Hi friend and Welcome aboard!
Before we get into the Samson Meteorite USB microphone review, grab a snack, sit back, and relax because…
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Sound Clips from Stu
- Who this mic benefits?
- What you will need?
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!
Samson Meteorite
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check eBay!
In The Box
Samson Meteorite USB Condenser Microphone
Limited 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty
Specifications
- Bit depth: 16-bit. Bit depth vs. Sample Rate
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz
- Transducer: Condenser
- Diaphragm: 0.55″ (14mm)
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid. What is a cardioid capsule?
- Frequency Range: 20Hz-20kHz
- Maximum SPL: 120 dB. What is SPL?
- Power requirements: 5v, Plug-in Power
- Output Connectors: USB
Summary
I was a bit disappointed in the sound coming out of the Samson Meteorite USB condenser microphone. The difference between a USB microphone and an XLR microphone.
It wasn’t that the sound was bad per se, just not up to par with the Samson Go mic (similar price range).
I tried a few times to get a decent recording, and what you’ll hear below is about as good as it got.
The mic is a little smaller than a golf ball and comes with a nifty magnetic holder which I did enjoy quite a lot. Many do complain about the chord, as it’s very short and does not disconnect from the ball of the mic.
The build quality is decent, nothing spectacular. The base holder feels solid but the mic itself is a bit light for my tastes.
Pros
- Convenient, and easy to use.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a carrying case or pouch.
- The cable is quite short and not removable.
- Sound is not on par with some of Samson’s other offerings in this price range. The sound is very tinny, hollow, and a bit sibilant. What does sibilant mean? There’s no meat or power behind the words.
Video Review
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Sound clips from Stu
Meteorite with Pop Filter
No Pop Filter
From Distance
Acoustic Guitar (Shins – New Slang intro). This is a raw recording with the mic pointed at the soundhole. As you can hear, it’s decent but nothing more. I wouldn’t rely on the Meteorite to handle your instrument recordings. This was just for kicks. 🙂
New Slang with no filter
Who this mic benefits?
Sadly, not many people. I suppose it would make an okay mic as a backup in a pinch. I would really only use it for voice-type recordings.
I was simply not impressed with the sound quality.
What you will need?
Since it’s a plug-and-play USB, nothing, but I would definitely employ a pop filter if you’re going to purchase this one.
However, even with the pop filter, I wasn’t too thrilled about the sound.
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
It may take a while for your CPU to recognize it.
For mine, it took between 1-2 minutes and didn’t give me a whole heap of confidence moving forward.
This has been common with Samson’s lower-budget options (Go Mic, Meteor, Meteorite).
If it’s not recognized, do a hard reboot and it should be okay.
Consensus/Conclusion
A “Meteo-cre” sounding mic (lol) with a decent build. It May or may not be recognized by your computer.
Final Word
I would definitely recommend the Samson Meteor over the Meteorite.
The Meteor delivers pretty exceptional sound quality for only a little bit more dough.
Both do pick up quite a bit of background noise, but Acoustic Sound Treatment never hurts anyone.
A step up from the Meteor and the overall best USB mic in my opinion is the Blue Yeti.
It’s got everything you need packaged into one industrial-sized dildo-looking mic. Lmao. I’m sorry I had to.
It’s a running joke here at Home Studio Basics but doesn’t take away from the fact that the Yeti is no joke. Why?
Well for starters it comes in like 1,000 different colors. Okay, less than that.
But check out the quick scoop:
- Versatility. Does well in a variety of applications. Just don’t purchase it with the intent of solely recording vocals and instruments. It can also be used with the provided stand or with a separate mic stand + shock mount as well as: a windscreen or pop-filter depending on your preference.
- Features. This baby is basically ready to go out of the box. 4 polar patterns, a gain switch, a zero-latency headphone jack for live monitoring (What is latency?), a mute button, a great USB cable, and an elegant design make it perfect for pod-casters who need everything in one place.
- It’s solid as a rock. It may look like a mini-spaceship, but rest assured this beast is strong and durable.
- Well-rounded sound. Does exceptionally with an array of voice types.
- Popular. Opinions do vary, but you will find the Yeti at or near the top of many shortlists for the best USB pod-casting mic.
- An array of colors. Comes in Blackout, Platinum, Silver, Space Grey, White-out, Vintage White, and Midnight Blue!
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Samson Meteorite USB microphone review.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please contact me!!
Would you be more inclined to purchase the Meteor or Yeti? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
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