Samson Q9U - $99?! - SM7B, MV7, FiFine AM8, PD400x, K688, and more!
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- #samson #podcastlife #broadcasting #best2023
Has the Samson Q9U just become the new King of Budget Microphones? A premium mic that arguably under-delivered at $200 now undeniably over-delivers at just $99! We take a look at how it stacks up against other USB/XLR mics as well as the Shure SM7B in this video review!
Purchase links for the mics in this video:
Samson Q9u: amzn.to/46kG4OH
Shure SM7B: amzn.to/42UsDC3
Shure MV7: amzn.to/3piy93U
Maono PD400X: amzn.to/42ZQfp0
fifine K688: amzn.to/42Q8kpD
fifine AM8: amzn.to/3CGUmLQ
Maono HD300T: amzn.to/3JstqTT
Camera used in the video:
Sony ZV-E10 - amzn.to/3MSHSHm
Lenses Used to make this video:
Sigma 16mm F1.4 Sony E-Mount Lens - amzn.to/3V1rJSh
Sigma 30mm F1.4 Sony E-Mount Lens - amzn.to/3L7IW99
Maono, Fifine, and Samson provided the mics in this video is not sponsored, nor was I paid to make this video, while both the Shure SM7B, and MV7 were not! The opinions in this video are mine, and mine alone. All microphones provided in this video were to ensure that there microphones are also included in the Level Up library of reviews for our viewers.
time stamps:
0:00 - intro
0:38 - what this video is REALLY about
4:11 - XLR/USB mic comparisons
5:05 - Samson Q9U no processing
5:12 - fifine k688 comparison
5:45 - Fifine AM8 comparison
6:16 - Maono HD300T comparison
6:54 - Maono PD400x comparison
8:20 - Shure MV7 comparison
9:04 - Shure SM7B comparison NO PROCESSING
11:16 - SM7B vs Q9U comparison WITH PROCESSING
11:50 - Q9U with pop-filter & without pop-filter
13:19 - my thoughts XLR/USB shootout
15:41 - my thoughts SM7B & Q9U comparison
16:36 - Overview
16:49 - Final Thoughts! 
Хобби
So what do you guys think! What mic did you like the best in this video? AND - Do you think at $99 that the Samson Q9U now needs to be considered as one of the best Budget Mics on the market?
Haven’t found it for $99 yet. I was excited until I went into Amazon and it was at $129
@@jasonhernandez7942 I think they just raised it. Don’t worry they don’t wait long before they drop it back below $99.
@@jasonhernandez7942It's 99.00 dollars again.
It's hard to say for all microphones are amazing in their own right. I wish I'd have gotten Samson Q9U for $99. But, needed to do more research before considering buying it.
I was willing to pay $249 when it first came out based on the positive reviews. Waited a while and got 2 of them for the podcast at $99 a piece. I absolutely love it! Looking to add a 3rd one soon.
I could not AGREE MORE! I think this will be the mic I choose for podcasts that involve other people because of the price, build quality, but most importantly the mute button. If somebody has to cough, sneeze, speak off mic, they can press the mute button on the mic itself to do it and not me on the mixer. To me, that alone is HUGE! ability for quests to mute their mic in a pinch when needed to save my podcast from unwanted noises, sounds, issues while live! And all for just $99. I can buy four of these mics to use with my zoom Podtrak P8 for the price of one singular sure SM 7B.
The PD400x put my Beacn Mic to pasture. It is unreal how good it is. Good comparison!
Wow! The beacon Mic?! That is REALLY saying something there! Thank you for sharing that. It really puts things in perspective as far as it’s USB performance, which I am trying to put that video (USB comparisons) together here soon.
@@coffeeatthecross1286 I guess I need to give some context. I went from using the Beacn app for audio control to using the Stream Deck + with Wavelink since you can how use any mic and have VST processing. So, with the PD400x, it just fits my voice better than the Beacn. The Beacn is still a great mic though and I'm sure I'll use it on another PC, just not my streaming setup.
