@@TheZeroSbr not really. "gaming" headphones are inherently overpriced. With the money you used to buy a "gaming" headset, you can buy a "non-gaming" headset that sounds better and a cheap mic.
I bought very similar mic (Maono AU-A03) only for its kit to use with another mic. And I would say Maono is not that bad for Zoom/Skype calls, much better than internal mics of laptops and webcams.
and you can get rid of resonant frequencies/microphonics of this lightweight mic by putting lots of blu tack inside the mic... including the circuit board etc.. this adds mass/damping..
I was so confused until I heard you say "Re-review series". Of course! Honestly a lot of people trash on this mic especially since it's so dirt cheap, but it's better than nothing! EDIT: oh my god that box throw are you okay
I’ll put it this way: there’s a reason I made a video on how to make your U87 sound like the NW700 and not vice versa. ruclips.net/video/rSHRbNGCmTQ/видео.html
I bought the NEEWER NW-700 around November 2020 bc I saw a review on that mic on this channel. I didnt have money what so ever but this mic has been really good for my music for about months now. Its super super good for the price in my opinion.
Yeah it is a decent mic for the price. I have the 700 and 800 versions. I know lots of people that bought these in bulks for the chasi alone to upgrade them with better components.
Super super hot take: The raw NW700 is more pleasing to listen to vs the raw U87 for spoken word. For me. On my phone. I expect to be run out of town soon. Lol.
@@MechTechRW I wont lie I like the tinny sound the bad mics give for spoken word. For music tho it becomes obvious that its a bad mic tho because everything sounded bad haha.
I have bm-800 (I had 700 something and for me, it sounds more soprano than 800, I don't know why, apparently they are the same) + one of that cheap now valve amps (with that dial with valve sound) - it does not sound like that shure "radio sound" mic but it's cover my lack of voice fair enough. I would say it might confuse somebody, it sounds like "about" mv7 but not sm7b (that sm7b would be perfect, maybe with a different darker valve). Maybe I write bs or I'm deaf but for me, it sounds similar (if I would have a darker voice it would sound way better). I had that cheapest beringer and it didn't sound well so I'm clueless about what I would have to buy. I guess I would have to buy a sm7b to hear a difference. I'm also on dolby atmos on w10 on real speakers so most of what I heard had that deep bass sound anyway. so? so sometimes I don't know what sounds good or bad as for me everything sounds so same, it's more about who is talking than hardware.
I think it sounds pretty alright. Has a lot of issues, but the audio you can get from it compared to from a laptop or headset mic is miles ahead. I used one on my podcast for a while and it worked, never any issues with the mic itself, but like it was said in the review the resonance and high frequency distortion are always going to be there. With that said, it makes far more sense to go for something like the Samson Q2U.
No way, no dang way! I got a blue snowball last night for $5 and watched your review and re-review today. Then I started EposVox’s review and he was also streaming an updated review/comparison of it. That spurred me to check on the current quality of bm-800s then here’s this video a few hours after watching your review! This is the first of your videos RUclips has shown in my sub feed in like a year.
Ah the NW700, it holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2016 when I was setting up my first mic setup, not only did I find this mic, but looking for reviews on it, I also found you! back when you only had around 5000 Subs. Your old review on this mic and you pairing it with something like the Behringer UM2 basically sold me and I got the mic and paired it with the UMC22 instead. Everything together, mic, shockmount, boomarm, pop filter, cable and Interface, ended up costing me about 80€/90$ in 2016 and after giving it the slight bassboost on Voicemeeter, I was dead set ready for the next half of a decade. I used it for youtube videos and believe it or not, I actually joined up as a voluntary radio host at a now defunct UK radio station and did Radio with the little NW700! (every host recorded their shows at their homes) Of course it didn't take long for me to realize that at this level I should upgrade to something more prestigious and so I grabbed myself an AT-2020 as most of my Radio Colleagues had one as well and I wanted to sound as close of them as possible. Now as for the mic in 2023, I actually preferred this mic over the Mackie in terms of the way you sound, idk man but the Mackie sounds really muddy for me, and I do not like it at all. I personally think that the NW700 is the condenser equivalent to the XM8500, the cheap entry/gateway drug into audio, and I am pretty sure most people around here have started their journey with this microphone as well. The only part that I agree on where it totally sucks is the resonance. But especially with interface prices rising, and the UM2 costing TWICE AS MUCH now here as it did in 2016, I think the NW700 is the best and the only way to get started if you are on a super tight budget or live in a developing nation where the population is generally poorer and want to set yourself up with an XLR setup you can build upon later on. Going for the XM8500 will cost you quite a bit more as you want an interface with rather strong gain to power it, and after looking at reviews, the UM2 and UMC22 perform absolutely weak in that regard, despite the MIDAS Preamps. I would recommend grabbing an M-Audio M-Track solo in that case.
Glad this mic was able to get you started with your recording. that's amazing. Access to recording has never been more affordable, and that's amazing. I wish that when I started I had sound as good as this through a UM2. But I had sound that was so bad it's hard to even listen to now. I don't necessarily agree that the XM8500 requires a higher investment than the NW700 because I can run the 8500 on the UM2 just fine. So the interface buy in should be the same for both of these mics. I'd personally go 8500 over NW700 as well. I might even consider the Samson Go Mic at $35. So many decent options. Cheers and happy recording.
I've been waiting for this! Re-reviews of budget mics can really show where the market has gone over the years and how affordable getting into audio is getting. I'm also interested in seeing re-reviews of popular mics like the SM7B regardless of price, for similar reasons.
You know, it sounds decent enough. There's also a Pyle entry into this cheap microphone market, the PDMIC71. It's not available from Amazon but it is available from Walmart for about $16. It's basically just another one of these microphones.
I'd be curious how it sounds via that cable they provided plugged directly into a mic jack on a PC (probably terrible), as I bet that's how most people who are looking to buy a $20 condenser mic would try to use it. I can't imagine someone spending $20 on a mic, and then spending $50 on an audio interface to get the best sound out of it. I like the idea of this re-review series. Especially with the box throw test now added!
Heyya Dave. I normally would do that, but I no longer have a computer with a 3.5mm motherboard input like that. I do have this demonstrated in an article i put out though: podcastage.com/rev/bestpodcastmics If you scroll to the bottom, in the left hand column for my "least favorite option", you should be able to hear why I think it's a terrible option.
