MIC SCORES
This is the mic score archives! While it may take a while to get ALL the mics I have reviewed on this page, it shall eventually be done....so without further ado, here is the scoring system.
Each mic test category will be graded on a 1 to 5 scale - with 5 being the highest grade obviously. Then the score will be averaged out for a composite grade.
The categories are:
Build Quality / Plosive Rejection / Off Axis Rejection / Self Noise / Overall Sound Quality / Price *Accessories can earn mic an extra 1 or 2 points depending on quality.
Audix VX5 ($249)
Build Quality - 5 This thing is literally perfect for a handheld condenser
Plosive Rejection - 4 Considering this is a condenser, this was pretty good but not perfect of course
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Solid for a condenser
Self Noise - 2 Listed at 26d...OOF...but I have to say I didn't notice it
Overall Sound Quality - 3 There is something about this that left me wanting more
Price - 3 Kinda high for what it is....I feel like you are paying for build quality over sound
Overall Score - 3.5 I feel like some voices will benefit from this...but not the majority
Saramonic SoundBird T3 ($299)
Build Quality - 5 Gold plated XLR with charge port INSIDE it, and the rest is great too
Plosive Rejection - 3 Defaulting to a 3 cause shotguns don't focus on that..and provided windscreen is great
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Very good for a condenser, and yes, shotguns are better at this
Self Noise - 4 Considering it has internal power, its impressive
Overall Sound Quality - 5 The dark flat mode, the presence boost and the low cut all sound great
Price - 5 I think this is an absolute steal at the price
Accessory Bonus - 2 The case is nice, the mounts are nice, windscreen, xlr, what a package!
Overall Score - 4.6 The 2 highest score here to this point.....Saramonic Shotgun Mics
Fifine Amplirocket USB ($59.99)
Build Quality - 4 The mic is metal and the shock mount is solid plastic
Plosive Rejection - 1 Awful, just awful
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Very good as dynamics typically are
Self Noise - 2 It was not overly quiet, which is a big reason I don't trust usb mics
Overall Sound Quality - 2 Not the worst dynamic iv'e heard but its simply not good
Price - 3 Sound quality is half the battle, and this didn't do it for me
Accessory Bonus - 1 A boom arm, shock mount, and ok cables gets this a small bonus
Overall Score - 2.8
Avlex DV75 (Used $25)
Build Quality - 5 This is highly impressive build wise, all the way down to the capsule suspension
Plosive Rejection - 3 Surprise! Another 3
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Very very good
Self Noise - 4 Very quiet
Overall Sound Quality - 5 Hard to find dark dynamics....especially for this cheap...but here it is
Price - 5 A dark well built mic for $25 or less...give me this over the xm8500
Overall Score - 4.3 This is a very nice option on a tight budget if you can find one on the used market
Shure PE56D (Used $25)
Build Quality - 5 It's a Shure...it feels like a slab of steel
Plosive Rejection - 3 I almost should just not include this, as most are 3's ...but we must
Off Axis Rejection - 5 STELLAR
Self Noise - 5 Literally quiet as an alpha male in a romantic comedy film viewing
Overall Sound Quality - 4 Really solid and highly above average for a dynamic
Price - 5 If you can find this, there is little to no reason to pay $100 bucks for those other Shure mics
Overall Score - 4.5 A fantastic option for your mic locker at a great price used
Oktava MK-319 (Used $99)
Build Quality - 2 I wanted to give this a 1....the switches are junk, body is microphonic, but its not a neewer
Plosive Rejection - 3 Above average for a condenser
Off Axis Noise Rejection - 2 Slightly below average for a condenser
Self Noise - 3 Listed at under 14db, it's FINE but just FINE, no issues.
Overall Sound Quality - 4 The resonance with a loud voice is the one thing holding this back
Price - 4 Build quality being better would've gave this a 5
Overall Score - 2.8 With a little work put in..maybe some foam added inside, this could be a 4
Saramonic SR-MV2000 ($79)
Build Quality - 3 - Plastic but solid plastic. Nothing to worry about but also nothing to brag about
Plosive Rejection - 4 Really good and dang close to a 5
Off Axis Noise Rejection - 1 Not much "rejection" to speak of
Self Noise - 2 USB Mics are rarely quiet
Overall Sound Quality - 1 There are too many good sounding mics in this price range for this to get higher
Price - 1 This is too expensive for the build quality / sound quality combo. Sadly the rest is solid
Overall Score - 2.0 To get beaten by the Galaxy Audio GA64C is....not good
Fluid Audio Axis ($249)
Build Quality - 4 The grill is the only thing keeping this from a 5...MXL soft
Plosive Rejection - 4 Above average, which will always get a 4
Off Axis Rejection - 3 Very solid for a condenser, just nothing out of the ordinary
Self Noise - 3 Listed as 16db which is a tad high....though I could not hear it...at all
Overall Sound Quality - 4 A really nice smooth sound for a bright mic
Price - 5 This is a really fair price for a smooth clear mic with the FANTASTIC accessories
Accessory Bonus - 2 The mount, the case, and the XLR cable are premium, and the pop filters nice
OVERALL SCORE - 4.1 This is definitely an above average mic for its price range, & extras are perfect
Kelisiting RGB USB ($48)
Build Quality - 3 Metal and plastic hybrid, and while not SOLID it doesn't feel in danger
Plosive Rejection - 4 It is hard to find even better than average in ANY mic, and this slightly is
Off Axis Rejection - 3 Solid but nothing special
Self Noise - 2 Not noisy ALL the time, but occasional noises happen
Overall Sound Quality - 3 Not a high score but its high enough to surprise
Price - 4 Nothing to be upset about here considering the features described in the video
OVERALL SCORE - 3.1 A respectable score from something that looks like a no go
Saramonic SoundBird V6 ($499)
Build Quality - 5 - The build quality is all metal and HEAVY....this thing screams quality
Plosive Rejection - 3 It's not the worst I have heard, and definitely not the best.
