A comprehensive breakdown and comparison between three of the most popular Neumann mics for VoiceOver.

Neumann is one of the most venerated microphone manufacturers in the world, and these three microphones the TLM 102, TLM 103, and the U87ai are among the most used in VoiceOver recordings ever. Is there a “best” among them? and does each step up in price deliver in quality with equal measure?

Let’s break down the differences between them.

TLM 102

Neumann’s ‘entry level’ microphone may be small but it punches above its weight class for the price point. Of the three mics here, it has the ‘darkest’ tone, leading to a warm and intimate feel without becoming overly bright or sibilant (at least in my use of the microphone). Owing to its great tone and sound out of the box, the TLM 102 is incredibly user friendly working well on different voices and in both larger spaces and smaller booths without the need for much if any tuning on the back end. It’s small size is also a wonderful plus allowing for a clear view of your copy where a larger mic might make you feel somewhat claustrophobic at times.

Compared to the TLM 103 and the U87ai, the 102 requires the most gain to get a usable level (about +4dB from the 103 and +6-8dB from the U87ai). This can translate to a more noticeable noise floor and background/ambient noise occasionally making its way into your recordings. By no stretch does this mean you’ll get “bad audio,” it’s just a noticeable difference from the TLM 102 to the other two, and by my estimation one of the principal reasons for its lower price.

Lastly, in practical use the TLM 102 doesn’t boast the sort of sensitivity you’ll get from the other Neumanns here. This is something that a majority of listeners likely won’t pickup, but to professionals, audiophiles, and people with quality speakers there will be a difference. Namely there are minute subtleties in sound and performance that the U87ai will hear that the TLM 102 will not (as well). However, for most home studio VoiceOver artists, this may be a boon as it allows for a less pristine recording environment and sound isolation.

Pros:

• Warm, intimate tone, with good crisp details in the high end.

• Small form factor makes it unobtrusive in the booth.

• Least expensive of the three

• Not as sensitive as the 103 or U87ai, and therefore generally more forgiving

Cons:

• Again, not as sensitive as the 103 or U87ai, meaning you’ll be missing out on some details.

• Darker tone may not be right for you.

• Needs more gain than the other two mics, meaning a higher noise floor.

TLM 103

One of the most popular home studio mics for VoiceOver artists the world over, and with good reason. Its sound is clear and detailed. Lower frequencies are given the love they deserve, making them sound full and warm without becoming overwhelming—especially helpful in smaller spaces like a VO booth. Higher frequencies are given a presence boost at around 5 kHz, helping to capture consonant detail in one’s speech and give your recordings a forward leaning and energetic feel. In my use I’ve found it to be a fantastic mic for almost all use cases, but in particular for commercial work and auditions.

Relative to the darker tone of the 102 and the more neutral U87ai, the TLM 103 can introduce a bit of sibilance to your voice by virtue of its presence boost (at least on my voice). But with that small caveat, the 103 is also incredibly user friendly, sounding lovely right out of the box and requiring once again little to no tuning on the back end. It’s very much a plug and play mic that will cover your bases in almost any situation with little effort in post.

Lastly, with a self-noise of only -7dB, the TLM 103 is the quietest of the three microphones resulting in extremely clean recordings. The noise floor in my use is basically non-existent, making editing a breeze.

In my use, the TLM 103 is certainly worth the price of entry and in my opinion probably the most overall well rounded option of these three mics for a majority of VoiceOver artists’ home studios.

Pros:

• Detailed, crisp, and energetic sound that almost leans forward to grab a listener’s attention. I’d almost say it sounds somewhat ‘commercial.’

• Low self-noise lends itself to squeaky clean recordings with an inaudible noise floor. (Provided your space is decent.)

• Sounds great right out of the box and is incredibly user friendly.

Cons:

• Still ain’t cheap.

• Can be overly bright or even sibilant at times, and for certain projects. (To my ears)

• While still detailed and neutral compared to some mics, its tone can feel somewhat ‘commercial’ which may not be your aim. This is especially apparent when compared to the U87ai.

U87ai

Perhaps the most famous and widely used microphone of all time, and with good reason. The U87ai is honest, neutral, and incredibly sensitive. It will record what it hears in absolute fidelity. This means every detail and nuance is rendered in your recordings perfectly, which is the U87ai’s main selling point. This also means that it is not a forgiving microphone by any stretch. A less than ideal recording environment will sound less than ideal in your recordings, and the same goes for your performance.

For these reasons the U87ai, is an incredible tool for high level professionals and recording studios that is well worth the price, but it is not a user friendly microphone and certainly not a beginner’s mic. Beyond needing a very good if not perfect recording environment and an experienced engineer/performer to get the best sound out of, the U87ai’s neutral/flat tone will likely sound dull compared to the TLM 103 and 102 out of the box—if not just outright bad.

However, with that said if your skill set and studio can give the U87ai the support it needs to get the most bang for your buck out of it, it’s certainly worth the investment.

Lastly, in my use, I’ve found that recording into this mic—by virtue of its sensitivity—it allows me to be much more nuanced in my reads which I hadn’t experienced in my home studio to this degree before.

Pros:

• Records what it hears with absolute honesty, neutrality, and sensitivity.

• Engineers appreciate having a ‘blank canvas’ to work with, which the U87ai provides.

• Can facilitate a subtler performance by virtue of its sensitivity.

Cons:

• Needs significant support to get the best results (i.e. ideal recording environment, aptitude in audio engineering, good performance technique, etc.)

• Because it's so neutral and sensitive, it means any flaws in your performance or booth will shine through all the more.

• Not as user friendly as the TLM 103 or 102.

• $$$

The “Winner”

Really, you can’t go wrong with any of these three microphones in terms of sound, and all will take you the distance no question and result in beautiful recordings. However, here’s what I think it boils down to.

Best Overall: TLM 103

By virtue of its well curated sound, ease of use, and crystal clear and clean recordings—the 103 will likely be the best all-around choice for a majority of users.

Best for High-Level Professionals: U87ai

With a solid foundation of skills and a good home studio setup (i.e. sound isolation and booth treatment), professional VoiceOver artists well into their careers will definitely find this mic adds value to their business.

Best for Beginners Looking to Upgrade: TLM 102

If you’re looking to move from your first mic into a more professional space, the TLM 102 offers a fantastic cost/benefit ratio that offers beautiful curated sound without busting the bank. (It was my first ‘upgrade’ mic in my career.)