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Which Neumann Microphone is the Best for Voiceover? -- U87ai, TLM 103, TLM 102 Comparison & Review
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- čas přidán 14. 04. 2023
- A blind comparison between three of the most popular Neumann microphones for voiceover, as well as a comprehensive breakdown and review of the pros and cons behind each for use in the VO home studio booth.
Buy me a coffee:
➡️www.buymeacoffee.com/jaymyers...
Voiceover Coaching:
➡️www.jaymyersvoiceover.com/coa...
My Recommended Starting Gear:
➡️Rode NT1 Bundle: geni.us/jYq4A
My Interface:
➡️Apollo Solo: geni.us/LXbkB
My Favorite Mics:
➡️Neumann U87ai: geni.us/WmJI2
➡️Neumann TLM 103: geni.us/NvigA
➡️Earthworks ETHOS: geni.us/lFBYg
➡️Sennheiser MKH-416: geni.us/1Hh4c
➡️Shure KSM 32: geni.us/lFBYg
Other channels and talents I've found helpful:
➡️ / podcastage
➡️ / @audiouniversity
➡️ / boothjunkievo
➡️ / @inthemix
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Music provided by Epidemic Sound
#microphone #reveiw #VoiceOver #tutorial #howto #Voiceacting #professional #audio #audioengineering #audiobooks #recording
Just found this channel and want to say thank you for the great content. Your reviews are a breath of fresh air!
Glad to hear that!
So helpful! Just what I needed to hear. Love your voice too.
Glad to hear! And thank you 😊
I have to say, the TLM 102 sounded best on your voice in my opinion as it sounded the most natural. (I listened on HD 600s)
Exactly my impression too, I also have HD 600s.
You’ve become a staple to my voiceover research. I keep coming back to the channel for high quality and informative advice. Good stuff 👍👍
Thanks very much! If there’s anything in particular you’re curious about lmk
Thanks for your review! I love all of the three mics. I´ve got the 102 and the sound is great. I tried all but the difference for my usecase is sooooo small that I chose the smallest of them. It´s light weight and easy to install everywhere!
Great video! I went from a TLM 103 to a U47, back to the 103 and then have used a U87i for the last 2 years. I watched this because I’m debating going back to the 103. I’m finding there’s a lot more work with RX with the 87 than I did with the 103.
This is a great video, man.
I appreciate it!
Nice review. Thanks!
Of course!
Listening on my HD650, the TLM 102 sounded best.
Actually, the U87ai sounded harshest, most aggressive.
Although I'm not going to buy another Neumann anytime soon, I found this comparison very helpful. Thank you!
I had a similar feeling. Although in the first moment I didn't know what I liked more A or B, later I found that, however, on average I liked the top in B, for that something was wrong in C. C had decidedly stronger lower frequencies. If it was recorded as in the later video, then you can see that with tlm 102 the tester was closer and at a different angle, thus increasing the low frequencies. The U87ai was also probably at the worst angle, but I don't think there was a big difference in distance between the tlm 103 and the U87ai, only the U87ai is longer and was under the mouth.
Great comparison Jay ! I managed to pick them out in the blind test. The 102 sounds a little boxy I noticed. I work in many of the central London sound studios and most have a 103 fitted as standard. An engineer at one of the largest studio complexes mentioned that they use the 103 for commercials etc because they cut through the mix nicely. If the project is spoken word - audiobook etc - they swap out the 103 for a U87. Makes sense I thought.
That’s cool to hear! Thanks for taking the time to share
Having experiece with all three of these microphones as a voiceover myself, my observations are as follows: I've worked a lot on the TLM 103 and it's a bit nasal sounding. I've also worked a lot on U87's and never liked them. They take the 'power' out of my voice, I always felt that I was fighting them. The TLM 102 is the cutest microphone, and on voice it sounds virtually identical to the Audio-Technica AT2035. My absolute favorite mic, and my main one, is the TLM 170.
The 170 has been on my list for a long while too. Should’ve guessed it was your favorite given your profile pic.
