If you are interested in podcasting, creating a YouTube Channel, making music in your home studio, or you just want to have great Skype and video conferencing calls, the one thing you will need above all else is a great microphone. When we were asked to research some great studio microphones and feature one in our review, we chose the Samson Meteor mic. We absolutely loved this portable mic that has the look and feel of a classic. The retro-looking Samson Meteor is not only aesthetically pleasing and easy to use, but it has all the modern capabilities you would expect from a plug-and-play USB microphone.
But wait—we are getting ahead of ourselves here. To give you an unbiased review, we will also look at some other great microphones available to you on the market and present their features, and the facts for each of them. We will eventually share with you the reasons we featured the Samson Meteor and present our final verdict on it at the end of this review.
What Is the Samson Meteor Microphone?
The Samson Meteor is a plug-and-play USB microphone that hooks straight into your computer’s USB port. Whether you are speaking or singing, this mic will make sure your voice comes through crystal clear, with rich audio recording.
There are no drivers required with this microphone, and it is compatible with almost any computer-based digital audio workstation software. It has a classic design but is lightweight and portable, fitting easily into a pocket. It has foldable legs to stand on, but most importantly, it provides a high-quality recording experience for any application.
Price Range of the Microphones on This List
The microphones in our Samson Meteor review can be purchased on Amazon.com, and they range in price from around $70 to around $250.
How Other Mics Compare to the Samson Meteor
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare to our featured microphone. We based our research on sound and design quality, ease of use, and warranty. Listed below are our comparable microphones:
Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone
MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
But First: More on the Samson Meteor Microphone
The Samson USB Condenser Microphone has a large, 25mm diaphragm condenser for high-quality recording. It is portable with an integrated tri-fold base that makes setup and transport a snap. It has a smooth, flat frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz and CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution.
The mic is fully compatible with most computer-based systems and requires no drivers. It comes with Samson’s SR350 over-the-ear stereo headphones and a CAD audio pop filter, which is one of the most recognized pop filters in the world. For added convenience, the Samson Meteor can also be screwed into an existing stand instead of using the built-in mic stand.
Ease of Use [5 Out of 5 Stars]
When they say plug and play, they mean it. Just open the tripod folding legs, stand it up, plug it in, and you are good to go. If you prefer not to use the legs, it has a foldback leg-design, so you can just secure it to an existing mic stand or a boom arm, and it works just as well. We gave it a solid five stars for ease of use.
Sound Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
The Samson boasts CD-quality sound, and we can’t disagree. It also has great reviews from satisfied customers. This one doesn’t require a bunch of accessories to achieve the desired sound. It delivers from the first word. We couldn’t give it six stars, unfortunately.
Design Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
The design of the Samson Meteor embodies retro class without the heaviness of the classic microphones. The legs are completely foldable; just pick it up, fold, and slide it in a pocket or the bag that is included. The large diaphragm is great to ensure clear recording, and it is designed to work with any digital audio workstation software by just plugging it in—a solid five stars for design quality.
Warranty [5 Out of 5 Stars]
Samson offers a 2-year limited warranty, easy product registration, and good customer service. Five stars.
Pros
- No drivers needed
- Great audio quality
- Portable
- Includes headphones and CAD pop filter
- Plug and play
Cons
- Awkward headphone jack and control placements
Price $
Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone
The Rode Procaster is great when a robust microphone with superior ambient noise rejection is needed. The Procaster features a tight, polar pattern and has an internal pop filter that minimizes plosive sounds.
It has a high-output dynamic capsule and balanced, low impedance output. It has a rugged, all-metal construction and comes with an RM2 stand mount, 3/8″ adaptor, and zipper pouch.
Ease of Use [4.5 Out of 5 Stars]
This one is not plug-and-play, and isn’t a USB microphone. It is, however, a dynamic microphone, so it doesn’t require 48v external phantom power. Since it’s not powered, it does require some significant gain, and it has a lot of bass—which isn’t an issue as long as you understand EQing. We gave it 4.5 stars for ease of use.
Sound Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
We gave the Rode five stars for sound quality. It can be a little bassy at first, and it requires some gain, but then the sound is crisp and clear and perfect for podcasts, or whatever you want to throw at it.
Design Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
More than one reviewer referred to this microphone as a tank, but in a good way. At about two pounds, it’s fairly heavy for a microphone, but it has a solid construction, and it will last for a long time. The included stand takes away any issue with weight, and everything else about the design of this microphone is wonderfully done. It is designed to perform, and it does. We give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Warranty [5 Out of 5 Stars]
What can we say? A 10-year limited lifetime warranty is pretty stellar. We didn’t have a 6th star to bestow upon the warranty on this one—but if we could have, we would have.
