Aloha friend and Welcome!!
Before we dive right into the Samson C01 vs. Behringer C1, 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
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!
Samson C01
Ratings/Price
- Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check B&H! | Check eBay!
Specifications
- Microphone Type: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid. What is a cardioid capsule?
- Diaphragm Size: 0.75″ (19mm)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 18kHz
- Max SPL: 136dB. What is SPL?
- Output Impedance: 200 Ohms
- Color: Silver
- Connector: XLR. What is XLR?
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Included Accessories: Stand Mount, Carry Case
- Manufacturer Part Number: SAC01
Summary
Ah, the tried and true Samson C01. Believe it or not, I’ve had this mic since 2007! Wow. Time really does fly. I can’t say enough good things about this baby. It’s rugged as a freakin’ barbell and can withstand a lot of abuse.
It’s very similar to the C1 in fact, and definitely has a professional quality sound to it, but will pick up quite a bit of background noise. More on some remedies for that in the C1 portion of this article!
Pros
- Crisp sound.
- Great longevity factor. Will last you quite a while.
- Rock-solid build. It’s very heavy and has a durable grill.
- Smooth, flat frequency response.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with any cables.
- Does get a tad muddy in the low end past 200Hz.
I personally haven’t had anything to complain about if you can believe it. There’s not really much else to say about this thing. It’s just a solid piece of equipment.
Video Review (from me!)
Sound Test!
Just as a side note: I didn’t set up any Acoustic Sound Treatment, so just be aware that you may hear a bit of background noise. Normally if I was recording a rap or something I would employ some room treatment beforehand. 🙂
Gain around 75%
Max Gain (around 95%)
Who this mic benefits?
Endorsed for all of the following:
- Rappers (Nice low-end sound).
- Pod-casting/Commentary.
- Vocals
- Instruments
What you will need?
Everything you need is essentially the same as with the Behringer C1, reviewed below!
What Interfaces are people using? What does an audio interface do?
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i4
- Steinberg UR22. The best budget audio interface.
A couple of great pieces of gear for the C01 specifically:
- Samson SP01 Spider Shock-mount.
- Samson PS01 Pop-filter.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- The downside of this mic being super heavy and durable is that you will need a mic stand equally as beastly.
- It’s a large-diaphragm condenser. Large diaphragm vs. Small diaphragm.
Consensus/Conclusion
Rock-solid mic with great sound quality. Make sure you invest in a good stand, as this mic is very heavy.
Onto…
Behringer C1
Ratings/Price
Specifications
- Microphone Type: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid. What is a cardioid capsule?
- Diaphragm Size: 0.63″ (16mm)
- Frequency Response: 40Hz – 20kHz
- Max SPL: 136dB. What is SPL?
- Output Impedance: 100 Ohms
- Color: Silver
- Connector: XLR
- Weight: 0.99 lbs.
- Included Accessories: Stand Mount, Carry Case
- Manufacturer Part Number: C1/B
Summary
The Behringer C1 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic. It’s a decent piece, but will probably end up failing you after about a year. You get what you pay for, unfortunately. The people who have had good luck with it really do like it, so that’s a plus!
It’s got a flat response, good clarity, and also happens to be very versatile. Just be aware that with the C1, you’re getting a good sound, but not a great sound. It’s that little extra spent that sometimes makes the difference between a $50 mic and a $100 mic.
Pros
- Good clarity, with no feedback.
- Flat response.
- Versatile.
- Rich, warm, and accurate sound.
Cons
- Cheap plastic. Not built to last. So not like Duralast 🙁
- Failed in less than a year.
- Big proximity effect. You must stand very close to the mic. If you move even a little bit, the volume lowers a lot.
- Humming noise.
- Overly exaggerated high end.
Video Review
Who this mic benefits?
Endorsed for:
- Acoustic guitar.
- Drum overheads.
- Close vocals.
- Ambient room noise.
- Voice-over work/Pod-casting.
- Country cymbals. The dark mid-range is captured very well.
- Spoken word.
- Choir.
- Trumpet/Brass.
- Vocals.
- Radio Broadcasting
- Toms/Bongos/Cymbals/Shakers, etc.
I would say that the C1 is at its best in a voice-over-type environment.
What you will need?