Have you been able to try the OC 818? Curious if you have thoughts relative to the other mics you listed
Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it! I have no experience with the OC 818. A mic you might want to look into, if you get the chance, is my previous main microphone (sold it to partially fund the TLM 170) is the Brauner Phantom Classic. It's fantastic, but not very well known in the US. I live in the Netherlands and overhere and in Germany (Brauner is a German company) they are more well known. Unfortunately, Dirk Brauner shut his company down during covid, because they couldn't get parts, and production still hasn't resumed. But if you can ever get your hands on one, I highly recommend checking it out. It has a great low and high end response. When I compared it to a Sennheiser 416 (which also has a quite noticable low and high end) it struck me how much better it sounded, very musical in comparison. @@jaymyersvoiceover
My man! The K89 series of mics have to be Neumann's best alongside an original U67. Did you try the 193 or U89? Was there anything in particular that made you go with the 170 as opposed to the other two?
Thanks for this amazing test. One of the best on CZcams for these mics. I was wondering though what is your chain? What is the preamp that you use and how do you get it into your computer? Thanks so much!
Thanks for the kind words!
All samples here were unprocessed, and run thru an UAD Apollo Solo connected to my MAC via thunderbolt.
I have another video detailing my vocal chain! Linked below for you:
czcams.com/video/Fva8GeZg_k4/video.html
Nice content! To my ears the 103 was a little too bright in the top end, the U87 was a bit too mid forward, and the 102 was just right. Once again, the TLM 102 is my favorite microphone I've ever used.
Love it!
I preferred the 103 and i'm glad that was the one picked considering I own it lol. It sounds so full and crisp but it does it in a smooth way. My least fav was the 102. The high end is just so fizzy compared to the 103 imo. The jump from the 102 to the 103 is pretty big imo with the sound quality and the self noise, but the jump from the 103 to the U87 is not that big unless you need the extra polar patterns, pad, and highpass filter. I've also never been the biggest fan of the boxiness of a U87ai. The one vintage U87 I got to try in my studio sounded much smoother than the all the clips of U87ai I have listened to.
Awesome vid man, very informative!
Thanks very much! Couldn’t agree more on all counts. Never had the chance to hear a vintage u87, that would be cool to hear an a/b comparison
I heard the boxy sound on the U87 only during the conversation after the blind test. It was due to the distance of the mic from his mouth, it obviously increased compared to the other mics.
Hey, it was fun. As a sound engineer, I guessed correctly and decided to buy 103. The 102 has cheap-sounding highs, which bothered me. Of course the U87 is good, but for the price the differences are minor. Thanks for the video.
TLM102 is my favourite of most Neumanns due to its warm, honest, intimate sound (it's the sound of a lover speaking next to your ear in the night). For your voice, it is the least chest sounding and this could be a negative if your goal is to sound like everybody else. In that case U87ai and then TLM103 are the ones to choose. -ΙΩΝ
Thanks for sharing! I like the take.
It's funny; for me it was between B and C, with a slight edge to B. Having just bought a TLM 102, I now feel very good about my purchase!
Wow. My order of preference was Mic C, Mic A, and lastly Mic B. I guessed that C was the u87ai, A the TLM103, and B the TLM102. I did not care for the u87ai with your voice -- it had the thinnest body and harshest presence. I thought the 102 and 103 were almost equally good, but the 102 had a little more mid warmth that was flattering for your voice.
Interesting! Thanks!
My thoughts exactly!
@@sepped4644 Indeed, my thoughts as well!
I found your video while using my phone and Bluetooth headphones. I hated A, Loved B and C. Turns out that I already have the U87 Ai but didn't know the TLM 102 was so good. I will definitely have to hear your video again with my interface and studio headphones. EDIT: I already heard your review with my studio headphones. The SM7B you're using for the introduction sounds better than all the Neumanns in your booth maybe because you're recording so close to the glass door (you have a big frequency resonance that I swear is around 450 Hz and the SM7B is more forgiving with it, try to cut it down with Fabfilter and you'll see). Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the feedback. I agree the 102 to be pretty impressive.
You’re pretty darn close on the resonance, good ear. I typically take out 2-3dB around ~245hz and ~550-600 hz. For this one, I didn’t apply any post processing for the sake of a ‘clean’ review so folks could hear the mics without anything on the backend. 😊
@@jaymyersvoiceover Man, I am Mr No One but I can tell you this: You need a bass trap or get away from the glass. Cheers.
I picked mic B , then A, the C. the reasons are with A and C I could hear more resonances even on a very low quality headphone set. I was curious as to what would be what. and he end up mentioning that B was the 87, A was 103, and 102 was C. the 103 and 102 were more challenging to distinguish than the 87. I've had the 87 and the 103 and both work well Especially if a booth is made to assist with minimizing resonances and room reflections
Thanks for the video Jay. A lovely comparison under controlled conditions. I guessed them right!
