Experts recommend Rode NT1 more than Neumann U87 Ai
As of 3 Jan 2025, experts prefer Rode NT1 over Neumann U87 Ai, but both Microphones have solid expert endorsements.
As per this month's meta ranking, Rode NT1 received 2 recommendations: from PCMag (26 Nov 2024) and Music Radar (26 Jun 2024). Neumann U87 Ai was also endorsed 2 times: by MusicTech (6 Apr 2022) and PianoDreamers (25 Jan 2023). However, experts generally ranked Neumann U87 Ai lower than Rode NT1 in their articles, which caused it to rank lower in ReviewFinder ranking.
| Rank | Change | Price | Microphone | IGN  | PCMag  | MusicTech  | Music Radar  | PianoDreamers  | PC Gamer  | SoundGuys  | CNN Underscored  | Tom's Guide  | Wirecutter  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | +1 | Check price |  Rode NT1 The Rode NT1 is a high-quality studio condenser microphone with a wide frequency response range, low self-noise, cardioid polar pattern, dual connectivity options, and durable construction, making it a versatile and reliable choice for recording vocals and acoustic guitars. | - | 6 | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 18 | +1 | $3595 |  Neumann U87 Ai The Neumann U87 Ai is a top-of-the-line condenser microphone that delivers warm, crystal-clear, and detailed sound quality, making it ideal for recording vocals, acoustic guitar, and spot microphones for individual instruments in a sound-treated recording space. | - | - | 13 | - | 11 | - | - | - | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Microphones ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 6 Apr 2022 MusicTech ranked Neumann U87 Ai as #13
Rank Microphone ... ... #13 out of 15 Neumann U87 Ai ... ... Source: www.musictech.net - On 25 Jan 2023 PianoDreamers ranked Neumann U87 Ai as #11
Rank Microphone Comment ... ... ... #11 out of 11 Neumann U87 Ai The King of MicrophonesSource: www.pianodreamers.com - On 26 Nov 2024 PCMag ranked Rode NT1 as #6
Rank Microphone Comment ... ... ... #6 out of 8 Rode NT1 Best for USB and XLR Inputs... ... ... Source: www.pcmag.com - On 26 Jun 2024 Music Radar ranked Rode NT1 as #6
Rank Microphone Comment ... ... ... #6 out of 22 Rode NT1 The best affordable condenser mic for vocals... ... ... Source: www.musicradar.com
After counting and adding up the 92 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Rode NT1 outranks Neumann U87 Ai. This is not to say that Neumann U87 Ai is a bad option. Like Rode NT1, it is recommended by experts, but less.
As can be seen below, Rode NT1 outranks Neumann U87 Ai by 2 positions. This indicates that, as of 3 Jan 2025, Rode NT1 is more critically acclaimed than Neumann U87 Ai.
| Rank | Change | Price | Microphone | IGN | PCMag | MusicTech | Music Radar | PianoDreamers | PC Gamer | SoundGuys | CNN Underscored | Tom's Guide | Wirecutter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | $100 |  Blue Yeti The Blue Yeti microphone is a versatile and durable device with four directional patterns, a built-in headphone jack, and compatibility with a wide range of devices and software, making it a popular choice among content creators, podcasters, and gamers. | - | - | 11 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - |
| 2 | - | $99 |  Shure SM57 The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings. | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | - | $120 |  Elgato Wave 3 The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac. | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | - | - |
| 4 | +12 | $279 |  Shure MV7 Plus | 5 | 7 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | 3 | - |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [11]
Total expert reviews: 11
- with a score: 3
- without a score: 8
| Highest score by audiotrove.com.au | 100 |
| Average score based on 11 reviews | 96 |
| Lowest score by Music Critic | 92 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
Expert reviews [16]
Total expert reviews: 16
- with a score: 5
- without a score: 11
| Highest score by microphonegeeks.com | 100 |
| Average score based on 16 reviews | 84 |
| Lowest score by Tom's Hardware | 70 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
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