Yesterday, Logitech revealed a number of new additions to its lineup of substances for each content material creators and avid gamers alike. Amongst them was an all-new XLR microphone within the type of the brand new Logitech Blue Sona that arrives with one of many extra smooth designs in the marketplace. Immediately, we’re taking a hands-on take a look at what to anticipate from the package deal and seeing simply how Logitech backs the premium price ticket.
Logitech Blue Sona hands-on evaluation
Proper out of the field, Logitech delivers a nice expertise with fairly minimal packaging. The corporate isn’t weighing you down with tons of additional equipment, for higher or worse, and primarily simply contains the necessities. There’s in fact the Blue Sona itself, which is nestled into the orange cardboard exterior, however from there, there are solely two different important inclusions.
A threaded insert helps you to adapt the 5/8 mounting level constructed into the adjustable stand over to a regular 3/8 mount that increase arms and stands use. Then to spherical out the packaging, you’ll discover one of many swappable windscreen covers in a vibrant purple colorway.
One of many first issues concerning the new Logitech Blue Sona that I observed is simply how hefty your entire construct is. The corporate definitely was not skimping out on premium supplies, and it’s obvious the second you decide up the microphone simply how strong of a construct you’re getting. The primary physique and built-in adjustable mount are each comprised of a sturdy steel that has a premium really feel to it.
As for the precise microphone itself, the Logitech Blue Sona is nothing in need of distinctive. The general design simply stands out out of your typical microphone in the marketplace, XLR or in any other case, because of the squared-off form-factor that integrates the adjustable arm proper into the aspect. It helps solely a single XLR enter which not solely powers the accent, but in addition transmits the audio sign again to the required audio interface that you just’ll need to carry to the desk.
By far my favourite facet of the design is the detachable windscreen on the entrance. Sliding off the accent that magnetically locks into place, you’ll reveal a stunning steel cylinder beneath that protects the precise microphone components. Logitech may have simply rounded out the design proper there with as eye-catching because the design is, however finally completes it with the froth windscreen. And if the included black fashion that’s arrange out of the field isn’t doing it for you, Logitech additionally features a second one in a brilliant purple for switching up the look.
Turning round to the opposite aspect, on the again you’ll discover a detachable, magnetic panel that reveals the one two controls constructed into the microphone. Logitech actually is conserving issues easy and clear for your entire setup, and provides customers the power to regulate the bass minimize and presence of the audio combine. The straight ahead toggle switches actually solely provide a restricted combo of changes, which is becoming as that is meant to be paired with an exterior XLR.
So far as the precise options go, Logitech delivers fairly the sturdy lineup of recording capabilities with the brand new Blue Sona. All the pieces comes centered round its ClearAmp Lively Preamp, which notably ensures that the microphone could be powered from a regular audio interface and with out the necessity of an exterior booster.
Its dual-diaphragm capsule design carries the sound pickup from there, permitting the microphone to seize each easy low ends and loads of element whereas additionally blocking out ambient noise out of your environment. I discussed within the launch put up how good the mic had been to make use of in my New York residence, and as I’ve gone again and listened to earlier recordings with my outdated system, I actually observed simply how good of a job the Blue Sona does at conserving background noise out of the equation. However even should you’re not in an excellent busy or noisy setting, the design nonetheless helps focus in on simply your voice and never the entire little imperfections that different microphones can and can decide up.
- Frequency Response: 40Hz-18kHz
- Sensitivity: 20.97 mV/Pa at 1kHz
- THD+N: 0.06% at 1kHz, 94dBSPL
- Sign-to-Noise: 69.9dB A-wt
- Max SPL: 129 dBSPL at 1% THD, 138 dBSPL at 5% THD
- Energy Requirement: +48V phantom energy
As for the way all of this truly sounds, I’ve to say that I’m fairly impressed by the efficiency. The Logitech Blue Sona does a improbable job at so many issues, however my first response is simply how clear the audio sounds. There’s far much less noise in every of the takes, and it actually makes me really feel like my novice podcasting voice is rather more skilled than it truly is. You possibly can take heed to the most up-to-date 9to5Toys Each day section to listen to what the microphone appears like itself, however I feel the comparability to what I used to be utilizing earlier than actually exhibits simply how crisp the audio is.
9to5Toys’ Take
Since taking over the duty of recording every day’s version of 9to5Toys Each day final 12 months, I’ve been utilizing a Shure MV7 USB microphone. It has been a fantastic choice over the previous 12 months and a half, definitely superb for a newbie akin to myself. However now it’s time to see what a higher-end, but nonetheless equally user-friendly answer has to supply.
To go alongside the microphone, I went and picked up an audio interface to energy the accent and ship all of its audio pickup over to my Mac. I finally ended up getting a extra entry-level Focusrite mannequin, which has seemingly served me properly to this point.
A $349 price ticket is definitely going to be lots for a microphone for a lot of content material creators, and so Logitech has lots to ship on for the brand new Blue Sona. If it wasn’t already no less than a bit clear after the reward interwoven above, I’m very impressed with my time utilizing the microphone to this point. I’m not at all an audio skilled, however can simply recognize the clear construct and much more balanced recording capabilities.
Although for the price, I can finally solely advocate the brand new Logitech microphone for many who have already got an audio interface of their setup. At the $349 going price, those that have already got the required gear to interface along with your Mac or PC will discover it to be well worth the improve. However should you’re like me and seeking to begin from scratch and go for the Blue Sona, it’s a much less compelling purchase, primarily simply from the pricing perspective.
Logitech finally delivers a microphone that’s simply well worth the money by itself, however you possible ought to as a substitute go together with a USB-powered choice to begin first. The Shure MV7 USB I’ve been utilizing is a good answer that’s a bit extra on the high-end aspect with an XLR enter, but in addition the choice of simply utilizing microUSB to begin earlier than sometime making the change to a devoted audio interface
That latter characteristic is finally my largest critique of the brand new Logitech Blue Sona. It might have compromised the streamlined design positive, however including in a microUSB port may have gone a good distance for getting much less skilled streamers and podcasters to undertake the brand new launch. However then once more, would newcomers actually be buying a $349 microphone to start with? I can’t fault Logitech all an excessive amount of, particularly for getting down to ship a high-performance mic that sounds even higher than it appears.
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