I have a 102 (which I love), and I’ve ordered a 103 today after watching your video (Don’t tell the Mrs). (Also using an Apollo Solo).
Can I ask what that sound insulation is on your walls?
Hey Darren! Good ears mate, and all the best with the new mic!
The insulation is from StudioBricks and comes pre installed on many of their booths. I'm not certain if you can purchase it a la carte, but here's a link to their page:
studiobricks.com/acoustic-services/
I've also got a video talking in more detail about the booth on this channel if you'd like a more in depth look at the whole system:
czcams.com/video/5HIOkctg7-g/video.html
@@jaymyersvoiceover hey! Thanks for the detailed reply and sure I will check out your other videos and the link the Studiobricks. They work for you. Having heard these samples I don’t see how anyone outside a large broadcast / recording studio can justify paying for the U87ai anymore, unless they want it as a status symbol.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks! And yes couldn’t agree more. For the majority of folks in a home studio the 87 is overkill. In my work, there are rare instances where a will a client/studio I’m working with inquire about using the 87, but I guarantee they would be happy if we used 90% of mics on the market.
Interesting. I liked the Mic B best. It had the least low end. My guess was: A-103, B-102, C-87....as A and C sounded quite similar. For my recordings I think the 102 should do fine.
Interesting!
damn i thought c was the 103 and a was the 102, glad to see they were switched as I Just got the tlm 102 for $450 brand new lol. (I thought the 102 sounded the best unprocessed for your voice, with a pop filter built in, price and everything, really has that neumann sound without pushing anything out of the bounds.
Great video. I have the 103 and the 87. 103 is probably the best for the money.
Quick question, what is the benefit you find using the mic upside down? I see some VO artists doing this and some don’t. Thanks 😊
Good question. There’s not a huge difference per the orientation of the mic. To a small degree it can limit plosives to hang the mic upside down, but for me, upside down is simply the most practical for my space. Hope that helps!
@@jaymyersvoiceover cool, I appreciate the response. Thank you
Good on you! It's always a shock how flat a $3.5k mic sounds unprocessed....but the magic is in the malleability.
Couple of thoughts - you do what you can and obviously these are 100% raw but there's def some nasal boxiness going on.
Also, the mics are facing the biggest, hardest reflective surface in the booth instead of all that lovely expensive, absorbant treatment....just a thought!
Thanks! And yes, good ear and great advice. The resonances are from the booth’s dimensions, which I tackle in post and with a bit more acoustic treatment since added. Regarding the mics’ orientation towards the door, that’s mainly for the sake of the camera. Often they’re on the opposite side when I record 😊
I will add one that beats all 3 ... The TLM49
As for the blind test, on your voice mic C sounded best، than B, than A.
I liked A, B was warmer and C was brighter. A felt the most intimate and comfortable if that makes sense? Your comments on the 103's siballance gives me pause as I have quite a sibilant voice and a pesky whistle between my teeth (getting fixed tomorrow, fingers crossed) I might just have to rent them from the music store and see what I think.
Thanks! Renting before buying or hanging onto your receipt (and checking return policies) is a great way to try the mic out first. :)
Before the reveal: I dig B, C, A in that order. C sounding the brightest, A sounding darkest, and B being a marriage of the best qualities between the two. Let’s see how well I fare….
I just picked up the Beyerdynamic M90 pro x. They're dumping them for $150. I love the mic, but apparently a sales failure when sold for 350. I love taking advantage of a good sales failure!
I was pretty confident that B was the 87. Still the conqueror. Although I’m surprised at the quality of the 102
I guessed it right. I like the naturalness of U87, although 103 is probably the easiest to use it for voiceover since every words sounds clear. I use to own 102 but I didn't like it on my voice.
The 102 isn't good enough to have the Neumann name on it. Neumann's sending everyone a strong message by offering it in a midget sized body like the BM-800. Don't expect a 'big' sound'. The 103 is miles above in everything including resale value.
As each pass went through I guessed differently. Very strange and feel they are very similar. I’d get the 102 and another different mic like a c414.
Commenting @4:14. To me. Mic A (tlm103) had more bass and mic C (tlm 102) felt really close sounding, couldn’t notice a lot of difference in sound. Maybe just a litttttle less bass-y sound. Whereas Mic B sounded more balanced. Less bass. But my preference will go to TLM 102. It has more bass. But not as much bass as 103.
