Hello there friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Rode NTK vs. AKG C214, grab a small snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Because I have already reviewed each of these mics, I will quickly give you the similarities and differences and point you to some good reviews in the final word. 🙂
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are large diaphragm cardioid condensers. What is a cardioid capsule?
- Both use XLR. What is XLR?
- Both are good with rap/hip-hop vocals.
- Both mics are warm, and meant to accentuate.
Differences
- The NTK is a tube condenser and thus does not require 48v phantom power. The C214 by contrast does require phantom power via your audio interface, or mixer. What does an audio interface do? The NTK has it’s own power supply, but does require a preamp. Preamp vs. Interface.
- The Rode NTK has a max SPL of 158dB vs. the 156 for the C214. What is SPL?
- Price. The C214 is considerably more affordable.
Final Word
What this comes down to is price. The NTK requires a good preamp and interface to truly shine. Basically if you went with the NTK, your signal chain would look like:
Laptop/PC > Interface > Preamp > Mic.
RODE NTK TUBE CONDENSER MICROPHONE REVIEW!!
If you went the C214 route, you wouldn’t necessarily need a preamp, so your chain would be:
Laptop/PC > Audio Interface > Mic. I do however go over some good preamp options in my C214 review.
My recommendation? I would go with the C214. It has been praised so mightily and works well for just about anything. It is a tough choice, but price steers me towards the C214.
Learn more about it:
AKG C214 CONDENSER MICROPHONE REVIEW!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Rode NTK vs. AKG C214.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these are you more likely to go with? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu