Samples are recorded with the preamps on the Audient ID22. Microphones were side to side, and I tried my best to match the levels during tracking. Will compare these with a Vintage Neumann U87 next week, and also individually with a MA5. Sorry, I only have one MA5. Please donʻt mind my voice. I am the song writer and the tracking engineer for the family band. Next week I will be using the Vintage Neumann U87 that we used on this video, to compare with these these two clone mics. Peace

Gotta say, Serrano wins this easily. Damn. Almost makes me want to return my Warm. It's probably way brighter than even the 87ai, but I really love how it sounds. Not sure if it'd be too much in the mix, but it sure sounds impressive.

Would like to hear a comparison with the u87 of both, kind of like Angus did in his shootout, record both in pairs.

I hope you don't mind (if you do, please let me know asap, I'll delete them) but I took the liberty of EQ'ing the BN to match the Serrano to see if they can be made equal when mixed. You draw your own conclusions. But to me even when eq-matched the Serrano just sounds significantly more open, detailed and just "richer".

Btw your voice sounds amazing with the Serrano. If you bought it, keep it.

The Serrano is nice indeed but I like the weight the BN has idk

Right on Greg. That's cool. Really appreciate it. When I first started the comparison, I was really surprised with the contrast in sound. Much more than what I heard in the big U87 shootout. I like the sound of both. The Serrano really cuts through. I think it's a great mic. Visually, it is quite appealing as well. Beautiful piece.

It is gorgeous.

It is. A lot better looking than it is in online photos. Very well crafted. He has one Mic to choose from at the moment, so it doesn't seem like he is wanting to cut any corners.

Seems eventually someone was going to build the most perfect replica. Where the BeezNeez manage to build an excellent sounding microphone that is very true to it's homage, they also completely fail to build an attractive microphone, void of any taste or refinement. Beezneez are quite possibly the ugliest mics on the market,but they do sound the part.
BeezNeez could learn a heap from Serrano about taste and class in design.
The Serrano is remarkable to look at sounds awesome. Visually it demonstrates refined taste and the bold conviction and vision to design a mic that refines the classic U87 chassis in a very natural almost evolutionary way. I love it's sound just as much or more than the BN, and would easily justify having both.
I would be honoured to stick the Serrano in front of any source, especially singers!! (and my Fender Deluxe!)
The Serrano really reveals just how cheap and clumsily designed the Warm 87 really, and it sounds like a 87 where the Warm just sounds like a microphone. Thanks so much for turning me on to the Serrano. I hope you can get your money back on the Warm and put that dosh towards the sophisticated upgrade of the cost effective Serrano 87. ****ing cool ass mic!!

Oh me oh my I love this Serrano 87. When I can sort it, I'm buying me 1, maybe 2.

Thanks for steering me towards the Serrano Brad, I'm in love. It's perfect. Must have.

Thats one of the key attributes of BN copy. Fantastic sounding mic.
I really like the Serrano sound too, I'm guessing gtrs and voxes will sound really awesome through. A stereo pair of the Serrano would be a very frugal consideration.
If the builder is reliable and has a good reputation for working to customer needs rather than asking customers to fit into a self serving model of long waits with dosh up front. But I venture to guess anyone who has invested the amount of time it would have taken to develop this Serrano 87, is also going to be a very reliable purveyor of refined goods.

From the samples, the Serrano seems to nail the paystreak.

So, I can't really figure it out.... how do you really feel about the WA87?

Thing is, I may not think highly of this Warm mic but to me the reasons are abundantly obvious to anyone assessing the mic objectively.
I really do enjoy the sound of their 251, I don't know what a real 251 sounds like up close or probably at all, but judging the Warm 251 for the mic it is only, I dig it, and it's not ridiculous looking . It does look kind of budget to me but in an unobtrusive way.
One look and listen to the Serrano is a perfect example of what a compromise the Warm 87 purchase is. I was looking at the Warm with realistic expectations and it falls short of even that. Serrano put the time and effort into an amazing sounding handsome microphone for a song.
In Australia, the Warm sells for just a dash more than the Serrano shipped.
The difference in quality and design is undeniable.
So for pretty much the same money, it's a choice between a drive thru Happy Meal or fine dining.
YMMV

Stay safe and well kind folks

So do you think if someone swapped the u87 for WA87 anyone in a studio would notice?

In all seriousness, I can not imagine that scenario ever playing out, anywhere ever.
To me the Warm is too blurry to be completely convincing [as an 87] outside a mix. In a mix, I don't think how each mic cuts through a mix is going to resemble each other at all.
I'm not hearing the tonal potency of the Warm to even dare that comparison.
I'm not up close with the Warm though, maybe its all there and I'm the only one not hearing it.

I'm sure you've had plenty of experience to judge it dispassionately.

Do you think highpassing would rid the WA87 of that extra low end body you heard (blur) and make it open and bright to match the u87?

I'm sure you've had plenty of experience to judge it dispassionately.
I suppose I do believe that to be true, yes.

Do you think highpassing would rid the WA87 of that extra low end body you heard (blur) and make it open and bright to match the u87?

No
.

Do you think WA87 R3 will finally beat the u87?

Oh without a doubt, for sure. 100%

Vintage U87, BU87, Serrano 87, MicRehab TLM 103, and Mystery FET

Aloha, Thank you for your response. You called it on the BU87 last month. You are the reason I got it. And the Serrano is a stunner. Pictures donʻt do it justice. I donʻt have the WARM. Never considered the Rev 1. Would love to hear the Rev2... Have a good one. Aloha

I have it on good authority that Warm has been watching this thread intently... And is soon coming out with the new/improved Warm Wa-87 R2 D2 Model.

I've listened to so many Classic 70's records, gotta go with the Beesneez 87, for my preference overall. Just my taste.
But still think the Warm R2, is an excellent mic too. Why it's a U87ia! (somewhere between U87i & U87ai)

BTW why did the Hobbit set his cellphone, on vibrate?
He was afraid the ring might give him away!

Greg always appreciates a good LOTR/The Hobbit reference
Chris

Bradahman

Did you get my PM? I can't tell if GS is glitching right now cause once I send it jt just disappears, no confirmation, nothing in the sent folder.

Go it. Just sent a return message. Thank you

I agree with you. Feels like the BU almost caputures more of the performance