Hi friend and Welcome!!
Before we dive right into the CAD U37 vs. Snowball, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!
What I will bring you in this review
of each microphone
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Who this mic benefits?
- What you will need?
- Thoughts from Stu’s Notepad (CAD only)
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
CAD U37
Ratings/Price
Specifications
- Microphone Type: Condenser. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic Mic.
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid. The difference between a USB microphone and an XLR microphone.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Color: Champagne
- Connector: USB.
- Package Weight: 1.4 lb.
- Pad: Yes, 10dB
- Cable Length: 10 ft.
Summary
The CAD U37 is a sub-par mic that has a lot of issues, to be quite frank. Its stand is decent, and it’s good for voice-over commentary, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for a mic that can handle instruments, vocals, or just loud recordings in general, this isn’t the mic for you.
It has a lot of latency issues (What is latency?), and the overall sound quality has been described as distorted and fuzzy. People complain of buzzing, echo, humming, and a high-pitched squeal (sort of like a piggy). 😛
It also is way too sensitive, picking up a ton of sound. Acoustic Sound Treatment does help, but I wouldn’t even bother spending that much dedicated time on this piece.
Pros
- The stand is of good quality.
- Good for voice-over/commentary.
- Plug and play USB.
Cons
- Latency issues on PC and MAC. Can’t monitor your voice in real-time.
- Noisy, tinny/sibilant sound. What does sibilant mean?
- Picks up a lot of ambient room noise.
- Delay when monitoring with headphones.
- Weird sounds after some time.
- People proof packaging (hard to open).
- Hard to EQ
- Noise reduction setting useless.
- Not good for singing/instruments.
- Too much distortion/fuzz/buzzing/echo/hum/squeal.
- Driver issues, incompatibility issues (Windows 8).
- Clipping/distortion above 80dB (basically it distorts loud sources).
- Cheap construction.
- Lacks bass.
- No On/Off or Mute Switch.
- Flashing LED annoying.
- Stand hard to put together.
Note: These are all issues that I read about. You may or may not experience all of these, but you will most definitely go through some (Latency most notably).
Video Review
Who this microphone benefits?
I would say voice-over and that’s about it. But there are other, better options. More on that later.
What you will need?
- Nothing, as it’s plug and play. A pop-filter is always useful though.
- The free Audacity is a great program for recording!
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- You will need to change the default microphone in your “Recording Devices” settings.
- A lot of people were saying this is barely better than your CPU’s internal mic.
Consensus/Conclusion
Despite all the Cons, this mic may work pretty well for you. If you decide to purchase (which I would advise against), here are some things to remember:
- You get what you pay for.
- The mic may work great for a while, and then suddenly crap out (reviews point this out).
- There are much better options for not much more money.
- There’s not much point in buying a super cheap mic only to have to purchase a better one later after it dies.
Onto…
Blue Snowball
Ratings/Price
Specifications
- Microphone Type: Condenser.
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid or Omni-directional.
- Frequency Response: 40Hz – 18kHz
- Color: Silver, White or Black
- Connector: USB.
- Weight: 460 g
- Included Accessories: USB Cable, Stand.
Summary
The Blue snowball is a user-friendly mic that delivers simple, efficient, and practical results. It’s phenomenal for all types of voice-over work, ranging from podcasting, webinars, Skype, you-tube, and basically anything that requires you to blab into the mic about things!
It’s a rather large and unique specimen, standing on a tripod and resembling that of grapefruit .. in both size and weight. Lol. Many reviewers have commented on not being prepared for such a big and textured ball. They were expecting something smaller, but at the same time were pleasantly surprised by its solid build quality.
I’ve read quite a few reviews and many of them have mentioned owning this mic for 2 years, all the way up to 5. Its longevity and reliability contribute to this, making it a proven solution to your dilemma… It becomes the #1 safe option in entry-level affordability.
Sound
It’s got a crisp clean sound, like Rice Krispies in the morning. It works well without a pop filter, but you may want to look into accompanying the Snowball with a good one. Reviewers have noted a vast improvement in sound quality in this regard.
You also may want to take note that the output level according to many is a bit low, and you might have to be very close to it when speaking. To some, it’s just too quiet, and only picks up sound when you’re right upon it. Ironically, it’s still very sensitive and picks up a lot outside of the immediate vicinity. Make sure you’re in a quiet area away from ambient noise if you can help it.
EQ and Polar Patterns
The good news is that it does very well with EQ. If you happen to want to clean up the sound, later on, you can with great results. It doesn’t have a mute button or on/off switch, however, but does have a selection of two different polar patterns that may come in handy…
- Cardioid. Meaning it receives sound only from the front.
