The Original – Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

Introduced in 1960, the U 67 was the quintessential studio workhorse throughout the formative years of modern music. Today, more than ever, its inimitably smooth sound continues to be in high demand. Now, for the first time in decades, Neumann’s legendary tube microphone is back in production, built to the original specifications.

Return of a Legend

Introduced as the successor to the eminent Neumann U 47, a lesser microphone would have failed. But the U 67 was quickly adopted as the new studio standard, offering many advantages over its predecessor. With three selectable polar patterns and advanced tube circuitry, including low cut and pad switches, the Neumann U 67 was well-equipped for virtually any recording task. It still is: To this day, many top level engineers would choose the U 67 as their “desert island” microphone for its extraordinary versatility and unmatched sound quality.

Neumann-Engineering at its Best

The U 67 was the first microphone equipped with the famous K 67 capsule, which has since become associated with “the Neumann sound” and continues to be used in its successor, the U 87 A. No less important is the U 67’s masterful tube circuit featuring a clever pre-emphasis/de-emphasis scheme to minimize tube hiss. The U 67 was also the first microphone to address modern recording techniques such as close miking. Its switchable low cut filter compensates for the proximity effect occurring at short recording distances. Using its preattenuation, the U 67 can handle high sound pressure levels of up to 124 dB without distortion (and much more if you don’t mind a bit of “tube grit”).

As timeless as its sound and technical design is its outer appearance. The U 67’s cone-shaped body and the tapered headgrille have since become iconic for the Neumann brand; the same elegant design would grace its solid state successor, the U 87, for the next 50+ years.

History Repeating

Sonically, the current reissue is identical to the U 67 made from 1960–1971. It uses the same capsule and electronic design. Key parts, such as the BV 12 output transformer, are meticulously reproduced according to original documentation. EF86 tubes are carefully selected for optimal characteristics and lowest noise in a dedicated measurement facility. The power supply was redesigned to meet today’s strict safety requirements and to accommodate the slightly higher filament current of newer premium grade tubes. The new power supply NU 67 V is fully compatible with older U 67 microphones.