Ù87 vs. TLM49

[blackcom]

Anyone here with experience with both mics, what mic would you rate the "better" of these two for vocals?

I know U87 allways was a referanse but with the new TLM49 featuring the U47 capsule kind of makes an intresting thought....

[Wally]

[top]Neumann TLM 49

[dhiltonlittle]

for who's vocals?

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Wally

[top]Neumann TLM 49

Whats the point of posting if you don't say why and what applications youve tried that made you think that way... Maybe you have never used a U87? (that usually gets a bitter "I know what Im talking about" response...)

Caps isn't the key to being right...

[Roc Mixwell]

what mic would you rate the "better"

No better or worse dude. Its in the eyes of the end user and nothing more.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

No better or worse dude. Its in the eyes of the end user and nothing more.

For sure.I use both and can't say one is 'better' than the other, as they're very different animals. I have more experience with my old 87, and the first thing I'd add is that it is more coloured than the TLM49. But this is my old 87. I've never compared the ai to the TLM49.

The TLM49 gets knocked around a bit around here but I was very impressed with it's airy quality compared to the 87 and can see using it for acoustic instruments for sure. Next time I have a cello, it'll be the first mic I try I think.

[JPeters86]

I personally think the 49 has more character than the 87. The 87 sounds more neutral, and may be useful in more applications. The 49 has more of a tube like character (this is what they were after when making the mic if I recall correctly), and is very suitable for most vocals.

[jjblair]

The TLM49 has NO tube like character, at all. I'm sorry, but that "tube emulation" circuit doesn't sound at all like a tube.

The TLM49 is not a flexible mic. It sounds good on some vocals, but the high mids get unpleasant on some sources to me.

But if you want to see what happens when you shoot it out against a U87 and a M49, read what I wrote (well, almost ... because they edited out the negative things I had to say):

Neumann TLM49