@@Podcastage Oh gosh that's awful! But unfortunately I bet that's what a lot of people who buy this mic actually do. They probably figure because it looks like those mics they see all the cool RUclipsrs using it'll sound the same.
Yeah. I think a lot of people would likely end up using it that way. It's why I really recommended the XM8500 or the EMC1 because both of those mics are mics I'd be more than happy to use with even a higher end interface.
I use my NW800 with an Maudio 192/6 interface.. and Vandamme cable with Neutrik XLR to XLR.. the cable that came with the NW is actually very good (I took it apart, it is decently constructed and double shielded with braid and mylar).
Same! I am impressed EVERY time I record something with the Worker Bee, incredible quality for the price. I only wish the King Bee were still easily obtainable, because I think it would probably be very impressive as well. I'm considering buying a second Worker Bee for a different PC setup in another room because I like it so much, and ditching my Samson G-Track USB mic altogether.
For that price, this is the best microphone ever made. Resistance is bad, ok, many things, but with couple of steps and eq, audio editor, I would say the sound might be great.
For your voice, which is similar to mine, the Neewer sounded absolutely fine and little different to the expensive mics. I personally use a Blue Yeti X.
$20 mic into the same preamp as the most popular interface out there that is around $150 for the 2 channel or like $100 for the 1 channel. Actually….the interface I’m using has a slightly worse noise floor than the Solo or 2i2. And this is gen 2 which would probably be able to get more affordable on the second hand market.
Your audio interface has no impact on the quality of the mic unless it's inherently bad, which of the interfaces available, there are none. The worst interface is the UM2, and even that doesn't sound discernibly different in processed audio than the higher priced 24 Bit interfaces.
@@chaosflower4892 I'm not so sure. The NW-700 sounds painful on studio headphones and recordings really need post-processing. If using for web chat, the compression might tame it a bit. If neither had post processing, the C1 sounds better. I do like the Newer's piercing highs on the electric. For acoustic, the C1 pulls ahead and is more full bodied. For the beginner, I'd think the Behringer C1 or the $20 dynamic Behringer XM8500 are going to have better sound with less post processing needed. I was mostly surprised that he didn't mention the $45 C1 (current price) and kept referencing the $60 EM-91C. I prefer the C1 over even the EM-91C as the EM-91C makes acoustic sound a bit like the strings are old and have been stretched beyond their usable lifespan. It sounds a bit flat and a bit lifeless compared to the C1. For vocals, the EM-91C and C1 are pretty close. EM-91C emphasizes a lower band and sounds a bit more natural on good headphones, but advantage might shift toward C1 for clarity on cheap headphones. EM-91C for vocals, C1 for instruments or to just save $15.
@@pyro226 Not my experience.. like the chap in the video often says.. he has his opinions, but they are just opinions..The Behringer C1 looks the part, feels the part, yet too many of them (all of them? most of them? some?) suffer awful hiss... Maybe I got lucky, but my NW800 is just better than the C1 I tried.. despite being lighter.. less substantial.. it is louder and has less hiss and sounds very good.. The XM8500 is a mic I would like to try... heard good things.. would also like to try Samson C1.. I use the MAudio 192/6 interface which is quiet anyway... But the fact is, most people can't tell the difference between a £20 mic and a £400 mic. I struggle and I am listening to podcasts etc through about £2k of hi-fi gear. Most people are listening to music and podcasts etc on phones and tablets and soundbars. Many of those people kid themselves they can hear differences in these tests..
@@chaosflower4892 Yeah, I saw a video of a singer comparing the Behringer C1 to a $400 mic. The $400 mic was a bit warmer, but overall they were close. He said at some parts of the song he preferred the C1 because it sounded like EQ had already been applied to it. I'm really just looking for a low-end setup for discord / college classes. I've had too many bad experiences with USB devices having power issues (fuzzy bass on a USB soundcard for headphones, capacitors failing, "portable" HDDs that disconnect mid-transfer or won't spin up at all unless powered by external power). I prefer individual components and am comfortable hooking stuff up. While I dream of getting back to the guitar, I couldn't play the star-spangled banner to save my final grade XD I didn't spend enough time practicing and playing in high school guitar class. Sorry, I had missed you said the NW800. I didn't realize that you potentially weren't talking about the mic featured in this video. His comparison of the 700, 800, and 1500 they were all about the same (prior to internals update, but it wouldn't surprise me if all were updated). Original and updated sounded similar, but the original is less harsh on the vocals. Thanks for the input. More things to look into.
This review highlights a piece that I would love for you to add to your reviews: EQ. I would love for you to tell us how a reviewed mic improves with EQ. I don’t even care if you give us audio samples, we don’t really need it. Just say, “when I threw some EQ and processing at this mic it improved dramatically (or didn’t improve at all). “ I would find this enormously helpful and, I hope, shouldn’t dramatically increase your work flow.
I'm far from an audio buff and listened on $25 audio technica earbuds but for $20 I'm kind of blown away. Clearly the treated room is playing a big roll here but it took the Presonus PX-1 for me to think 'okay well that clearly sounds better' but even then for the price difference and how far a simple fx chain for voice can go is it really worth that price difference? Idk being on the receiving end of the NW-700 for a podcast or stream I'd have no idea it was that dirt cheap of a mic from the sound.
To be fair ... I've been using my BM800 daily for over 6 years now and it's kept up like a champ. I'm not a singer so I use it for VO and video confrencing so the quality has been more than acceptable. Using the BM800 in a UM2 and while I do wish I had gotten something a little nicer I've certainly gotten more than my moneys worth out of my under 100 ppurchase (mic and UM2 total cost was around 80$ Canadadian at the time).
Scored a BM-800 a long time ago for $4. Thru my creative sound blaster k3+ interface, it sounded way better than I expected. Took getting a different mic as a review unit to finally get me to move away from the BM-800 lol.