- 48v Phantom Power via Mixer or Audio Interface. What does an audio interface do?
- Pop-filter or windscreen.
- Mic Stand.
- XLR cable(s).
- Shock-mount. The Samson SP-01 works fine.
- Studio Monitors (optional). What are studio monitors?
- Acoustic Sound Treatment. Because this is a condenser mic, it picks up EVERYTHING. Be sure to take the time to treat your room, regardless of what mic you have. It really does go a long way when you upgrade mics and improve your sound.
Essentially, be prepared to spend some dollars on the proper equipment. XLR condenser microphones need to be accompanied by additional gear, unlike a plug-and-play USB mic. The difference between a USB microphone and an XLR microphone.
What are people using?
- Behringer Xenyx 802 mixer.
- Xenyx 1204 USB.
- Xenyx 1202FX.
- Behringer UCA202 U-Control Audio Interface.
- Focusrite Solo
- Art Tube MP Project Series
- Xenyx 2442FX
- M-Audio Fast Track MK2
- Firewire Solo
- M-Audio Delta 44
- M-Audio Mobile Pre USB
- Alesis IO Express
What do I recommend?
Well, I’m partial to audio interfaces, and I use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. It works great with entry to mid-level condenser mics, and the Behringer C1 is no exception (I personally use it with the Samson C01). Highly recommended.
However, if you’re more hands-on and prefer a mixer, the Xenyx 802 is a good option. Most of the Behringer mixers are just fine in fact. Just make sure that whatever you purchase has 48v phantom power. I Cannot overstate that point.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- A few people are talking about the proximity effect, which should be discussed a bit further. At 4″, the mic is exceptionally sharp, but at around 6″ it starts to drop off considerably. At 8″? Pretty muffled. So in essence, you really get what you pay for here. It’s definitely a decent mic, but its issues are typical of gear in this price range.
- Try the gain on your interface at about 12 o’clock to start. It’s a good benchmark number, and you can adjust accordingly. With cheaper condensers like the C1, you don’t want the gain too high, as it will cause sibilance. What does sibilant mean?
- There were a few reviews pointing out that the mic is phenomenal without any EQ or effects added. One review on amazon particularly impressed me because he was in an untreated room and you really couldn’t hear any background noise. The mic sounded very crisp and clear as well.
- A few people also compared it favorably to mics way out of its price range. A few examples: Shure SM7, AKG C414, and the Neumann TLM 193.
- Read a review that said he had the C1 for 4 years before it crapped out. Another review (the video one from above), had his for 1 1/2 years before deciding to upgrade.
Consensus/Conclusion
A crispy-sounding mic at an affordable price. Be aware that you may end up getting a lemon, overall the mic is certainly solid. It’s also pretty versatile, but some say the build quality is suspect.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are good for voice-over work and are pretty versatile.
- Both pick up a lot of background noise and may need some Acoustic Sound Treatment.
- Both are cardioid condensers that need 48v Phantom Power.
- Both have an eerily similar shape.
- Both come with a stand mount and carry case.
Differences
- There were people complaining about build quality with the C1. The C01 however is built Ford tough.
- The C01 has a natural low-end sound, conducive to rapping. I didn’t see any mention of the C1 working well in this instance.
Final Word
It’s extremely difficult to come up with a Final Word here. So I’ll pose the question:
What are you trying to record?
If it’s voice-over strictly, I wouldn’t even go with either of these. I will recommend the Blue Yeti instead, which I consider the best USB microphone on the market. 🙂
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL BLUE MICROPHONES YETI REVIEW!!
Rap vocals on a budget? The MXL 770 is your boy.
CHECK OUT MY MXL 770 CARDIOID CONDENSER MICROPHONE REVIEW!!
A versatile piece of equipment similar to the Yeti but with XLR capability? I would go with the AT2020. It’s a definite step up from the C1 and C01, but not much more $.
CHECK OUT MY AT 2020 vs. BLUE YETI COMPARISON FOR SOME IN DEPTH INFORMATION!!
Looking for a true starter piece? The AT2035 is about the best $150 you will spend. It can handle anything you throw at it.
LEARN MORE IN MY AUDIO TECHNICA AT2035 REVIEW!!
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Samson C01 vs. Behringer C1.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles your pickle? 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!