The TLM102 sounds quite good on your voice. The U87 does, too. But is this really a good comparison? I was thinking what would the NT1 sound like (and it's very low noise).
Thanks for the note! Yes the three mics here are somewhat in different tiers if that’s what you mean. I can also attest the NT1 is fantastic. It’s the one I recommend to everyone looking for a 1st mic.
@@jaymyersvoiceover I think that's where the problem lies! We all seem to look for the Holy Grail of mics. I have a locker (including the TLM102) but one of the most frequently used for podcasting is an SM58 with Fethead! The NT1 is underrated. I think a lot of people think that because it's so affordable it's merely a "starter."
@dickginkowski6071 Yeah the NT1 is certainly a top contender for most bang for your buck.
Hi jay 👋🏻
Well hello there. 😊
I'm guessing A-103 B-102 C-87, before the reveal. (I did record them and listen multiple times) I hope I don't suck too bad!
Haha I love this method!
What mic would you recommend boss for a low low voice , muddy , ? Or more of a equalizer issue
If it sounds really muddy that may be your recording space or mic position. You can certainly tame that with EQ. For specific recommendations, the MKH-416 is used by loads of people to great effect, though you might ask a sales rep at Sweetwater or B&H for their take.
I found the 103 sounded natural and most pleasant. U87 and 102 were closest in sound. To me anyhow. All 3 are nice though.
What acoustic treatment is that in the background?
That's the preinstalled padding with Studiobricks booths. They may sell it independently, but I can't say for sure. It works fairly well, and I've also used Audimute products in the past which I quite liked. Hope that helps!
Well, I knew exactly which one the 87 was going to be before I heard anything. All I had to do was wait to hear the sound get smaller. I have vague familiarity with the 102 and a little more familiarity with the 103. I got those two wrong though. I was surprised how soft the high end was on the 103 in comparison. A TLM 193 or 170 or better yet a U89 are better than those three anyway.
Well played ;) yeah, a 193 or 170 is next on the list for sure. The others I picked up because clients requested them to a degree and having them on hand was/is somewhat useful.
Any thoughts on the 89 vs the 193/170?
@@jaymyersvoiceover I haven't personally used an 89 or 170. From what I've read, all 3 sound different to some degree. The 89 has been said to have a broader and smoother sound due to its circuitry. I might rent an 89 and 170 and compare all 3. I do like the 193 a lot! I consider it to have an undefeatable sound, meaning it maintains its integrity across the frequency spectrum in nearly all listening environments and conditions. For instance, some mics sound big in some speakers but not in others. And when listening while driving, some mics thin out when competing with the sound of the engine while accelerating. The 193 doesn't seem to be affected by those things.
I would use A for Male Rock vocals, B for Female Pop vocals and C for voice overs.
Can you do a rode nt1 5th gen review?
I don't have that mic presently unfortunately. But I used it for about a year before moving to the TLM 102 and highly recommend the NT1
Have you ever tried the TLM49? If not: May be you should ;) (BTW: I own the 102, 103, 193, 49 and the U87Ai)
Noted! ;)
@@jaymyersvoiceover If you like the TLM 102 and the U87 - the TLM 49 might make you happy.
It was super hard but after a few rounds I was convinced that mic B had to be the cheapest one... well...
I feel like the u87 shows the boxiness of the studiobrick a little bit too honest.
There you go! Haha
And couldn’t agree more re the boxiness. The u87 certainly hones in on it like a hawk, but I didn’t correct for it in eq here to give a fair comparison with no processing.
I was also convinced mic B was the cheapest, after several rounds of listening and jumping back and forth in the video to get quick A/B references.
Hey Jay, Larry here, I know this mic is not included, but have you ever listened to the TLM 107?
Hi Larry! I have listened to the 107 at times, but haven’t used it personally. In my limited experience with that one the primary difference between it and the 103 would mainly come down to the flexibility it offers in features rather than any significant difference in sound.
I had the 102,, sold it bought a 103 and im going to tell the difference. That really counts/is important. 102 sounds like 103 and vice versa. But the 103 has a benefit! It delivers more dbs and u will need less gain for the same mic sound as an 102 and it has more body/presence..102 u need to turn the gain knob up ⬆️ on youre interface for the same mic level. And that will raise youre noise floor so i would advise for professional recordings to go with the 103 allsday and every day! But podcasters/voice overs are not musicians so you can get away with that
my thoughts precisely!
