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That is essentially a win in favor of USB microphones, only because <$100 condenser microphones can be a bit noisy in general.
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However, the features from our USB microphones allow us to cut off some of the extra noise. The <$100 USB microphones had a bit of a drop in quality compared to the XLR microphones, which we were expecting. Half of them were between $100 & $200, while the others were either over $200 or under $100, and we made direct comparisons with the closest in price.įor the most part, what we've found was subtle quality differences, more so on the low-end models. We've tested 10 XLR microphones and 10 USB microphones. And why would Blue Yeti create a Pro Edition that has XLR microphone compatibility, even though they're a leading brand in the USB microphone space? Some USB microphones can even connect to your gaming consoles, like the HyperX Quadcast & the PlayStation 4, a functionality that XLR microphones couldn't even dream of.īut if you're a skeptic like me, then you're probably thinking "if it's that much easier, why aren't all microphones USB?".
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With plug and play, these versatile microphones work with any desktop that has a USB port. So now we know USB microphones are much easier to use than XLR microphones.
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That being said, USB microphones typically require a lower voltage than XLR microphones. USB microphones are supposed to add flexibility and simplicity, so of course, they eventually reached a point where they can be fully powered from your desktop's USB port, a massive advantage over the XLR microphones. Of course, a preamplifier is commonly found in a recording studio, but for someone launching their streaming career, it's just another expense.
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