There are a lot of microphones out there on the market which all promise different things. Both the Blue Yeti and Samson Q2U are among these microphones and when it comes down to it are quite similar.
However, it is not reasonable to buy both of them if you’re still building your podcasting kit – so here is a comparison of the Samson Q2U and Blue Yeti so that you can see which microphone comes out on top when push comes to shove.
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What Is The Samson Q2U?
The Samson Q2U was first popular for live concerts and podcasts, but it has since become a favorite of many YouTube artists.
While it may not appear to be much, this dynamic microphone is a terrific alternative (also see, ‘Best Dynamic Microphones’).
Dynamic mics are known for their ability to handle loud sounds and block out background noise, which makes them great for recording in noisy environments.
ALSO SEE:Best Dynamic Microphone For Vocals
The Samson Q2U does both of these things very well, allowing you to get a clear sound quality even when there’s lots of other noise. This is because Q2U’s unidirectional cardioid pattern allows you to accurately capture audio from a single source, making it great for podcasts and voice recordings.
It is critical to note that the Q2U is relatively inexpensive.
Furthermore, due to the dual output system, it has an even higher value. The flexibility to record in both USB and XLR modes saves a lot of money (also see, ‘USB Mic vs XLR‘).
USB mics are great for digital recordings, while XLR mics can hook up to a mixer or PA system using XLR cables. The Samson Q2U eliminates the need to buy two different microphones and allows you to switch between a USB connection and XLR with ease.
If the speaker’s mouth is a short distance away, the Q2U performs an excellent job of rejecting background noise and recording crisp audio. A pop filter also helps, as it blocks out any plosives such as ‘p’ and ‘b’ that often cause distortions in sound (also see, ‘What Does A Pop Filter Do‘).
Unfortunately, the provided mic stand makes recording near it difficult. As a result, obtaining an alternative stand is advised.
What Is the Blue Yeti?
For years, the Blue Yeti has been favored by YouTube content makers.
If you ask any content producer what their first microphone or podcasting mic was, chances are it was the Blue Yeti (also see, ‘Audio Technica ATR2100 vs Blue Yeti‘).
The Yeti is a one-of-a-kind microphone for a variety of reasons. This USB microphone looks great and is suitable for podcasting, streaming, recording music, or anything else you can think of.
The Yeti has a built-in gain control that allows the user to adjust the volume levels for different sound sources. There is a mute function button on the back of the microphone as well.
The sound is recorded in 16 bit resolution and 48 kHz frequency, making it a great choice for podcasts, streaming, and other recording applications.
The Yeti’s key features include several polar patterns that allow it to collect sounds in a variety of ways. The three condenser microphone capsules make it possible to record in cardioid mode, stereo, and omni pattern.
This makes the Yeti a great choice for recording acoustic instruments, vocals, or sounds from virtually any direction. It also has zero-latency monitoring and four pickup patterns that allow you to record multiple performers simultaneously.
It also features a distinct form factor and a stand designed particularly for it.
Unfortunately, the Yeti is highly sensitive and struggles to reject background noise. As a result, if audio is not recorded in a calm area, a lot of noise will be collected (also see, ‘How To Soundproof A Room For Podcasting‘).
For this reason, a foam windshield or pop filter can be helpful in reducing the amount of background noise.
Furthermore, the microphone is hefty, making it difficult to utilize with a boom arm.
Comparing The Samson Q2U And Blue Yeti
Build Quality
The Samson Q2U stands 8 inches tall without the stand and 13.5 inches tall with it.
When you angle the Q2U towards you, it will be significantly shorter than with the stand. It has a metallic body.
The stand is made of a lightweight plastic and aluminum combination, although it is not particularly strong.
With a tiny hump, it’s quite simple to tilt over the mic, and the wide length of the legs makes it difficult to sit on a desk.
The Q2U has a wind protector to protect the microphone from blasts of air when speaking.
The Blue Yeti is seven and a half inches tall without the stand and 11.75 inches tall with it.
Because the body is made of metal and is extremely hefty, it will not move even if unintentionally bumped on a desk.
The USB cord provided is 81 inches long. The Blue Yeti in XLR mode will need phantom power from an external source using an XLR cable.
Tone
Both the Samson Q2U and Blue Yeti have a rather flat frequency response profile. The tone of the microphones doesn’t alter much from three to four inches away.
The Blue Yeti, on the other hand, sounds significantly more distant due to the amount of echo it takes up from this range.
Proximity And Distance
When utilized one to two inches away, the Samson Q2U and Blue Yeti both exhibit similar gains in bass response.
It is not as strong as other microphones on the market, but it’s enough.
Unfortunately, when it comes to “c” and “s” sounds, the high frequencies of the Blue Yeti become piercing up close.
With the Samson Q2U, sibilance is substantially less of an issue.
When used more than roughly six inches, neither mic is optimal, but the sound of the Blue Yeti becomes nearly useless about a foot away owing to ambient sounds that seep into the recording and bass drop off.
Background Noise
Even for a condenser microphone, the Blue Yeti is quite sensitive to background noise. This gadget can plainly hear computer hums and even tiny movements in one’s seat.
Keyboard strokes will dominate your voice even when utilized on a boom arm.
When compared to the Blue Yeti, the Samson Q2U rejects far more noise from different places in the room, and when the microphone is mounted onto a boom arm, typing on a keyboard is very quiet and can be difficult to detect without headphones.
This is especially useful for video conferencing so that others in the conference are not distracted. Simply point the rear of the Q2U towards the keyboard.
Overall Sound
The Blue Yeti reproduces music cleanly and correctly, capturing a lot of information with crisp, high frequencies and a controlled bass.
To put it another way, it sounds natural.
Due to the microphone being so sensitive to background noise, it should be used three to five inches away in a room or booth that is soundproof to avoid picking up any sounds or echoes.
The Samson Q2U has a similar tone as the Blue Yeti, but it is significantly better for everyday usage due to being able to ignore the background noise and lower sensitivity to softer sounds.
Mounting
The Samson Q2U and Blue Yeti can both be mounted to mic stands or boom arms, and it is advised that you do this in order for them to work best.
The Blue Yeti detaches from its supplied pedestal and may be attached into a boom arm with 5/8th inch threading.
The Q2U lacks threading, yet its portable design allows it to readily fit into microphone clips.
The supplied microphone clip may be tilted up or down and features 5/8th inch threading for mounting to the provided stand or a boom arm.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Samson Q2U is a superior microphone over the Blue Yeti. It features superior noise suppression, XLR/USB outputs, and is more portable.
An audio system using the Q2U may be readily improved by acquiring an audio interface (also see, ‘Best Audio Interface For Podcast‘).
Having said that, the Blue Yeti isn’t a horrible microphone. It can capture high-quality audio when utilized in a calm location (also see, ‘How To Make Your Mic Sound Better‘).
When the environment you are recording in is noisy, the Blue Yeti does not do a very good job at ignoring background noise, resulting in poor audio quality.
However, your demands will ultimately determine which is the best microphone for you.
If you want to record with more than one person, the Blue Yeti could be a better option. If you only want to record yourself, the Samson Q2U is the way to go.