2:48 - Podcastage - this is not the only video I have problems with but it seems when listening, i have to turn my volume down low because the high frequency high volume from the video just shreds my ears. Its common on a lot of videos, so it is not the mic. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, I have noticed it in other youtubers, but VERY few. Throwing this out there so anyone else can chime in to see if they have the same thing. I might have mentioned this in the past as well. Sometimes I can't even finish a video. Videos are great though, good content and information. Much appreciated! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
That’s cool, i started off watching your high end mic reviews and now with this cheaply i actually appreciate how much the quality mic’s drown out or ignore when banging on the mount or heck even brushing the cable. Very cool for comparisons, thanks. (I am a learning person about these things, aka beginner)
I bought 2 of these for my podcast a couple of years ago, and it's through reviews like these that I realize the biggest problem with the NW-700 is consistency. Both of mine sound identical, but they sound like identical garbage...not anywhere NEAR as good as yours sound. They're great if you're after that lo-fi vintage radio announcer sound, but to be useable for any modern applications, they require SO MUCH processing that it's an absolute nightmare. Honestly, the best part of my kits were the shockmounts. I'd kill for mine to have sounded as good as yours. That being said, as always, a wonderfully thorough and helpful review/re-review. Thanks!
@@Pentti_Hilkuri But that's a completely vague and arbitrary definition. Good sound for me in the context of human speech is a sound that is at least as accurate as what you could capture with a modern Rode NT1. Some other guy might be even more snobbish and claim that you can't achieve good sound without a multi-thousand dollar setup. I know I'm overthinking this, but I can't help but roll my eyes whenever I see/hear someone say (I'm paraphrasing), "Lol I got good sound from a $20 USB mic, you can totally get good sound from dirt cheap gear". This isn't objectively true or false, but it's a meaningless statement because most people don't have the same standards for audio quality. Why am I wasting time making this post? I don't even know.
@@johnnyfrisco5354 Of course. You don't have to delve into microphones very far to learn this. The same is true for almost every other consumer market.
It's usable. If you're on a budget and you need a mic' get your project going, that's alright. I started with this Neewer-700 with a Behringer 1800xms and got pretty decent demos for my music project. It works, used correctly it'll get you goin.
I bought 2 NW800 years ago after you reviewed them like 6 years ago ... still going strong. Sure, I wish I had purchased a better interface than the UM2 but I don't REGRET getting the UM2. I use the BM800 for Discord / MSTeams / Zoom meetings, for naration / VO ... I don't sing so that's not a concern for me. If I was purchasing something new ... I might go with a Focusrite kit insteadas a prosumer level kit instead of a BM800 and a UM2 ... but that would be like 5X more expensive. LOL.
I've missed watching your videos man. I'm subscribed to your channel since late 2018 (I think) and I stopped watching some of your videos since I bought my lavalier mic which is the Boya BY-M1. Sadly, it went missing after a few use because our house kind of just became a mess since it is being renovated. I only rely on my headphone's mic now. Anyway, I'm glad you're doing fine, looking healthy, and still uploading review videos about quality microphones. Keep up the good work!
I am using a cheap 1,99 EUR microphone with a regular 3,5 jack and I just got this one as an offer into my mailbox and this review made everything clear for me - I HAVE to buy it :D Thanks for your video, +1 like from me
You are without doubt the funniest so & so on RUclips. Combine that with your detailed reviews, it leads me to say I LOVE your Channel! Regards from Australia...keep 'em coming.
I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic Bandrew, this is the microphone that made me discover your channel years ago. Luckily the microphone itself is sitting in a box now, you make it sound way better than it is.
I bought something similar for about 30 USD a few years ago, and I use it as the overhead on my drumkit. It's perfectly adequate, even quite good. I was shocked once I started using it. It's crazy what you can get for the money now.
Bought four of these WITH BOOM ARMS AND POP FILTERS for 20 bucks apiece. Yes they are the worst mics you can buy, BUT they are the cheapest. If you need just one mic, it’s worth saving a little more. But if you are starting out on a multi-voice studio podcast or something, then this is the best way to start. Yes you will be upgrading, in then it was recording out of the home studio, in untreated environments that forced us up the upgrade path. But just one upgraded mic cost as much as all of these put together.
Hi Bandrew, maybe with this type of microphones you can check it with a little Behringer console or similar, because a lot low budget users has mini consoles instead of sound cards Great videos as usual, go ahead!
@3:34 This was the moment I realized I am a frickin moron. I've recently become interested in audio recording and production as a hobby, and this is my first mic, along with a Scarlett 2i2 (I'm doing research to get a better mic). I've been dissatisfied with the hum/noise in my recordings, which I feel is inevitable considering how much gain I have to use, and I've been trying to find a solution. I could've sworn that the product description stated that this mic would record equally from either the front or back, just not from the sides. Over the past several months I've been streaming, gaming, using voicechat with friends, I've recorded song covers and multi-track projects for my own enjoyment (and to impress girls), I've recorded a couple miscellaneous tutorials for others, and I even did a couple auditions for voiceover work. And I've been speaking into the back of the microphone all along. I just now did the comparison with everything I've recorded. Yeah. I'll see myself out.
I am still liking the Bee. I have a Neewer 800 with a Berenger UM2 for voice recordings. As you said, it turns on and I can play with it until I have a better idea of what to do with a mic.
I use mine for Teams calls. Before that I was using a gaming headset, and before THAT, I was using the mic that came with my Dell in 1997. My current setup with my Monoprice mixer and this mic set is 100 times better than what I had. Thinking of grabbing that Mackie though, but the jump from gaming headset mic to cheapest XLR mic and mixer I could buy ($17 + $60) was the best investment ever.
RUclips does some sort of noise processing, but that mic doesn’t sound terrible for a 20-dollar mic. No comparison to a good mic, but not the worst cheapo mic, at least on RUclips
That’s why I upload a higher quality 48khz, 320kbps, m4a to my webiste. Can’t host wav on my site, so I have the highest quality available. Link in description of the videos.
I’ve used one for a couple of years, I’ve got decent results from it with an old 8 channel m-audio interface and a second hand 10 year old laptop. Time to upgrade things but can’t complain about the microphone. I got the whole kit for £9 delivered 😅
I bought the original NW700 back in 2015. It's 2023 now. Still using it. takes a bit of tweaking in audio settings (I use Voicemeeter Potato because I don't have the budget nor room for a full audio setup) to make it sound a bit better, but it works for me. Might upgrade to the Mackie, tho.
The point you make at the end is made even stronger in the context that in 2021, headset microphones still sound the way they do. The mic hardware they're putting in headsets is probably costing them pennies.
I agree that this was not impressive as an instrument mic, but as a spoken word mic, to my ears (and I was listening both through my phone speaker as well as a pair of Soundcore Q20’s) the NW700 sounded better then everything except the V67. That resonance though! Jeez!!!!
