UST claim to have replicated one of the world’s most famous mics, at a fraction of the cost of the original. How does their UT Vintage87 hold up?

This review will be my third look at a United Studio Technologies microphone. First and second times around, I was impressed with how their mics performed, and especially at how they compared with mics costing at least three times the price. UST have now attempted to push that quality:price ratio even further, with a stripped‑down version of their U87‑style mic that focuses on just the basic features needed for most studio tasks.

UST released their Twin87 in 2022. That model cleverly offered users the sound of both old and new versions of the classic German studio workhorse. Their latest release focuses on just the ‘vintage’ variant, and employs UST’s K87‑style dual‑diaphragm capsule, along with a large‑core, custom‑wound, US‑made output transformer. The new version has the same 10dB pad and high‑pass filter options as the original, and removing the bottom bell allows a 15kHz RF filter to be engaged using DIP switches. However, the Vintage87 is cardioid‑only, which offers some technical advantages as well as simplifying manufacture. As a result, it is very accessibly priced — which will be great news if it sounds as good as UST’s previous releases. The mic follows the same aesthetic as their other models, feeling solid and well made, and includes a similarly solid suspension cradle.

The published specs for the UT Vintage87 suggest that it is like the original U87 in offering relatively little headroom, with a maximum SPL of 117dB, or 127dB...