Off Axis Rejection - 3 Seeing as this is a condenser, this is not a surprise. It's just OK
Self Noise - 5 It is not listed, but i literally cant hear even a LITTLE fuzz.
Overall Sound Quality - 5 Hard to say this often, but at $499...this thing is a steal.
Price - 5 As stated above...it's a steal at what is MUCH less than shotguns of its quality
Accessorie Bonus - 2 The accessories are top notch here, from the windscreen all the way down to a small XLR...this is a great package in a fantastic moisture proof carrying case.
OVERALL SCORE - 4.6 If you watched the video, this score should make sense, as I loved it.
Lekato K380S ($70)
Build Quality - 3 It's "good enough". Not cheap but not premium feeling
Plosive Rejection - 3 Just average like 95% of other microphones
Off Axis Rejection - 5 Just wow...was not expecting THAT. This is a great 2 person podcast setup.
Self Noise - 3 The wireless setup introduces potential noise, and I heard bits of this on cheaper interfaces
Overall Sound Quality - 5 Really impressive for what it is...honestly, better than most dynamics
Price - 5 There are a LOT of these dual wireless mic setups, but this is the best ive used at any price.
OVERALL SCORE - 4.0 This is a great score for something this cheap with this many use cases.
Audio-Technica MB4000C (USED)
Build Quality - 2 It's metal but....its light and it doesn't feel like it can take a pounding (That's what she said)
Plosive Rejection - 2 It popped on pretty much every "P" albeit light pops
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Pretty dang good!
Self Noise - 3 It is just OK. If I had to guess id say its in the teens, but sadly can't find it listed
Overall Sound Quality - 3 It's not great and its not bad
Price - 2 This is a discontinued mic, and typically runs between 35 and 60 used...there are better options
OVERALL SCORE - 2.6 An average score for an average mic
Fifine K658 USB Dynamic ($120)
Build Quality - 3 It IS metal...mostly. The gain dial is plastic, the metal is on the cheap side. It's fine though.
Plosive Rejection - 3 Even with the wind screen, it's just average here.
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Pretty solid thanks to the dynamic capsule and the build.
Self Noise - 4 For a USB, I found this to be incredibly quiet
Overall Sound Quality - 4 I need to run this against the Samson Q2U, cause it deserves a shot.
Price - 5 No matter if you get this for $99 or $120...it's a really good value
Overall Score - 3.83 Despite the sub 4 score....this is a great option for the casual creator...simplistic
Saramonic SR-BV1 ($149)
Build Quality - 5 This thing is built exceptionally well from top to bottom (YOKE MOUNT!)
Plosive Rejection -4 Better than your typical mic, but of course....not plosive proof
Off Axis Rejection - 3 It's just OK
Self Noise - 3 Dynamics are typically quie-ish and this is very average for a dynamic
Overall Sound Quality - 1 The most important aspect...and this fails with it's cheap capsule
Price - 1 The build is great, but who wants to pay $149 only to need a different capsule?
Overall Score - 2.83 IF this was a LOT cheaper...it would be a nice mic to throw a good capsule in
Samson C05 (Used)
Build Quality - 4 No issues outside of it being SLIGHTLY on the light side
Plosive Rejection - 3 Solid but nothing special
Off Axis Rejection - 5 For a condenser...it is fantastic
Self Noise - 3 It is not super quiet but also won't cause issues
Overall Sound Quality - 4 For what it is and how cheap it can be had (20-30 bucks) , I can't complain
Price - 5 You will not see this pushing 75 dollars...if you do...be patient and keep looking
Overall Score - 4 This is what obscure mics is all about...finding a solid mic for very little cash
Fender P-51 (Used)
Build Quality - 5 Feels very Shure like, with good weight and great metal
Plosive Rejection - 4 Much better than the average mic
Off Axis Rejection - 5 Absolutely killer at cutting out side and rear noise
Self Noise - 4 Most dynamics are going to be low noise and this is no different
Overall Sound Quality - 4 This would be higher if you didn't have to be right on top of it for best sound
Price - 5 I have seen this thing as low as 10 bucks...unbeatable at 10 to 25
Overall Score - 4.5 This may be a better beginner mic than a Behringer XM8500...yes I said it
Stage Right LC200 ($80)
Build Quality - 2 Not the cheapest feel...but nowhere near high quality
Plosive Rejection - 4 Much better than most condenser...somehow
Off Axis Rejection - 3 Solid for a condenser
Self Noise - 3 Not listed on the website, but it is audible if you listen. I'd guess its above 15db
Overall Sound Quality - 4 Impressive, especially if you get it on sale for $49
Price - 3 Regular price is $99...and I have seen 2 sale prices of $79 and $49. Regular is too high.
Accessory Bonus - 2 The case and shock mount are a nice touch
Overall Score - 3.5 IF you can get it for $49..it is a great buy
Galaxy Audio GA64SC ($80)
Build Quality - 3 Feels robust and not SUPER lightweight, but something doesn't feel right
Plosive Rejection - 1 Awful....just awful
Off Axis Rejection - 4 Really good for a condenser...even handheld
Self Noise - 2 Not listed, but it is audible and theres issues with Rodecaster pro noise wise
Overall Sound Quality - 3 It doesn't sound BAD...theres just nothing particularly GOOD
Price - 1 No freaking thanks at $80....honestly it would have to be $10 to be a deal
Overall Score - 2.3 This has the lowest score of all mics on here to this point, and rightfully so