I am interested to see a re-review of the AKG D5 dynamic mic in this new format. Would like to hear it directly compared with other microphones as well.
The Mackie was great for its price compared to this. The Neat Work Bee was probably my favorite at $100. It all depends on the voice/instrument. I'd rather get the XM8500 for $20.
I feel the same way for the most part. I heard very little if any difference on any other mics except the Presonus PX-1 which had noticeable low end. The highest priced mic sounded more full as well. I would never pay for the most expensive mic. I would buy the Presonus for the best sounding cheap mic. However the Neewer 700 despite its susceptibility to it resonating when taping, the unit was indistinguishable “for me” from the others, except for the Personas and the most expensive mic.
I'd like to see you try and fix the shitty mics like this. I know you could process most of the junk away, and you could probably cut up some foam and stick it in the mic to help with resonance. I know you probably wouldn't want to do a DIY step by step guide, but, being able to hear if it's worth trying to fix it, or if it's complete garbage, when it comes to these cheap mics, would be useful.
After listening at my usual level, your comments were harsh, the Neewer sounded OK, the Tascam worse and the Neumann better. Then I pushed the volume up and, well, the Neewer is not OK, and you're right, especially about the acoustic guitar. Tascam still worse. Neumann still better also.
When a chinese microphone comes with a XLR to 3.5mm cable, it seems to me that it doesn't need DC +48V Phantom Power, instead it needs to be connected to a Plug-In Power (bias) that provides DC +5V. If you use this mic with Phantom Power it works, but the Pre-amp's Phantom Power of your equipment can be damaged, so be careful on that. RODE has a converter that it takes the +48V Phantom Power and converts it to 3-5V Plug-In power, it is VLXR+ adapter. Regards
In fact the Neewer NW-700 sounds very natural to me. The sounds of the other microphones just tell me there is a little bit of reverb effect in the output. Otherwise the Neewer NW-700 sounds just natural and nicely dry.
Understanding the mic comes with the shock mount which isn't awful, if you're going to spend $20 on a mic, you should definitely go for the xm8500 dynamic instead for basically the same price. Such a better mic.
Hey, thanks for the review! Especially for the overall thoughts, because few people can't handle things in place nowadays. Everyone wants the maximum, right away. For me, as a professional broadcaster and producer, this one is a garbage, but for many others this thing could be a starting point. Not a good starting point, but a starting point. : ) Or it could be a device for a hobby. I really hate when somebody on RUclips can’t think about beginners. I mean, when someone tells you here that "the Galaxy 21 Ultra is the best phone", never added to whom. Then, when the average person buys it and starts shooting in the torn neighborhood, without friends and creativity, can’t do a miracle with it. So, you can buy the SM7B (I also have two of them) or a Neumann, but a mic is still just a device. If you’re inexperienced, or maybe untalented, there’s no point in spending money. Try yourself with $ 25stuff and if it makes sense, move up!
Started out with the Tonor BM700 coupled with a super budget Behringer UM2, still use the mic stand/shockmount and mic as my workbench/desk mic for work but went to the Samson Q2U as my go to everyday USB/XLR mic. Right now, my set up and requirements are well met by the Q2U until I can move to the RodeCaster and Podcaster mic
At least it sounds better than the Blue Snowball in some respects but it's still harsh, sibilant, and unappealing. I would recommend spending around $80-$100 for an entry-level XLR cardioid condenser though that Mackie is also pretty decent at only $50.
Still way better quality than 99% of gaming headsets that cost 100$+
Probably because gaming headsets also include headphones. That's where most of the cost goes, I'd imagine.
@@TheZeroSbr Still even 200$ don't come close to cheapest XLR mics
@@TheZeroSbr not really. "gaming" headphones are inherently overpriced. With the money you used to buy a "gaming" headset, you can buy a "non-gaming" headset that sounds better and a cheap mic.
ah yes. compare the cheap ass headphones to $600 preamps
@@Chinhnguyen0497 i garuantee you that if you were to plug it into a 100 dollar interface, it would sound more or less the same.
The shock mount alone is nice for the price and u get a free mic
I bought very similar mic (Maono AU-A03) only for its kit to use with another mic. And I would say Maono is not that bad for Zoom/Skype calls, much better than internal mics of laptops and webcams.
Lmao ur comment had me dying ngl
Good one :D:D
and you can get rid of resonant frequencies/microphonics of this lightweight mic by putting lots of blu tack inside the mic... including the circuit board etc.. this adds mass/damping..
@@chaosflower4892 blue tack would probably cost more than the mic, wouldn't clay (play-doh) suffice?
I was so confused until I heard you say "Re-review series". Of course!
Honestly a lot of people trash on this mic especially since it's so dirt cheap, but it's better than nothing!
EDIT: oh my god that box throw are you okay
Well he proved in this video that the mic is still good in use if you have the phantom power he have
Sometimes nothing is better than crap.
My built in mic in my wal mart laptop better then this
@@davidmarley8387 My Blu Ray player from Walmart is just a guy named Ray who plays the blues.
Sean Webb are you sure about that
I'm gonna need to see a versus series for the NW-700 vs the U87 Ai, having a hard time making my decision :/
I’ll put it this way: there’s a reason I made a video on how to make your U87 sound like the NW700 and not vice versa. ruclips.net/video/rSHRbNGCmTQ/видео.html
@@Podcastage 😨 the sonic wizardry is astounding, what have I been doing with my life
Never make the mistake of allowing your U87 to sound like a U87. Make it sound like the gold standard, the NW700!
@@Podcastage Why would you waste your money on a U87? The NW-700 is 613 better.
@@pingpongowo i see what you did there...
“Neewer: It Technically Functions”
Now that’s a slogan!
Neewer. Legally we can call it a microphone! lol
Neewer: sing into the cable and it'll still pick up your voice.
That was my first mic, I got it used for 10 bucks 4 years ago and thats how I found your channel originaly
I bought the NEEWER NW-700 around November 2020 bc I saw a review on that mic on this channel. I didnt have money what so ever but this mic has been really good for my music for about months now. Its super super good for the price in my opinion.
Yeah it is a decent mic for the price. I have the 700 and 800 versions. I know lots of people that bought these in bulks for the chasi alone to upgrade them with better components.
Super super hot take:
The raw NW700 is more pleasing to listen to vs the raw U87 for spoken word. For me. On my phone.
