JZ V47 vs real U47, also M49, Manley Gold, Horch, BH2

[ISedlacek]

I just got the very new "vintage" V47 mic from JZ microphones ( JZ Microphones JZ - Main) , that according to the description brings the "legendary U47 sound".




So I thought it could be very interesting to bring it next to the real U47 and other mics as well to hear how it sounds.

We put together quite an interesting setup of microphones and tried to sing something (Neumann U47, M49, Manley Gold, Horch RM2J vs JZ V47 and BH-2). Once in my friend's studio , using API 3124 preamp and Lavry Blue AD - song 1.
And then in my studio, using Thermionic Earlybird 2.2 preamp and Forssell MADC-2 converter - song 2

Here are short blind samples. Now guess, which is which mic )

Song 1:

1

2

3

4

5


Song 2:

a

b

c


And now you can guess which mic is which

[Karloff70]

Won't guess too much, but I liked 3 and 5 of the first lot and a and c of the last. Seems likely 3 and 5 are the Neumann's, although 3 seems much further from the mic, so can't tell which is which. 1, 2 and 4 sound a bit shrill in the API to varying degrees. So 3 and 5 and a and c are nice, the others a bit toppy for me.

What's up with the purple badge U87 in the pics....? And is that a 47 or a Horch then?? Sure looks like a 47.....

[ISedlacek]

Thank you for interesting remarks ... Horch is not in the picture ... Yes, API gives a bit of shrill to the sound ... (I personally am not a fan of it). Neumann U47 is on the left on the last two photos. The vintage U87 was not used in the songs

[ArnauTS]

I can't say wich mic is wich so i will say
i like b of the 2nd song on the first song provably it's the preamp but i don't like how they sound but provably the 4 was the best for me.
Will be fun when we know all the mics

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Thank you for interesting remarks ... Horch is not in the picture ... Yes, API gives a bit of shrill to the sound ... (I personally am not a fan of it). Neumann U47 is on the left on the last two photos. The vintage U87 was not used in the songs

And the 87 is just 'hanging out'?

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by Karloff70

And the 87 is just 'hanging out'?

We used it in a solo sketch of another visitor, but we felt the performance was not up to the mark

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

We used it in a solo sketch of another visitor, but we felt the performance was not up to the mark

Ok

Mileage varies. I bet if it isn't ill, to my ears it might have subjectively beat some of these......

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by Karloff70

Ok

Mileage varies. I bet if it isn't ill, to my ears it might have subjectively beat some of these......

The song 2 for sure No real singer around in my studio And you are from London ... oh my ... I should better hide myself in Tiperrary

[xj32]

Song 1:

1. This one seams the softest and most intimate
2. Maybe the best all around of the 5, well balanced, seated well
3. The most pleasingly present. Brings the vocal to the forefront in just the right way
4. The only one I hated...almost hurt my ears, too biting for me
5. The bassiest, almost to the point being too tubby.

I actually liked the soft vibe of 1 for this type of song, but might choose 3 if I could only choose one as it popped well. I could also live with 2. 4 & 5...nope.

Song 2:

I liked A followed by C with B sounding too harsh.

I think A was the most balanced overall.

XJ

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

The song 2 for sure No real singer around in my studio

lol....no, no, I meant the 87 and the other mics!!! No reflection on your valiant vocal efforts whatsoever!!

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Hey this looks like mine!

I can't wait to hear the shootout, I think it'll be a make or break decision for the BH-2 whereas I want to keep it or not.

[carloff]

Song 1:

1. This one seams the softest and most intimate
2. Maybe the best all around of the 5, well balanced, seated well
3. The most pleasingly present. Brings the vocal to the forefront in just the right way
4. The only one I hated...almost hurt my ears, too biting for me
5. The bassiest, almost to the point being too tubby.

These were my mics in my studio and must tell you you have very good ear

[xj32]

Can't wait to hear which was which.

XJ

[Chris Lago]

I honestly don't know which one is my BH-2 in all of these

All I know is that I don't like the API pre.

[carloff]

Me neither

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by chrislago

I honestly don't know which one is my BH-2 in all of these

All I know is that I don't like the API pre.

In the song 2, there is the warm, velvety Earlybird at least

[Karloff70]

Indeed the Earlybird is much more forgiving, however mic 3 and 5 'survive' the API sounding sweet........

[Chris Lago]

so no 4 is the BH-2? Or no 1? No 3 is the U47? No 1 manley perhaps? Yeah no 4 is the Bh-2 I think. What a downer :(

[ISedlacek]

I will reveal the secret on Sunday. Till that time, enjoy the adventure

[World Studios]

Dudes!

Thanks for the test! Made my friday.

