Logitech Blue Sona microphone evaluate: Fashion and substance

Just a few years in the past, most individuals in all probability had no clue what XLR mics had been or how they had been broadly utilized by the preferred singers. Now, with everybody and their brother beginning a podcast, XLR mics are exploding in recognition. What was as soon as the area of sound engineers is now launching the careers of Twitch hopefuls and content material creators all over the place. That is why it is getting more and more laborious to face out in a market the place most new entries look precisely alike. 

Enter Logitech’s new Blue Sona microphone. This mannequin — designed for streamers, podcasters, and content material creators — instantly catches your eye with its uncommon, rectangular development. Inside, it additionally differentiates itself by together with inner shock mounting and a novel capsule orientation designed to cut back undesirable background noise that would annoy your viewers or listeners. 

In my in depth testing, I found a microphone that does its job a bit of in a different way, however simply in addition to among the most dominant entrants within the XLR mic enviornment. Scroll down for my full impressions of the impartial sound, intelligent construct, and distinctive quirks of Logitech’s Blue Sona microphone, and to listen to it for your self.

Design and options

Logitech’s Blue Sona appears… totally different. Most XLR microphones are available in various sizes of cylindrical shapes, like Rode’s Procaster XLR or HyperX’s Procast XLR microphones I’ve not too long ago examined. Logitech skipped that pattern by squaring off its gadget right into a softened rectangular prism as an alternative.

The continual form runs by way of the bespoke, replaceable windscreen. This pop filter, which has magnetic connectors at its base to maintain it in place, may be swapped for various colours to offer the unit a extra contrasting look. Its clear aesthetics had been excessive on the record when Logitech was designing this microphone. 

That mentioned, the practicality of the design shines by way of as effectively. For the reason that Blue Sona makes use of an inner shock mount, it would not hook up with stands by way of the same old ring of elastic, laden metallic. As an alternative, it has a number of options throughout its mounting system that make it each extra versatile and simpler to make use of than many competing mounting options. 

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The threaded ring on the prime, as an illustration, permits you to simply screw it onto increase arms with stationary threads, with out having to spin your complete microphone. The mic itself can be positioned equally effectively hanging downward from an arm, or upright from a stand, due to the built-in pivot knob which locks it in place anyplace alongside its 360 levels of tilt.

For the aesthetics of the microphone itself, Logitech even went as far as to cover the on-device controls below an ingenious little magnetic cowl that may be eliminated to entry the pair of switches beneath or flipped over to maintain the “Logi” branding upright.

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Beneath this cover, you will discover a Bass Reduce (also referred to as a high-pass filter) change and Presence change. The Bass Reduce toggle makes an attempt to dam out low-frequency feels like annoying vibrations from the mounting arm or undesirable buzzing. In the meantime, the Presence change helps your voice shine by way of in noisier backgrounds by trying to position you, and solely you, entrance and heart in your recording or stream. 

Throughout my testing, I undoubtedly noticed how a lot thought went into making each a pretty AND sensible gadget within the Blue Sona. Logitech nailed each fronts. 

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Sound high quality

As common, I’ve included a microphone check to allow you to hear the mic for your self. The check above was performed utilizing OBS Studio software program to file and a comparatively cheap Scarlett Solo USB interface. The Blue Sona’s means to function with both 24 volts or 48 volts of Phantom energy signifies that it ought to carry out effectively with nearly any interface or mixer, even finances fashions. 

It additionally makes it straightforward to overly increase the acquire of the microphone. I used to be stunned throughout testing how straightforward the microphone was to drive, and the way simply its audio can get a bit too scorching. Regulate your ranges whereas recording and you will be superb, nevertheless. 

I discovered the precise sound output of the Blue Sona to be clear, exact, and customarily on the cooler aspect. There’s not one of the further heat added by models like the USB-powered Rode XDM-100. You are getting a straight, unaltered illustration of what you are placing in, nothing extra, nothing much less. 

Assessment: Rode Procaster brings broadcast-quality audio for under $200

Some individuals would possibly choose this trustworthy audio, whereas others would possibly miss the “broadcast” high quality a hotter sound can present. That’s totally a matter of non-public desire and which one is extra ideally suited for the kind of audio you will be recording.

As a mic designed, partly, for recreation streamers, Logitech made some extent to construct in a number of measures for combatting background noise. Whether or not it is a significantly loud mechanical keyboard, noisy mouse buttons, or ambient vibrations, the Blue Sona makes an attempt to dam them on the {hardware} stage. That is dealt with by its distinctive dual-diaphragm setup, with one diaphragm geared toward you to seize your voice whereas the opposite sits inverted to assist filter sounds from different instructions. 

I would not say the Blue Sona produces absolute silence in a loud atmosphere, however I discovered its means to dampen average noises, just like the aforementioned typing and mousing sounds, fairly spectacular, particularly with none software program concerned. I used to be additionally impressed by its means to do that with out “clipping” the supposed audio, or negatively impacting your precise speech the best way digital noise gates typically can. 

The inner shock mount additionally did a decent job of voiding vibrations from the desk. Granted, you may actually hear me banging on my desk within the video above, however solely the precise sound being transmitted by way of the air of the room, not the bizarre rumbly buzz you normally hear when a mic is vibrated whereas mounted on a poorly made stand with out shock safety.

Backside line 

Logitech’s Blue Sona microphone is not a finances mannequin. It is $350 MSRP locations it squarely within the prosumer class of microphones. Due to this, there are a few qualifiers I would recommend contemplating earlier than choosing one up. First, I would advocate this mannequin primarily for folk who count on their microphone to be seen. When you run a pure audio podcast, with none video recording, there are cheaper options on the market that may serve you simply as effectively, even when they do not look as fairly whereas doing it. Shopping for a mic this fashionable and by no means letting anybody see it might simply be a waste. 

Constructing on that time, I imagine this mannequin is greatest for streamers. Whether or not you are all the time within the “Simply Chatting” class or a hardcore, aggressive gamer, your mic will get observed, and this one stands out from the ocean of Blue Yetis and Shure SM7Bs each streamer appears to have in entrance of them. Its compact form additionally will not take up your whole face cam and the noise isolation options may drastically enhance your audio readability. In spite of everything, nobody will care how excessive your headshot proportion goes if they cannot watch your stream as a result of the incessant clicking annoys them an excessive amount of. 

For the style-conscious streamer, video podcasters, or video content material creator that expects to be on digicam so much, the Blue Sona is a superb, distinctive choice that makes each your audio and visuals stand out in an more and more crowded subject. 

Options to think about 

The Rode Procaster is a barely hotter (although not actually “heat”) microphone with extra common appears. In case your mic will not be seen a lot, and you do not want noise-blocking tech, you would avoid wasting money by choosing the same audio high quality of this mannequin.

Talking of mics that had been meant to be seen, the Quadcast S is an RGB mild present and a strong microphone as well. It is on the smaller aspect so it will not clog up your face cam, however depends on USB audio as an alternative of XLR. 

Generally the preferred choice is well-liked for a motive. Everybody from large YouTubers like Marques Brownlee to big-name podcasters like Joe Rogan makes use of the Shure SM7B. It is solely barely costlier than Logitech’s choice, although a bit much less distinctive.