Q2U

I wanted a microphone for streaming on Twitch and creating YouTube videos for work, and I heard it recommended as a good budget beginners option from a well known voice actor. So far I've only been able to use it through USB but I'm impressed with the quality and pleased with my choice, especially for the price! What's included (Summer 2020): - Microphone - Foam windshield - Tripod mic stand - XLR cable Good: - Great sound! - Dynamic cardioid which means it doesn't pick up too much environmental noise when set up correctly - perfect for streaming - Low price - Option to use USB and later upgrade to XLR. XLR cable is included too! - You can plug your headphones right in for monitoring - You can use it with an iPad Pro through the Apple camera adaptor, bonus! I spent far too much time in Garageband playing with the voice effects when I realised this :) - Stand is okay but not ideal for positioning as it will sit too low on a desk etc. Less good: - This type of mic needs to be really close to your face to work well and pick up your voice, unless you want to massively crank up the gain and pick up every other noise in the room too. So order an adjustable stand/boom arm to go with it, and make sure you understand how to set up the mic and position it. Otherwise you'll be frustrated at how quiet it is! - I find on PC USB connection there's always a very low amount of white hissing/humming noise, but this is easily fixed in OBS/Streamlabs/Audacity. The noise seems absent on iPad. - Because it's quite a narrow diameter microphone (about 32cm on the handle), it was quite tricky to find the right size shock mount - I had to get one from a dedicated music store as there were no suitable ones on Amazon. - Weird power issues. When I load my PC, the light will appear on the mic but it doesn't actually seem to be powered on. I have to unplug - plug back in to get it working which is a bit of a pain and will wear down the cable faster. This happens on iPad too so I think it's the mic, not Windows etc. I've had people complement the sound quality and stick around on my stream so I would definitely recommend this microphone. To be honest even if it doesn't last long, at this price I'd be happy to buy another.

As an aspiring content creator, I sought a quality microphone for streaming on Twitch and making YouTube videos. I was directed towards the SAMSON Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack as a budget-friendly option, recommended by an experienced voice actor. Although I initially considered the higher-end Shure SM7B, known for its studio-grade recording capabilities, I opted for the SAMSON due to its value proposition. Pros of SAMSON Q2U: Excellent sound quality for its price range. Dynamic cardioid pattern that effectively reduces background noise—ideal for home studios. Affordable, offering significant savings over the Shure SM7B. Dual USB and XLR functionality, with all necessary cables provided. Direct headphone monitoring available. Compatibility with various devices, such as the iPad Pro through an adapter. Although the included stand is basic, it’s a good starting point. Cons of SAMSON Q2U: Best performance requires close proximity; consider investing in an adjustable boom arm. Minor white noise issues with USB connection on PC, though fixable in editing software. The narrow diameter complicates finding a compatible shock mount. Some initial power connectivity issues, requiring re-plugging to resolve. Comparison with Shure SM7B: While the Shure SM7B is a legendary microphone with superior sound isolation and professional quality, its price point is significantly higher and may not include necessary extras like a boom arm, XLR cables, or an interface, which are required for optimal performance. This can greatly increase the overall cost. Conclusion: After using the SAMSON Q2U for my streaming and YouTube projects, I've found it to be an exceptional value, particularly for those just starting out or on a budget. While the Shure SM7B undoubtedly excels in professional settings, the SAMSON Q2U stands out for its affordability, ease of use, and excellent starter kit components. For beginners and intermediate users alike, the SAMSON Q2U offers a compelling package that balances quality and cost effectively. Given my positive experience and the feedback from my audience, I confidently recommend the SAMSON Q2U over the Shure SM7B for those who need a reliable, cost-effective solution without compromising too much on quality. This microphone has not only met but exceeded my expectations, making it a standout choice in its price bracket.

Very good value package with everything you need to upgrade your WFH sound for Zoom/Skype/Teams/Meet/Jitsi etc. Class compliant USB requires no extra drivers, and its integrated 3.5 mm headphone output gives you zero latency foldback/sidetone. This is useful to avoid shouting with headphones on or talking slower and slower due to a delay in hearing your own voice. The mic is built to a price point but feels sturdy and works reliably. Decent off-axis rejection and a fine range of operation means you can use the integrated stand to position on a desk next to a keyboard for voice chats. In Zoom, enable Original Sound with this mic and impress people with the high quality of your audio :-) Over USB, the noise floor is slightly higher than if you used its XLR output, but it's still absolutely fine for everyday use. This also works as a USB microphone into my Android Galaxy S9, though sadly not as a microphone for Zoom probably due to how they've coded the Android app to use Android's built-in audio routing. It works fine with all the popular sound recording apps on Android. Perhaps Zoom will fix this in a future release. Also worth noting, the Samson USB audio chipset does not suffer from any clicking, stuttering and other audio problems, which its nearest competitor does suffer from when used with an Android device over USB (the Audio Technica ATR-2100x USB).

Good for what it is - I like the dual XLR and USB connections and it is very easy to set up and use. Not so big on the included "tripod stand", as it looks and feels a little bit cheaply made, but it is a good stand nonetheless. I would not recommend using foam windshields with this microphone as the elastic surrounding the metal ring in the centre of the ball-top mesh can come off quite easily if done so. I also do not like the fixed gain in the USB connection, and the XLR provides much more variable sensitivity. However, because it is a dynamic microphone, you need an amplifier or audio interface with quite a high gain level (I recommend 40 dB at the minimum). The headphones are just as good, if not slightly better. All in all, quite pleased. :)

It is an amazing Microphone for the price! I don't use an audio box so I just hook it up straight to my laptop and the sound quality is fantastic! You have the choice of connecting via USB or XLR depending on your preference and it's as simple as PLUG AND PLAY. Get a pop filter to go with it if you can as it doesn't come with one, but even without one the sound is pretty crisp and clear. It looks professional and the stand it comes with keeps it nice and compact for easy folding away and transportation and I expect it will probably fit most extension arms. Really good product, really good price, really good sound quality. It's a fantastic purchase and an easy purchase to make for someone who's just starting out.

Would definitely buy it again and recommend to others. Easy to use, nice tight, clear sound.

Been using this for 2+ years now and absolutely love it. Incredible mic with amazing sound quality. It's a 5 star for me

For people just starting out in voice-over work or streaming, this is a great budget friendly option. Pairs well with OBS, just add in a few audio filters and off you go. The ability to upgrade from USB to XLR at a later time, or upfront if you can, is also great. The physical mute switch is a nice addition for if you truly want to know no one can hear you when you don't want them to. The included foam wind screen also seems to double as a pop filter for me, negating the need for a separate one. Just note that although it's considered unidirectional, mine seems to act more like a cardioid and is much louder from one side more than the other.