I expect to be run out of town soon. Lol.
:grabs pitchfork and torch:
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
@@Podcastage 🏃♂️🧜♂️🔥
@@MechTechRW I wont lie I like the tinny sound the bad mics give for spoken word. For music tho it becomes obvious that its a bad mic tho because everything sounded bad haha.
I have bm-800 (I had 700 something and for me, it sounds more soprano than 800, I don't know why, apparently they are the same) + one of that cheap now valve amps (with that dial with valve sound) - it does not sound like that shure "radio sound" mic but it's cover my lack of voice fair enough. I would say it might confuse somebody, it sounds like "about" mv7 but not sm7b (that sm7b would be perfect, maybe with a different darker valve).
Maybe I write bs or I'm deaf but for me, it sounds similar (if I would have a darker voice it would sound way better).
I had that cheapest beringer and it didn't sound well so I'm clueless about what I would have to buy. I guess I would have to buy a sm7b to hear a difference.
I'm also on dolby atmos on w10 on real speakers so most of what I heard had that deep bass sound anyway.
so? so sometimes I don't know what sounds good or bad as for me everything sounds so same, it's more about who is talking than hardware.
I think it sounds pretty alright. Has a lot of issues, but the audio you can get from it compared to from a laptop or headset mic is miles ahead. I used one on my podcast for a while and it worked, never any issues with the mic itself, but like it was said in the review the resonance and high frequency distortion are always going to be there.
With that said, it makes far more sense to go for something like the Samson Q2U.
No way, no dang way!
I got a blue snowball last night for $5 and watched your review and re-review today. Then I started EposVox’s review and he was also streaming an updated review/comparison of it. That spurred me to check on the current quality of bm-800s then here’s this video a few hours after watching your review! This is the first of your videos RUclips has shown in my sub feed in like a year.
My God, seldom have I ever seen a box throw with that much passion lol
Ah the NW700, it holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2016 when I was setting up my first mic setup, not only did I find this mic, but looking for reviews on it, I also found you! back when you only had around 5000 Subs. Your old review on this mic and you pairing it with something like the Behringer UM2 basically sold me and I got the mic and paired it with the UMC22 instead. Everything together, mic, shockmount, boomarm, pop filter, cable and Interface, ended up costing me about 80€/90$ in 2016 and after giving it the slight bassboost on Voicemeeter, I was dead set ready for the next half of a decade. I used it for youtube videos and believe it or not, I actually joined up as a voluntary radio host at a now defunct UK radio station and did Radio with the little NW700! (every host recorded their shows at their homes) Of course it didn't take long for me to realize that at this level I should upgrade to something more prestigious and so I grabbed myself an AT-2020 as most of my Radio Colleagues had one as well and I wanted to sound as close of them as possible.
Now as for the mic in 2023, I actually preferred this mic over the Mackie in terms of the way you sound, idk man but the Mackie sounds really muddy for me, and I do not like it at all. I personally think that the NW700 is the condenser equivalent to the XM8500, the cheap entry/gateway drug into audio, and I am pretty sure most people around here have started their journey with this microphone as well. The only part that I agree on where it totally sucks is the resonance. But especially with interface prices rising, and the UM2 costing TWICE AS MUCH now here as it did in 2016, I think the NW700 is the best and the only way to get started if you are on a super tight budget or live in a developing nation where the population is generally poorer and want to set yourself up with an XLR setup you can build upon later on. Going for the XM8500 will cost you quite a bit more as you want an interface with rather strong gain to power it, and after looking at reviews, the UM2 and UMC22 perform absolutely weak in that regard, despite the MIDAS Preamps. I would recommend grabbing an M-Audio M-Track solo in that case.
Glad this mic was able to get you started with your recording. that's amazing. Access to recording has never been more affordable, and that's amazing. I wish that when I started I had sound as good as this through a UM2. But I had sound that was so bad it's hard to even listen to now. I don't necessarily agree that the XM8500 requires a higher investment than the NW700 because I can run the 8500 on the UM2 just fine. So the interface buy in should be the same for both of these mics. I'd personally go 8500 over NW700 as well. I might even consider the Samson Go Mic at $35. So many decent options. Cheers and happy recording.
The energy level in this video was on another level!
I've been waiting for this! Re-reviews of budget mics can really show where the market has gone over the years and how affordable getting into audio is getting. I'm also interested in seeing re-reviews of popular mics like the SM7B regardless of price, for similar reasons.
You know, it sounds decent enough. There's also a Pyle entry into this cheap microphone market, the PDMIC71. It's not available from Amazon but it is available from Walmart for about $16. It's basically just another one of these microphones.
I'm so enjoying this Re reviews series
I'd be curious how it sounds via that cable they provided plugged directly into a mic jack on a PC (probably terrible), as I bet that's how most people who are looking to buy a $20 condenser mic would try to use it. I can't imagine someone spending $20 on a mic, and then spending $50 on an audio interface to get the best sound out of it. I like the idea of this re-review series. Especially with the box throw test now added!
Heyya Dave. I normally would do that, but I no longer have a computer with a 3.5mm motherboard input like that. I do have this demonstrated in an article i put out though: podcastage.com/rev/bestpodcastmics If you scroll to the bottom, in the left hand column for my "least favorite option", you should be able to hear why I think it's a terrible option.
@@Podcastage Oh gosh that's awful! But unfortunately I bet that's what a lot of people who buy this mic actually do. They probably figure because it looks like those mics they see all the cool RUclipsrs using it'll sound the same.
Yeah. I think a lot of people would likely end up using it that way. It's why I really recommended the XM8500 or the EMC1 because both of those mics are mics I'd be more than happy to use with even a higher end interface.
I use my NW800 with an Maudio 192/6 interface.. and Vandamme cable with Neutrik XLR to XLR.. the cable that came with the NW is actually very good (I took it apart, it is decently constructed and double shielded with braid and mylar).
I am so glad I bought the Neat Worker Bee. It sounds so good.
Same! I am impressed EVERY time I record something with the Worker Bee, incredible quality for the price. I only wish the King Bee were still easily obtainable, because I think it would probably be very impressive as well. I'm considering buying a second Worker Bee for a different PC setup in another room because I like it so much, and ditching my Samson G-Track USB mic altogether.
@@neonvoid666 The king bee 2 is coming out THEORETICALLY this year, may be worth waiting!
