Home Microphone Comparisons ATR2500 vs. Blue Snowball | BETTER ALTERNATIVES?

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

Hi friend and Welcome!!

Before we get into the ATR2500 vs. Blue Snowball comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

An outline of the 2500, with Similarities & Differences to the Blue Snowball towards the end.

  1. Ratings/Price
  2. Specifications
  3. Summary
  4. Pros
  5. Cons
  6. Who this mic benefits?
  7. What you will need?
  8. Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
  9. Consensus/Conclusion
  10. Similarities & Differences
  11. Comparison Video
  12. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!

Audio Technica ATR2500

Ratings/Price

Specifications

Summary

If there’s one thing that you need to know right off the bat about this piece, it’s that the mic stand is horrendous. Should you purchase the 2500, please get a separate one. Lol. Another common complaint was that the build quality is a bit suspect. Many said the mic seemed pretty cheaply made, with a lot of plastic that is prone to breaking.

Overall, the mic itself is pretty sturdy, with a nice rugged aluminum build. A few chaps pointed out that theirs came with scratches though, so be wary.

The audio quality is actually quite good, all things considered. It does pick up a lot of background noise, so Acoustic Sound Treatment is ideal. Being that this mic is a condenser, you shouldn’t be all too surprised by this fact. Condensers in general tend to pick up more noise than dynamics. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic.

One last thing of concern was the connector jack and plug itself. Neither is very durable and will most likely end up giving you connection problems.

Pros

  • Sturdy mic. Good build.
  • Neutral sound, good audio quality.

Cons

  • Problems with popping/static/buzz after some time using the mic.
  • Bad odor accompanies the mic.
  • Bad tripod stand. A separate stand is mandatory.
  • You may have to shout for it to pick up your voice.
  • The chord doesn’t sit securely. The port that plugs into the mic may break. Overall, people really complained about this as well.
  • May not work with Windows 7 64x Home premium specifically. Some were saying it has issues in Windows 8 as well.

Who this mic benefits?

Does well with:

  • Skype
  • Video recording
  • Gaming
  • Talking/Commentary
  • Voiceover
  • Random sounds/noises/ambiance

Not as good for

  • Instruments
  • Singing
  • Rapping

What you will need?

  1. Besides a decent pop-filter and a replacement mic stand, nothing. It’s a plug-and-play USB.
  2. The free Audacity is a great program to start out with recording, editing, etc.

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

  • It’s been said that the AT2020 and Blue Yeti are both better than the 2500. A lot of people just say to bypass this mic and go for either of those two. Learn more about both and which may suit you better: AT2020 vs. Blue Yeti.
  • It picks up a lot of sounds, so you may want to look into some Acoustic Sound Treatment if you opt to purchase it.
  • The zero-latency headphone jack is not quite zero latency. There is a bit of a delay. What is latency?
  • The gain adjustment buttons are made of plastic, and click very loud when pressed, potentially interfering with the recording. A simple gain wheel would have sufficed.
  • When connected to your PC, Windows may recognize it as a speaker rather than a microphone. You will have to go into your control panel to change the setting.
  • The mic does not have gain control and has a tendency to get very hot.
  • Be aware that the blue illuminating light on the front is blinding. A lot of people can’t stand it. Duct tape anyone?
  • The mic picks up the mids and highs pretty well, but lacks body (fullness), in comparison to the AT2020. It may need some EQ.
  • The mic goes well with the Samson SP01 Spider Shockmount. It holds better and reduces noise more effectively.

Consensus/Conclusion

A decent mic with a horrible tripod stand and some connection problems. Best to just bypass this and go for the AT2020 or Blue Yeti if you can swing it.

Similarities & Differences

Similarities

  • Both are USB mics.
  • Both excel in voice-over-type situations.
  • The output levels of both are kind of low. With each, you will have to be very close to the mic while speaking up quite a bit.
  • Neither is very good for recording vocals.
  • Both mics come with sub-par stands.

Differences

  • The Blue Snowball has a cardioid or omnidirectional setting. The ATR2500 only has cardioid.
  • The Snowball is about the size and shape of a grapefruit, while the ATR2500 takes on a more traditional appearance.
  • The Snowball has been said to record well even without a pop-filter, while the ATR2500 needs one regardless.
  • The ATR2500 sounds noticeably better than the Snowball.
  • The Snowball may be more sensitive than the 2500 in picking up a lot of noise.

Check out the comparison video!!

Final Word

I cannot recommend the ATR2500 even though it sounds better than the Snowball. When the ATR2500 works, it’s pretty sweet. But it’s way too unreliable, and therefore I would never buy it. Instead, as I mentioned earlier, either the AT2020 or Blue Yeti would be best depending on your needs.

Are you looking for the overall best USB mic on the market? Need the absolute best when it comes to podcasting and voiceover? The Yeti is your boy.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!

OR

CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL BLUE MICROPHONES YETI REVIEW!!

Need an amazing all-around USB mic, that excels in many different instances? The AT2020USB+ is your homie. It’s a bit more versatile than the Yeti and therefore can be used with confidence in singing, rapping, recording instruments, etc.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!


Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this ATR2500 vs. Blue Snowball review.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Are you stoked about the Yeti? What about the AT2020? Let me know which of these you’re more likely to go with…

Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Save

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

You may also like

2 comments

Bohemian Collective August 4, 2016 - 4:28 am

Great post! I wasn’t aware of the Blue snowball, but I have used their other condenser mics previously like the bluebird, I really dig their sound and style… kinda vintage but with modern quality if that makes sense.

I’ve used an ATR previously and reckon they’re great value for the dollar ratio!

Reply
Stu August 4, 2016 - 10:49 pm

Haha I’ve always thought Blue had really odd names for their mics. But alas, they are some of the best around. You’re right too, they have a definite vintage quality about them which really draws me in and makes me want to purchase all of them. Lol. Did you have any trouble with the ATR?

Thanks for stopping by!

-Stu

Reply

Leave a Reply to Bohemian Collective Cancel Reply