- -10db Cardioid. Same as the cardioid setting, but reduces the volume a bit.
- Omnidirectional. Picks up sound from all directions. Works very well with interviews, podcasts, and any situation that has multiple persons speaking.
There is a switch on the back for each of these settings, but it’s labeled 1, 2, and 3. One reviewer found that to be a little irritating because they don’t actually tell you which is which. I will though!
- Cardioid
- -10db Cardioid
- Omni-directional
Recording vocals
One thing to know about the Snowball is that it isn’t well suited for actual vocals or singing. In these instances, it is used as a backup for the Blue Yeti, which serves as a nice upgrade. It does very well as a travel mic on the go, but I’ve read a few reviews saying that if you can, just go for the Blue Yeti instead. It’s the gradual next step up from the Snowball.
Build Quality
Perhaps the best thing about this little beast is the fact that it’s pretty indestructible, especially coming in at such a low cost. Reviewers harp on its durability, and that it can withstand quite a bit of abuse. As touched on before, it’s a lot heavier and bigger than pictures would indicate, which ends up contributing to its solid structure.
Some have complained about the tripod, however. Being that the actual microphone is so big, it can become top-heavy and prone to falling over. A good remedy for this is the DS7200B.
This provides a better solution as it’s a lot heavier and more solid. The dragon pop filter that it’s frequently paired with on amazon makes for a great one-two punch to go along with your Snowball. Think of Mike Tyson here, crushing his opponents with speed, precision, and efficiency.
All of that Tyson silliness aside, you don’t have to go that route. The tripod that comes with it, in most cases will do you just fine. The separate pop filter however is almost mandatory since you have to be very close to the mic to get that lush sound without the plosives.
Pros
- Built solid as a rock.
- Heavy USB cable.
- Easy to hook up. Is automatically detected when plugged in.
- Works well even without a pop filter.
- Good stand.
- Great for voice-overs, podcasts, Skype, webinars, screencasts, gaming, quick and easy live recording, sax, etc.
- Nice portability.
- Longevity factor.
- Picks up the bass nicely in your voice.
- Does well with EQ.
- Clean sound, does a great job of eliminating noise when you’re very close to it.
- Great customer support from Blue microphones.
Cons
- Output level low, you may have to speak up quite a bit.
- Selector switch labeled 1-3 instead of which polar pattern you’re on.
- Takes up a lot of room on your desk.
- Limited features.
- Proximity issue. You will have to get in real close to get the best sound possible from it.
- No on or off switch.
- No mute button.
- Tends to be top-heavy and fall over quite a bit.
- Very sensitive.
Video Review!
Who this mic benefits?
Anything voice-over-related, as we’ve discussed. I’ve also heard that it does well with some instruments, from saxophone to acoustic guitar. Just don’t buy it primarily for this purpose. It’s really best suited for voice-over applications.
What you will need?
Nothing unless you would like to upgrade by getting the separate stand and pop filter as I’ve pointed out above. My advice would be to try it out as is and see how it functions for you, then add accordingly.
Consensus/Conclusion
Great sound at an amazing value. Perfect for voice-over, not as good however for vocals. Does well with instruments, but you may not want to purchase it solely to record them.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both USB plug and play.
- Neither has an On/Off Switch or Mute button.
- Both excel in voice-over-type situations.
- Both are very sensitive to sound in all forms.
Differences
- The CAD doesn’t do well with instruments or vocals, while the Snowball is said to do pretty good in these instances.
- The CAD U37 is built rather cheaply, while the Snowball is more rugged and solid.
- The Snowball has 2 polar patterns: Cardioid and Omni-directional, while the CAD is only Cardioid.
- The Snowball may have some issues with recording a bit quiet, and you might have to get real close to it and speak up. The CAD by contrast is just really loud and obnoxious (like your typical female celebrity), and gives your recordings this awful shrill/harsh quality. Just sayin’.
Final Word
The Snowball is undoubtedly the better choice here, but many people say that if you’re considering the Snowball, just get the Yeti instead, as it’s the logical upgrade and a fantastic USB mic overall. In my opinion (and many others) it’s the best on the market and comes packed with all the features you need in one convenient package. It’s really the perfect all-in-one solution. Interested in learning more? Check out my informative and in-depth…
BLUE MICROPHONES YETI REVIEW!!!
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the CAD U37 vs. Snowball.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Do you believe in the Yeti? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!
