, although I've sung many times through an AKG414.
I use this mic on many sound source, though largely for vocals and room ambience recording. I try to keep it away from large pressure gradients (like inside a kick drum), but otherwise, it's pretty tough.
I chose this mic 'cause a friend was about to get evicted and that's all the money I had. Great deal. Otherwise, I would have looked closely at the aforementioned AKG414.
It is similar to a U-87, but with more polar patterns and a smaller capsule size (and it would seem a smaller diaphragm). I assume it is more versatile than a U-87, but not quite as warm sounding.
This mic is the biggest differentiator I have in my studio over peers with Rode, AudiaTechnica and other mid-grade stuff. With this mic, I sound like a high end studio.
Nice.