I was waiting for this review, at first sight, it seems more like a Rode Podcaster/Maono PD400 killer, but it sounds bassy and dark and has a very "broadcast sound", it reminds me of the FDUCE SL40. On the microphone sound comparison, all microphone sounds brighter.
Being objective, I think FDUCE SL40 has almost the same sound with a more competitive price than Q9U, but another contender has caught my attention: Tonor TD510 which seems to use the same components as FDUCE SL40, and here in Mexico is on ~37 USD ish on amazon.
On the other hand, I'm more confused to decide between the PD400 and K688 lol.
Great review!
Thanks! I am just more and more surprised by the PD400x the more I use it. So clean in its sound…👍🏻
Wow this was an AMAZING video, I watched the whole way through thinking that this had like 800,000 views. This was such a fantastic and well done comparison and really has helped me decide what microphone to buy. I genuinely love the sound profile of the q9u, it sounds so comforting compared to many of the other mics. While it definitely isn't the "best" microphone you tested, I would choose the q9u over any of the others.
Thank you! I really appreciate your kind words. RUclips definitely does not help you out getting content out there until you hit a 1k subscribers, but that’s no reason to hold back in quality and entertainment in the vids. 👍🏻Gotta have some fun while doing this, and I hope it is entertaining as much as it is informative. Plus it’s a great to chance to hang out and talk gear with you all!!!
I really like the dark sound of the Samson Q9U. A lot of reviewers don't seem to like the sound of ths Q9U, but I don't mind it.
Count me as one of the reviewers who love it. 👍🏻
I'm still shocked people tried to say this mic was the sm7b killer it doesn't come close at all
Straight up the SM7B is better - no denying that for sure. Just expensive. That’s it. Lol
Awesome video, man. The comparison I wanted to see the most was Samson Q9U vs Maono PD400X. It sounds even to me. I'll go as far as saying best premium budget microphone out on the market. I don't understand why folks detest Samson Q9U so much. I do have FiFine AM8 & still believe it's the best mic the company have made! Anyway, I'll keep on doing research on Samson Q9U & Maono PD400X to make my final decision.
I agree! I love the Q9U more than most. 😱 I still use it in my rotation for voiceovers and livestreams.
Wich would u pick? Im between Maono pd 400x and the samson p9u both r good looking
Both are great, just give very different sound. If you like more of a darker sound - lows and mids and no gain knob on your mic, it’s the Q9u. If you like more crystal clear - brighter - the PD400x. If you use USB a lot for your mic, the Maono also has app to give you USB audio customization for the PD400x
Thank you! Trying to find that $99.00 price tag even though its been a while lol
Black Friday is coming next week. Hopefully we can grab it, I’m wanting to buy another one too! 😊
Q9U sounds a lot better with the presence boost. The mic needs processing, which if your spending the kind of money, should be understood.
Absolutely. The Q9U has such a high ceiling when you start processing and EQ’ing it!
My fiance got this for my birthday from Amazon to help me improve my audio for my RUclips videos. And when it arrived, surprisingly, Amazon sent me 2 of them when we only ordered 1. I contacted the CS about it and they said there must've been a mistake when they packaged it because they sent 1 box with 2 mics in it. They told me I don't need to return them if I don't want to and I won't get charged double. :D so basically, we paid 50usd each. anyway, I've been enjoying using this mic for the past months and that's coming from a condenser mic that I got for 30 dollars years ago. Is it at par with the sm7b? Probably not but for my vocal profile, it suits it perfectly. :)
I have both, and I will say I enjoy using the Q9U, and when I sneak it into a video for a segment or two I always get a comment asking which Mike was so using during that segment…I never get that when I do it with the SM7B. The SM7B is better at rejecting noise and handling sounds, but if you leave it on a stand/boom arm and you have good sound treatment, it is soooo nice. Another bonus too - if you are doing a podcast with two people, they can mute their own mic even in xlr mode if they have to cough or sneeze and don’t have a chance to tell whoever is using the interface. All radio stations have a mute button built into a the desk where people sit for this very purpose. The Q9U gives you that ability by building a mute button directly into the mic so they can mute it themselves when they need to.