0:53 LOL that was hilarious! I bought this mic years ago and now just about to use it. You've earned a sub!
For that price, this is the best microphone ever made. Resistance is bad, ok, many things, but with couple of steps and eq, audio editor, I would say the sound might be great.
For your voice, which is similar to mine, the Neewer sounded absolutely fine and little different to the expensive mics. I personally use a Blue Yeti X.
$20 mic into $500 interface, what a realistic use case 😉 (yes I recognize it keeps testing consistent)
$20 mic into the same preamp as the most popular interface out there that is around $150 for the 2 channel or like $100 for the 1 channel. Actually….the interface I’m using has a slightly worse noise floor than the Solo or 2i2. And this is gen 2 which would probably be able to get more affordable on the second hand market.
Your audio interface has no impact on the quality of the mic unless it's inherently bad, which of the interfaces available, there are none. The worst interface is the UM2, and even that doesn't sound discernibly different in processed audio than the higher priced 24 Bit interfaces.
Notably Absent: Behringer C1. I'm guessing the recommendation shifted from the C1 to the EM-91C?
I think the NW800 is better than the C1...
@@chaosflower4892 I'm not so sure. The NW-700 sounds painful on studio headphones and recordings really need post-processing. If using for web chat, the compression might tame it a bit. If neither had post processing, the C1 sounds better. I do like the Newer's piercing highs on the electric. For acoustic, the C1 pulls ahead and is more full bodied. For the beginner, I'd think the Behringer C1 or the $20 dynamic Behringer XM8500 are going to have better sound with less post processing needed. I was mostly surprised that he didn't mention the $45 C1 (current price) and kept referencing the $60 EM-91C. I prefer the C1 over even the EM-91C as the EM-91C makes acoustic sound a bit like the strings are old and have been stretched beyond their usable lifespan. It sounds a bit flat and a bit lifeless compared to the C1. For vocals, the EM-91C and C1 are pretty close. EM-91C emphasizes a lower band and sounds a bit more natural on good headphones, but advantage might shift toward C1 for clarity on cheap headphones. EM-91C for vocals, C1 for instruments or to just save $15.
@@pyro226 Not my experience.. like the chap in the video often says.. he has his opinions, but they are just opinions..The Behringer C1 looks the part, feels the part, yet too many of them (all of them? most of them? some?) suffer awful hiss... Maybe I got lucky, but my NW800 is just better than the C1 I tried.. despite being lighter.. less substantial.. it is louder and has less hiss and sounds very good.. The XM8500 is a mic I would like to try... heard good things.. would also like to try Samson C1.. I use the MAudio 192/6 interface which is quiet anyway...
But the fact is, most people can't tell the difference between a £20 mic and a £400 mic. I struggle and I am listening to podcasts etc through about £2k of hi-fi gear. Most people are listening to music and podcasts etc on phones and tablets and soundbars. Many of those people kid themselves they can hear differences in these tests..
@@chaosflower4892 Yeah, I saw a video of a singer comparing the Behringer C1 to a $400 mic. The $400 mic was a bit warmer, but overall they were close. He said at some parts of the song he preferred the C1 because it sounded like EQ had already been applied to it. I'm really just looking for a low-end setup for discord / college classes. I've had too many bad experiences with USB devices having power issues (fuzzy bass on a USB soundcard for headphones, capacitors failing, "portable" HDDs that disconnect mid-transfer or won't spin up at all unless powered by external power). I prefer individual components and am comfortable hooking stuff up. While I dream of getting back to the guitar, I couldn't play the star-spangled banner to save my final grade XD I didn't spend enough time practicing and playing in high school guitar class. Sorry, I had missed you said the NW800. I didn't realize that you potentially weren't talking about the mic featured in this video. His comparison of the 700, 800, and 1500 they were all about the same (prior to internals update, but it wouldn't surprise me if all were updated). Original and updated sounded similar, but the original is less harsh on the vocals. Thanks for the input. More things to look into.
This review highlights a piece that I would love for you to add to your reviews: EQ. I would love for you to tell us how a reviewed mic improves with EQ. I don’t even care if you give us audio samples, we don’t really need it. Just say, “when I threw some EQ and processing at this mic it improved dramatically (or didn’t improve at all). “ I would find this enormously helpful and, I hope, shouldn’t dramatically increase your work flow.
Just wanna say I remember from 100 subs and I love to see how much growth you have made! Keep up the good work!
Your videos are so fun, that I want to buy a mic just to test the mic just like you do😁
quite honestly this thing holds up surprisingly well for the price...
I'm far from an audio buff and listened on $25 audio technica earbuds but for $20 I'm kind of blown away. Clearly the treated room is playing a big roll here but it took the Presonus PX-1 for me to think 'okay well that clearly sounds better' but even then for the price difference and how far a simple fx chain for voice can go is it really worth that price difference? Idk being on the receiving end of the NW-700 for a podcast or stream I'd have no idea it was that dirt cheap of a mic from the sound.
It's the cheapskate who often pays the most. The AT2020, P120, SM58 and D5 are all competent microphones that won't break the bank.
To be fair ... I've been using my BM800 daily for over 6 years now and it's kept up like a champ. I'm not a singer so I use it for VO and video confrencing so the quality has been more than acceptable. Using the BM800 in a UM2 and while I do wish I had gotten something a little nicer I've certainly gotten more than my moneys worth out of my under 100 ppurchase (mic and UM2 total cost was around 80$ Canadadian at the time).
Scored a BM-800 a long time ago for $4. Thru my creative sound blaster k3+ interface, it sounded way better than I expected. Took getting a different mic as a review unit to finally get me to move away from the BM-800 lol.
Can you please re-review the Neumann BCM 705.
2:48 - Podcastage - this is not the only video I have problems with but it seems when listening, i have to turn my volume down low because the high frequency high volume from the video just shreds my ears. Its common on a lot of videos, so it is not the mic.
I don't know if anyone else has this problem, I have noticed it in other youtubers, but VERY few.
Throwing this out there so anyone else can chime in to see if they have the same thing. I might have mentioned this in the past as well. Sometimes I can't even finish a video.
