Context is everything indeed. I was mentioning the K2 as it is a relatively low-end mic like the WA87. It's even €100 cheaper I think?
I've received quite a bit of material recorded with both to mix with (sometimes with the same singer) and the K2 takes, although not very detailed, felt livelier and more balanced to us. I had more trouble working with the WA87s tracks.
A direct comparison to a U87 is a bit unfair as it's still one of the best mics out there, even in its Ai version despite what some people say here on GS.
And it works with most singers.
Cloning a 87 is a hard task and I don't think any of the modern clones gets any close. Some Gefell mics are closer.
I had a listen to your recordings and I think your voice would benefit from a mic in that style (U87 UMT70..)
With a bit of luck they can be found for "cheap" used (cheaper is more exact) maybe with dings and dents..but if it sounds good that's all what counts. You just have to check the capsule is original, someone tried to sell me a vintage 87 body with a capsule from DIY kits in it!
Of course he did not bother mentioning it..until I asked him if I could remove the head basket to check the capsule.
Gefells sell for around 1000 used.

It seems to be showing in their discontinued products on Warm Audio's website. I found that odd.

I see now the new one is marked R2 indicating a 2nd revision. My bad.

Anybody using the WA87 Version 2?
If so have you a view?

Pounamu

Hey im looking at adding either a delphos or mini k87 which one of the two would you say is the more neutral?

Hey jdsbleedo:
They are both very neutral. The difference ( to my ears), the Delphos is a bit bigger sounding than the mini k87. But thats most likely due to the physical design (and price) of the two. I use the Delphos for vox and profile tracks and the mini k87 for all supporting tracks ( aco gtr, drum overheads, shaker, etc). I guess if I were to have only one...than it would be the Delphos, as I can always thin it out later.

Well, when you are using the exact same chain apart from the two microphones you are trying to compare, on the same source at the same time, I think it's fair to say that one has the 3D/dynamic edge over the other when that is what you are hearing.

Acoustic instruments, percussion, vocals, room sounds and amps. It's things like bleed too and how good or bad that bleed sounds in a mix that seem to mark more expensive mics from their imitators.

I've had some more opportunities to make comparisons between the WA87 and a vintage U87, and the Neumann definitely sounds more expensive, has more cut and presence. That said, I recently recorded a track where the WA87 was more appropriate precisely because it didn't sound as clear, shiny, and clean. Horse for courses...

@ ezeaudio did you get a new mic in the end?

Thanks and I think the bigger sound is what i'm looking for, I xcureently use the cm800t(sony clone) and need another more balanced mic thats not as bright as the cm800t

Hi jb, could you please post finished songs you used the Delphos to record? Am also looking at the Delphos and the raw vocals I have heard on youtube sound fantastic, but am not sure about how it takes processing. I hear it is used by some Latino singers and went to listen to their songs but was not impressed with the vocals I heard - thin sounding, strange sibilance - totally different from the beautiful raw vocals I have heard from the Delphos.

I of course cannot say if these vocals of these artistes were recorded with the Delphos. Or may be they were but the mixing was poor? I don't know

If I could get tracks recorded with the Delphos and finished it would help a lot in my decision between the Delphos and the stam sa87

https://willquinlanmusic.bandcamp.co...-bastard-souls

Ld Vox Delphos
Drum Overheads...matched pair of Mini K87's

that list is in ABC order

I recently bought a WA-87 R2. Not bad, considering the price. It is very close to a Neumann U87, but with a fraction less low-end and and a little bit more 'sparkle' at the high end. Not much though and this can easily be corrected with a little bit of EQ.
Build quality is reasonable, although the FET bias could be optimized. (There is a multiturn trimpot.) I don't understand why they have chosen a 24 V. zener for this microphone. Neumann also used a 33 V. zener in the U87. I replaced the 24 V. zener with a 33 V. one and changed the 47K.ohm series resistor to 33K.ohm. This resulted in a higher undistorted SPL and even at lower levels distortion is lower now. (Almost 50% referred to before.) You may want to re-adjust the bias setting after the change.
For the rest: no comments. It does what it is supposed to do in a good way.

Thanks for that much obliged RuudNL

Pounamu

RuudNL I am slow on wiring
Has the "Series Resister" got another name? I have been looking online
I can find the Zener just not the "Series resister" there seems to be
a few different resister names but not series.

Many thanks
Pounamu.

The zener (originally 24V, now 33V) is marked Zn1.
The series resistor (originally 47K, now 33K) is marked R22.

Awesome many thanks RuudNL

Pounamu

I'm finding it hard to tell from the online samples I have heard whether the Delphos is indeed the better mic. In a few of the comparisons I have preferred the k87. I'm trying to find out how the k87 compares to the WA87. If you have any perspective on this I would be interested to know.

I’ve done a couple of sessions, where the client used a WA87 and then used the k87 and then the Delphos. The k87 and the Delphos are always chosen over the WA. Signal chain for all were Neve 3104 to 1176 BS to la2a.

Figures. I'm kind of set on buying the K87, not because of the 87 in the name as I'm done with clones and wannabes, but because everyone seems to consistently praise it as a solid workhorse mic.

Thanks for the response.

The Roswell is a nice mic for the money but as you imply here it is moving in a different direction than any U87 clone as it is a transformerless mic.



Just trying to make this harder for you...

Have you seen the United Audio Twin87?

The build on it looks amazing and it has a beefy transformer and three patterns rather than just being a cardioid mic. Seems like quite a bit is being offered there for only a couple hundred more than the K87.

Nah, I'm pretty done on the idea of owning clones of anything anymore. I'd rather just get some other piece of kit that does it's own thing well rather than try to replicate something else for cheaper. There's something about it that seems philosophically unsound.

Thanks for the recommendation though.

I find the headbasket shape unappealing, but give them credit for what they've done in providing real world, historic options and mods. Reading the online manual, United Audio really did their homework and put a lot of effort into the mic.