To me….the SM7B is built to solve a ton more problems to ensure clean audio for professionals who can’t afford to have issues, but I still love the sound I get from the Q9U MORE for my voice. The SM7B is just too flat and requires good EQ to sound as it’s intended, the Q9u for me, flip on the presence boost on the back and I sound good even when I don’t bother to EQ it. You scored big time getting 2 for one! That happened to me once with a camera I bought. I tried to send it back and Amazon told me to keep it. 🤷🏻♂️ lol.
I still use my SM7B, but only when I need to have my fan on, AC on, to keep my studio cool and keep any cameras from overheating during long videos in the summer because it is the best of class so far of all my mics in my studio inventory at keeping the noise from those devices from being picked up in my audio.
From a pure sound standpoint - like the Samson Q9U on my voice better, not flat with a some unique flavor in the body that adds to it instead of taking away from it
@@levelupwithmikenewman that's awesome! Thanks so much for the rundown of ur experience with the Q9U. I'm glad that I found a Samson enjoyer here cuz right before buying this, I saw a lot of negative feedback on it even if when I listen to their audio trials, they sound great. I guess I'm just a sucker for those deep and rich sounds that the Q9U has. Btw, I'm currently using it with USB because I tried connecting it with an XLR to a Behringer umc-22 and it has some hissing ground noise. Do u think the problem is the xlr cable or should I get a ground loop for it? 🤔
Surprised your didn't include a comparison with the Fifine K669D which has been well reviewed and is frequently rated above the other Fifine and Maono mics seen here.
That mic is my pound-for -pound best budget mic out there. I wanted this to be a shootout of mics that are dual xlr/usb for the features. I have a budget straight xlr shoot out of sub $100 mics coming in which they will both be in there. I don’t think it’ll be any spoil alert on my part that the FiFine k669d will a legit -#1 lol.
I have it rated that way as well….actually did a review myself a few weeks ago where I crowned it pound for pound the best budget xlr mic out there.
Loving the Lions logo in the back!
Restoring the Roar with Dan Campbell! Finally a team to be proud of!!!
@@levelupwithmikenewman That new helmet is 🔥. Just wish they could rock it with the white uni's.
@@bambamkey1 right!!! I didn’t like with the Gray rush, would look so much better the blue or all whites!
I don't know about this one, it seems to be extremely mid forward, most people would probably like it but if you really listen what the intent to critique this thing, it's definitely doesn't end up on my top-ten lists, great video of my friend
It is, but I had the mid-boost flipped on for the bulk of this video. Still, the Q9U has a rep as a very polarizing mic, people love it or not, there doesn’t seem to be a whole of people who are in the middle on this one! Thanks for input, I love your channel, your opinion carries weight my friend, thanks for sharing!
The samsung Q9u is the mic I like the least it is so muddy and disappointing especially compared to the q2u any mic in that price range is better like the podmic, sm57 and 58 any mic
I am always a HUGE supporter of the SM57! I didn’t think to add that to the review 🤦🏻♂️😂 NEXT TIME!
can i use this mic for singing karaoke?
It’s pretty dark/mid forward with presence boost, not sure it would do your highs any justice if singing. Best mic for karaoke in this price range is the Shure SM58 👍🏻
Sadly the Q9U is scarce in the UK, and is still full price or more. So £200-230. That's lots of dollars! I'm leaning to the pd400x as the UK premium budget, and even that we cn only buy direct from maono.
PD400x is a great mic, it has the Maono App to go along with USB. Very bright and articulate. Just add a little low end to bring out that Q9U/SM7B darker sound 👍🏻
Pd400x or samson Q9U?
I like them both for different reasons, PD400x for bright energetic audio, and Samson Q9u for warmth, broadcast type audio for long form content. As much as I like them both equally, looking back, I noticed I have used the Q9U more for voiceovers and podcasts then the PD400X for my voice. But honestly, it all depends on which one sounds better on your voice.
@@levelupwithmikenewman can you use the Q9U with iphones?