The TLM103 was immediately recognizable. I did mix up the 102 and the 87ai, which is interesting
Interesting indeed! Thanks for sharing.
102 sounds amazing
102 sounds best on your voice. Differences are super-subtle, though.
So I'm comparing your booth sound between this video and this one:
czcams.com/video/jJ6wKauZlv4/video.html
Of course other factors could be affecting the sound such as mic position, how your voice is that particular day, etc. But I feel like your old both might have sounded better than the Studio Bricks.. I'm highly considering getting a studiobricks though for isolation. What are your thoughts now that you have had it for a while when compared to your old booth?
I agree. I'm trying to figure out a way to get my old acoustic treatment into the Studiobricks for the interior sound, but the isolation is much higher quality.
The main reason for my buying one was living in a small NYC apartment with a big sheetrock and plywood box in my living room wasn't ideal, and while it sounded great it also wasn't too isolated making life challenging for my wife and myself when I was recording. All to say: Studiobricks...Isolation=A, Interior acoustics=B; DIY...Isolation=C+, Acoustics=A+
@@jaymyersvoiceover Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!
Whatever you have done recently (covering the window for example) seems to be helping, as shown in your latest video.
czcams.com/video/Nh51RoKYgWA/video.html
@@JamesSCameron1 My pleasure! Yeah that was definitely part of it. Additionally, it's worth noting that the acoustics in my DIY booth were the result of about 5" total of insulation on all sides except the floor. Great for sound, not so much for mental health and personal comfort. Personlly, I'll take the slight drop in acoustics over being miserable for sure (i.e. taking Studiobricks over my old DIY.)
@@jaymyersvoiceover Oh wow. No wonder it sounded so good! Thank you again. You are really helping me with my decision.
Anytime! I'm also planning to film a 1yr update soon, so let me know if you have any other burning questions about it! @@JamesSCameron1
Mic 3 the 102 sounds too sibilant to me. The 87 and 103 sounded pretty darn similar to me. The 87 being the flattest sounding.
The u87i was not my favorite...with your voice. The TLM102 was 😄
So many variables though 👍
'Does the increase in price equate to an increase in value to you' is the real question, and that's a purely subjective answer.
Exactly! Couldn’t have said it better.
I just found that the 87 lost the natural sound of your voice. It sounded like you were in a booth. The 103 caught so much more of your upper range, which gave us you personality. The 102 was even more constricting. You may need a pop screen on the 103 to cut your breath and sibilance though. All in my humble opinion, of course..
That’s exactly what I do 😉
lol.... I got all of them right......
Nice!
Ok, I sorta suck. Weirdly, I liked C best.
TLM 102 then U87ai then TLM 103 is my guess without watching everything yet.
I guessed wrong. But very close. The U87ai sounds more natural imo
Nice! I tend to agree 😊
Which one is which? I didn't like C.
I'd recommend watching a bit more of the video! They're revealed after about 3mins.
@@jaymyersvoiceover Oh oh, ty so much. Now I feel embarrassed, haha. Thanks for the comparison and explanation.
@@lastcall9998 haha all good! I know how CZcams works sometimes :)
Wooow I thought mic C u87
Coool! Bang for your buck in that 102.
I thought B sounded best. C sounded second best. A sounded like the cheapest one.
Why doesn’t the TLM 193 ever seem to get any love?
Solid question! I’ve definitely been curious myself. If I had to guess a fair amount can probably be chalked up to smile notoriety and that the TLM 103 is $400 cheaper and is modeled on the u87ai.
@@jaymyersvoiceover when I once A/B’d the 193 with the 103 I liked the darker quality of the 193.
Yeah, I was between trying the 193, the TLM 67, and the u87ai for that exact reason, but when I found a used u87ai that made it competitive in price I snagged it. I’m certainly curious how the others would stack up in practice given their darker tones.
Pass on the TLM102 & TLM103. So many better options available now.
There are definitely lots of killer options out there. What alternatives in particular would you have in mind?
Men that was obvious A and C sounds hollow. What a gap .
They do have quite a different sound.
the TLM 103 has an expensive sound to its price range
Indeed!
They sound so close, it could have been the same mic with 1" distance making the same amount of difference. No way I could tell which was better, very slight sound signature differences. But every go around sounded different. So in conclusion. Any slight variation and talking or distance was bigger than the differences in these mics in this comparison.