I have had the BH-2 in my studio and it was as bright as my Manley Ref C... No 4 IS the BH-2 and it does not sound good in this crowd, but costs a fraction of what most of the others do... I got some great sounds from the BH2, btw. Acc Guit, for instance. I did not keep it, only because it was too similar to my Manley, only not quite as good.

I listened to the first five. Strange to have 6 mics, but only 5 to choose from... :-)

My verdict:
1 Sounds the least involving and a bit boring an onedimentional to me. Could be i am influenced by the duller performance. Could it be the JZ47?
2 Is my fave for the more modern sound. A bit of bite and more top end. Not ideal for this retro vibe. I guess it is the Gold Ref
3 Is not bad at all. More vintage. Neumann vibe Prolly the u47. I love it for this song and singer!
4 BH-2. Sounds like crap in this test
5 I like this one a lot. It sounds almost 4 dBs louder, thoug. Vintage Neumann with PVC cap kind of vibe. But softer than no3. M49?

I am dying to hear the real answers. Its education made fun!

[norman_nomad]

My preference in this order:

3, 5, 2, 4, 1

3 just sat in the mix well. A very sweet and intimate sound. It just sounds 'right'.
5 also had an intimate sound with a very preset low-mid. There's something about the quality of this mic I liked quite a bit.
2 had a good balance but felt a bit cottony during vocal contractions
4 an 'expensive' sounding mic but overly bright and inappropriate for this track. Sibilance was annoying.
1 this one wasn't 'bad'... but it just didn't grab me in any way and felt a bit lost among the other elements... a bit closed on the top.

Look forward to the results!

[World Studios]

Took a quick listen to the second test.

The one called B/i4 sounds a lot different from the other two. Brighter and less Neumannesque. A too bright but if it is the BH-1 again (which i suspect), it fared slightly better in this test. Softer preamps help, I guess..

C / i7 sounds the best to me. u47?

A / i3 sounds pretty close, but less exiting. JZ47?

Hugs,

[Dubai]

didnt liked 2 and 5.
is that your friend studio white walls?
looks like crap but sounds nice.

the #1. sounds brighter & more detailed.

the #3 has the neumann u47 vintage tone.
The #4 its between 3 and 1. strange.

i like #1. more.

the clips in your studio should had same song.
i7 has the vintage tone.

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I just got the very new "vintage" V47 mic from JZ microphones ( JZ Microphones JZ - Main) , that according to the description brings the "legendary U47 sound".

So I thought it could be very interesting to bring it next to the real U47 and other mics as well to hear how it sounds.

We put together quite an interesting setup of microphones and tried to sing something (Neumann U47, M49, Manley Gold, Horch RM2J vs JZ V47 and BH-2). Once in my friend's studio , using API 3124 preamp and Lavry Blue AD - song 1.
And then in my studio, using Thermionic Earlybird 2.2 preamp and Forssell MADC-2 converter - song 2

Here are short blind samples. Now guess, which is which mic )

Song 1:

1

2

3

4

5


Song 2:

a

b

c


And now you can guess which mic is which

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by Dubai

the clips in your studio should had same song.
.

Well, then it should be also the same singer, but the distance is 100 km )

[didier.brest]

5 sounds much closer than the other ones: is it only due to the mic ? 1 and 4 are clearer, more present, than 2 and 3, 4 still more than 1. I prefer 3 with respect to 2.

Thanks for sharing.

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by didier.brest

5 sounds much closer than the other ones: is it only due to the mic ?

I also have the feeling it was somehow closer than the other mics ... it could somehow happen during the last shift of the mic stand ...

[didier.brest]

I could not tell a clear preference in test one. In test 2, it is a, more involving, which makes me want to sing with. I would say that b and c are more modern sounding ?

[ISedlacek]

I think those who wanted to listen have listened, so here is the revelation:

Song 1:

1- Neumann U47
2- Neumann M49
3- JZ V47
4 - JZ BH2
5 - Manley Gold

Song 2:

a - JZ V47
b - JZ BH2
c - Horch RM2J

[The Listener]

Why did you have to rush with the answers...

I just listened and liked 2 (sounds mixed already - meaning - most balanced) and 5 (much low mid character, maybe already too much for my taste) in the first song, the only one I liked in second song was C, the other two sounded "pushed" and unpleasant... so I guess Horch stays on my wishlist... Soft songs can be sung on many mics and sound good - at least average, but more dynamic singing is a much harder test for condensers... if you don't resort to dynamics for those occasions..

Can you post some more M49 - Horch tests? Possibly blind...

[Karloff70]

WOW! Very cool! Thanks for the test!! Seems I like that new JZ47V then......