Videos are great though, good content and information. Much appreciated! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
That’s cool, i started off watching your high end mic reviews and now with this cheaply i actually appreciate how much the quality mic’s drown out or ignore when banging on the mount or heck even brushing the cable. Very cool for comparisons, thanks. (I am a learning person about these things, aka beginner)
YES YES THE ROAD TO THE BEHRINGER XM8500 YESSSSSSSS
An sE V7 re-review would be wonderful
Honestly, It's the best mic under $100. Totally worth the money over the SM58. The sound is rich and beautiful.
I bought 2 of these for my podcast a couple of years ago, and it's through reviews like these that I realize the biggest problem with the NW-700 is consistency. Both of mine sound identical, but they sound like identical garbage...not anywhere NEAR as good as yours sound. They're great if you're after that lo-fi vintage radio announcer sound, but to be useable for any modern applications, they require SO MUCH processing that it's an absolute nightmare. Honestly, the best part of my kits were the shockmounts. I'd kill for mine to have sounded as good as yours.
That being said, as always, a wonderfully thorough and helpful review/re-review. Thanks!
Came here for the box throwing. I was not disappointed!😂
Finally, something I can afford.
That moment when I've bought $16 USB mic with good sound
Whatever "good sound" means.
Good sound means it sounds better than 99% of "gaming" headset microphones.
@@Pentti_Hilkuri But that's a completely vague and arbitrary definition. Good sound for me in the context of human speech is a sound that is at least as accurate as what you could capture with a modern Rode NT1. Some other guy might be even more snobbish and claim that you can't achieve good sound without a multi-thousand dollar setup.
I know I'm overthinking this, but I can't help but roll my eyes whenever I see/hear someone say (I'm paraphrasing), "Lol I got good sound from a $20 USB mic, you can totally get good sound from dirt cheap gear". This isn't objectively true or false, but it's a meaningless statement because most people don't have the same standards for audio quality.
Why am I wasting time making this post? I don't even know.
@@TheZeroSbr Microphones are fun... There will be surprises on quality relative to cost...
@@johnnyfrisco5354 Of course. You don't have to delve into microphones very far to learn this. The same is true for almost every other consumer market.
The Mackie sounded fine. The Worker Bee for the price was my favorite.
It's usable. If you're on a budget and you need a mic' get your project going, that's alright. I started with this Neewer-700 with a Behringer 1800xms and got pretty decent demos for my music project. It works, used correctly it'll get you goin.
That's very true. The best mic is the one you have. Happy recording.
The NW-700 is a pretty darn good deal for just a “capsule in a cage.” I never got my old one to stay quiet though. Such a noisy mic.
Watching you tip over is great content.
I bought 2 NW800 years ago after you reviewed them like 6 years ago ... still going strong. Sure, I wish I had purchased a better interface than the UM2 but I don't REGRET getting the UM2. I use the BM800 for Discord / MSTeams / Zoom meetings, for naration / VO ... I don't sing so that's not a concern for me.
If I was purchasing something new ... I might go with a Focusrite kit insteadas a prosumer level kit instead of a BM800 and a UM2 ... but that would be like 5X more expensive. LOL.
I've missed watching your videos man. I'm subscribed to your channel since late 2018 (I think) and I stopped watching some of your videos since I bought my lavalier mic which is the Boya BY-M1. Sadly, it went missing after a few use because our house kind of just became a mess since it is being renovated. I only rely on my headphone's mic now. Anyway, I'm glad you're doing fine, looking healthy, and still uploading review videos about quality microphones. Keep up the good work!
I am using a cheap 1,99 EUR microphone with a regular 3,5 jack and I just got this one as an offer into my mailbox and this review made everything clear for me - I HAVE to buy it :D
Thanks for your video, +1 like from me
the box throw is worth it enough to watch this video, not gonna lie :P
You are without doubt the funniest so & so on RUclips. Combine that with your detailed reviews, it leads me to say I LOVE your Channel! Regards from Australia...keep 'em coming.
Very kind of you Geoff. That means a lot! Cheers from the States.
I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic Bandrew, this is the microphone that made me discover your channel years ago. Luckily the microphone itself is sitting in a box now, you make it sound way better than it is.
I bought something similar for about 30 USD a few years ago, and I use it as the overhead on my drumkit. It's perfectly adequate, even quite good. I was shocked once I started using it. It's crazy what you can get for the money now.
Bought four of these WITH BOOM ARMS AND POP FILTERS for 20 bucks apiece. Yes they are the worst mics you can buy, BUT they are the cheapest. If you need just one mic, it’s worth saving a little more. But if you are starting out on a multi-voice studio podcast or something, then this is the best way to start. Yes you will be upgrading, in then it was recording out of the home studio, in untreated environments that forced us up the upgrade path. But just one upgraded mic cost as much as all of these put together.
Hi Bandrew, maybe with this type of microphones you can check it with a little Behringer console or similar, because a lot low budget users has mini consoles instead of sound cards
Great videos as usual, go ahead!
hahahaha you suffer the revenge of the boxes in your chair! hahaha very funny. Thanks fo the review very informative as always!
@3:34 This was the moment I realized I am a frickin moron.
I've recently become interested in audio recording and production as a hobby, and this is my first mic, along with a Scarlett 2i2 (I'm doing research to get a better mic).
I've been dissatisfied with the hum/noise in my recordings, which I feel is inevitable considering how much gain I have to use, and I've been trying to find a solution.
I could've sworn that the product description stated that this mic would record equally from either the front or back, just not from the sides.
Over the past several months I've been streaming, gaming, using voicechat with friends, I've recorded song covers and multi-track projects for my own enjoyment (and to impress girls), I've recorded a couple miscellaneous tutorials for others, and I even did a couple auditions for voiceover work.
And I've been speaking into the back of the microphone all along. I just now did the comparison with everything I've recorded.
Yeah. I'll see myself out.
I am still liking the Bee. I have a Neewer 800 with a Berenger UM2 for voice recordings. As you said, it turns on and I can play with it until I have a better idea of what to do with a mic.
I have the King Bee and it's great. Worker doesn't seem too far off.
0:53 that part made me laugh so hard lol XD
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I never laughed this hard early in any youtube videos!!!!! 0:54
I use mine for Teams calls. Before that I was using a gaming headset, and before THAT, I was using the mic that came with my Dell in 1997. My current setup with my Monoprice mixer and this mic set is 100 times better than what I had.
Thinking of grabbing that Mackie though, but the jump from gaming headset mic to cheapest XLR mic and mixer I could buy ($17 + $60) was the best investment ever.