Pros
- Built solidly
- Broadcast quality sound
- Mount included
- Dynamic acoustic principle
Cons
- Needs quite a bit of gain
- Not much padding on the carry pouch
- On the more expensive side of this list
Price $$$
MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount
The MXL 990 has the distinction of being one of the industry’s most groundbreaking microphones. It has an FET preamp and a large diaphragm that allows for professional sound quality for both digital and analog.
It has an attractive vintage body style with a pleasing champaign finish. It has a 30Hz-20kHz frequency response and 130dp SPL sensitivity. It comes with a custom shock mount for stability. According to MXL, this is one of the first microphones to come into reach of working musicians.
Ease of Use [4.5 Out of 5 Stars]
This is a great mic for beginners and experts. As a condenser mic, it requires 48v phantom power to work—which makes it slightly “more difficult” to use than your plug and play USB mic. Having said that, any setup hassle is worth it because of the beautiful warm sound you will get. We gave it 4.5 stars for ease of use.
Sound Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
Many musicians prefer this microphone because it has a warm, high-quality sound. It works great for many applications, from podcasts to music recording. “Warm,” “rich,” and “silky,” were some words used by musicians and podcasters to describe the sound quality of this microphone. We could not disagree. We gave it a solid 5 stars for sound quality.
Design Quality [4.5 Out of 5 Stars]
We love the vintage look of this one and the large condenser diaphragm. The shock mount is great, but there were reports that the bands lose their elasticity, causing the microphone to sit down in the frame farther than it should, knocking it out of optimal mic positioning. The clips can also require adjustment time for the user. We took away half a star for the shock mount design quality.
Warranty [4 Out of 5 Stars]
MXL products are guaranteed against material defects and workmanship defects for up to one year after purchase. Each microphone comes with warranty information in the owner’s manual, but you must register your product and keep your receipt.
Pros
- Economical
- Quality Sound
- Large diaphragm
- Vintage look
Cons
- Very sensitive microphone that picks up sounds from afar—which isn’t really always a bad thing
Price $
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Don’t let the name Blue Yeti throw you off; this USB microphone comes in 13 different colors. It has a tri-capsule array, meaning the 3 condenser capsules can record almost any application.
It has multiple pattern selection (cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo) and a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz. It also features a volume knob, a mute button, and a power output of 130mW.
This mic is compatible with pretty much any Windows PC or Apple Mac or iPad, and is perfect for applications ranging from podcasts to conference calls.
Ease of Use [5 Out of 5 Stars]
You can use this one right out of the box. It is considered “The Mic of the Internet” and is easy to record and stream all while maintaining good sound quality. This one gets a 5 from us for ease of use.
Sound Quality [4.5 Out of 5 Stars]
Blue Yeti promises unparalleled sound quality, but most customers agree that to achieve this, a little EQ goes a long way. It does have great sound once you tweak it, but not perfect straight out of the box. We gave it 4.5 stars for sound quality.
Design Quality [5 Out of 5 Stars]
We liked the design quality of this microphone. With 13 different colors to choose from, you would definitely have your pick of which one you like best. It also comes with a quality case. We also liked that it is a plug-and-play model with no drivers. That is a 5 from us for design quality.
The mic includes four modes of use:
- Cardioid Pickup Pattern: perfect for recording voice-overs and instruments
- Stereo Mode: Great for recording acoustic guitar
- Omnidirectional Mode
- Bidirectional Mode
Warranty [5 Out of 5 Stars]
The Blue Yeti has a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. That is a solid warranty worthy of a 5-star rating.
Pros
- Plug and play
- No drivers
- 13 color choices
- Multiple pattern selection
- Camera connection kit available
- Very popular and well-renowned microphone
Cons
- No microphone mute switch
- On the more expensive end of this list
Price $$$
Our Verdict
There you have it. We have come to the end of our Samson Meteor review. You have seen some great choices in microphones. Whether you want a plug-and-play or something that takes more expertise, we have presented them here. We believe these microphones give you a good idea of what is available on the market and what customers are saying about them.
The Samson Meteor
While all of the above are great microphones, the Samson Meteor is the favorite on this list. The Samson Meteor delivers excellent quality straight out of the box. Take it out, plug it in, and go—quality sound with no drivers or any additional accessories other than the ones that come with it in the box.
We feel it provides exceptional value, and it has a great look and feel to it. It even has a handy velvet bag to put it in to keep it clean and free from any surface scratches. We were hard-pressed to find anything not to like about it. And other than the little rubber feet that may need to be secured back on, we finally just settled on enjoying it.
The Samson Meteor will make an excellent microphone for everyone, from the newbie podcaster to the seasoned professional delivering a new product idea on a conference call. And did we mention before that we love the retro design? We think Elvis would have loved it, too. Overall, it gets our highest rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
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