A minute in and I already love this video.
we'll be waiting for a re-review of the BM-800. :)
RUclips does some sort of noise processing, but that mic doesn’t sound terrible for a 20-dollar mic. No comparison to a good mic, but not the worst cheapo mic, at least on RUclips
That’s why I upload a higher quality 48khz, 320kbps, m4a to my webiste. Can’t host wav on my site, so I have the highest quality available. Link in description of the videos.
It would be interesting if you did a sweep on the mic and showed us what the actual response curve of the mic is.
That box throw! Best yet!
I’ve used one for a couple of years, I’ve got decent results from it with an old 8 channel m-audio interface and a second hand 10 year old laptop. Time to upgrade things but can’t complain about the microphone. I got the whole kit for £9 delivered 😅
I bought the original NW700 back in 2015. It's 2023 now. Still using it. takes a bit of tweaking in audio settings (I use Voicemeeter Potato because I don't have the budget nor room for a full audio setup) to make it sound a bit better, but it works for me. Might upgrade to the Mackie, tho.
A tear down series would be interesting. I’d like to see the capsule.
The point you make at the end is made even stronger in the context that in 2021, headset microphones still sound the way they do. The mic hardware they're putting in headsets is probably costing them pennies.
Re-review of the XM-8500?
I had this mic for 3 years. Its honestly not bad
It functions and it's $20. When I first started out that would have blown my mind.
I agree that this was not impressive as an instrument mic, but as a spoken word mic, to my ears (and I was listening both through my phone speaker as well as a pair of Soundcore Q20’s) the NW700 sounded better then everything except the V67. That resonance though! Jeez!!!!
I am interested to see a re-review of the AKG D5 dynamic mic in this new format. Would like to hear it directly compared with other microphones as well.
The Mackie was great for its price compared to this. The Neat Work Bee was probably my favorite at $100. It all depends on the voice/instrument. I'd rather get the XM8500 for $20.
I feel the same way for the most part. I heard very little if any difference on any other mics except the Presonus PX-1 which had noticeable low end. The highest priced mic sounded more full as well. I would never pay for the most expensive mic. I would buy the Presonus for the best sounding cheap mic. However the Neewer 700 despite its susceptibility to it resonating when taping, the unit was indistinguishable “for me” from the others, except for the Personas and the most expensive mic.
That was some epic box throwing. :D :D I always like that
That's the best box throw I've ever seen :D
the staged fall while sitting down is a new new touch 👍
Love those filters at 4ft demonstration
bro i have samson c01u pro but its not sounding like yours i am using windows 10 os , could you please guide me
Greetings, big fan here. Can you review the AKG C3000 and the SEelectronics V7x? Thank you for making these videos!
I'd like to see you try and fix the shitty mics like this.
I know you could process most of the junk away, and you could probably cut up some foam and stick it in the mic to help with resonance. I know you probably wouldn't want to do a DIY step by step guide, but, being able to hear if it's worth trying to fix it, or if it's complete garbage, when it comes to these cheap mics, would be useful.
Hey, please, re-review the Samson C01U, I have this mic and I really would like to see a more detailed review of this mic.
I just wanna know how this sound going through the UA or Neve preamps
hahahaha I'm curious not gunna lie
It still sounds bad. Ha.
After listening at my usual level, your comments were harsh, the Neewer sounded OK, the Tascam worse and the Neumann better. Then I pushed the volume up and, well, the Neewer is not OK, and you're right, especially about the acoustic guitar. Tascam still worse. Neumann still better also.
When a chinese microphone comes with a XLR to 3.5mm cable, it seems to me that it doesn't need DC +48V Phantom Power, instead it needs to be connected to a Plug-In Power (bias) that provides DC +5V. If you use this mic with Phantom Power it works, but the Pre-amp's Phantom Power of your equipment can be damaged, so be careful on that.
RODE has a converter that it takes the +48V Phantom Power and converts it to 3-5V Plug-In power, it is VLXR+ adapter.
Regards
I remember getting mine in 2016. Good times not knowing jack didley squat about audio. Thankfully my knowledge and equipment have come far since.
Upvote for the chair fall.
I look forward to your 2040 review
I am surprised that you review even 20 dollar mic. I thought you only rewiew CM above ,200 dollars. Thanks you have started from the base.
I have the NW-800 and its not bad for the price.
In fact the Neewer NW-700 sounds very natural to me. The sounds of the other microphones just tell me there is a little bit of reverb effect in the output. Otherwise the Neewer NW-700 sounds just natural and nicely dry.
Understanding the mic comes with the shock mount which isn't awful, if you're going to spend $20 on a mic, you should definitely go for the xm8500 dynamic instead for basically the same price. Such a better mic.
great review! thanks so much!
Looks like they upped their packaging game. Mine came in a plane brown box.
Hey, thanks for the review! Especially for the overall thoughts, because few people can't handle things in place nowadays. Everyone wants the maximum, right away. For me, as a professional broadcaster and producer, this one is a garbage, but for many others this thing could be a starting point. Not a good starting point, but a starting point. : ) Or it could be a device for a hobby. I really hate when somebody on RUclips can’t think about beginners. I mean, when someone tells you here that "the Galaxy 21 Ultra is the best phone", never added to whom. Then, when the average person buys it and starts shooting in the torn neighborhood, without friends and creativity, can’t do a miracle with it. So, you can buy the SM7B (I also have two of them) or a Neumann, but a mic is still just a device. If you’re inexperienced, or maybe untalented, there’s no point in spending money. Try yourself with $ 25stuff and if it makes sense, move up!
Started out with the Tonor BM700 coupled with a super budget Behringer UM2, still use the mic stand/shockmount and mic as my workbench/desk mic for work but went to the Samson Q2U as my go to everyday USB/XLR mic. Right now, my set up and requirements are well met by the Q2U until I can move to the RodeCaster and Podcaster mic
At least it sounds better than the Blue Snowball in some respects but it's still harsh, sibilant, and unappealing. I would recommend spending around $80-$100 for an entry-level XLR cardioid condenser though that Mackie is also pretty decent at only $50.
Watching the chair fall, made me roll
Thanks!
Not especially because you reviewed this mic, but simply because you keep doing your reviews :D
Thanks so much Dmitry! That really means a lot! You're an absolute legend!
It would be great a Warm Audio Wa-47jr Review!
I thought it was better than the older version. At2020 sounds great in this lineup.