Blue Yeti X Review / Test
Today we’re reviewing the brand new Blue Yeti X. What’s different between different between the Blue Yeti & Blue Yeti X? It has a different sound, different design, you can add real time processing (if you’re on windows), and it records 24-bit 48kHz.
For the majority of this review I have the microphone connected to my mac, with the gain set at around 15%. I did not do any post processing to the audio, other than minor boosts to the recording to bring it up to a decent listening level.
If you are interested in this headset, it will set you back around $170 on amazon.
What's In the Box
Microphone
Desktop mount that’s already installed
2 meter usb cable
Quick start guiode
Specifications
Microphone
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Stereo
Max SPL: 122dB
Sample Rate: 48kHz
Bit Depth: 24-bit
Headphone Amp
Impedance: 13 Ohms min, 16 Ohms typical
Power output (RMS): 72mWrms per channel
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Signal to Noise: 100dB
System Requirements
PC - Windows 7, 8.1, 10
Mac - macOS (10.10 or higher) (Logitech GHub / Blue Vo!ce not available on mac)
USB 1.1/2.0/3.0
Performance / Features
The build quality of this microphone feels perfectly fine and I have no real complaints. It has a metal body as well as a metal grill which does have a little bit of give to it. The stand that’s provided is very heavy, but offers minimal isolation from bumps of your desk. You are able to remove the microphone from the desktop stand via the two screws on the side of the stand.
On the front of the microphone you’ll find a multi-function button/dial. The dial controls Microphone Gain, Headphone Volume, Mix between PC Playback/Latency Free Monitoring. To switch between these controls you need to hold the button in the middle of the dial down for 1 second. You can also press this button to mute or unmute the microphone. Last thing on the front is a real time metering light surrounding the dial.
On the rear of the microphone you’ll find a single button to switch between all 4 polar patterns available on the microphone: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Stereo.
On the bottom of the microphone you will find a 5/8” threading to mount this microphone to a stand (a 5/8” to 3/8” threading is not provided). You’ll find a 3.5mm headphone output which does offer computer playback as well as zero latency monitoring. And you’ll find a micro-usb port to connect the microphone to your computer.
The microphone frequency response of the microphone is listed as 20Hz - 20kHz.
On cardioid the microphone seems to have a relatively neutral mids, with a bit of a boost in the higher end which tends to be a bit grittier sounding than the classic yeti, while the low frequencies yield a bit of a boxier sound than the prior version.
The Bidirectional polar pattern has a pretty nasally sounding mid section, and an over boosted high end.
The stereo setting is my favorite of them all as it seems the most neutral of the 3.
The omni directional pattern has a very scooped sound to it with a very prominent top end.
The polar pattern of this mic is Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Stereo. The cardioid polar pattern is relatively wide, picking up audio well all the way around to 90-degrees with some tonal changes as you get farther towards the side.
Pros
24-bit/48Khz Recording
Zero Latency Monitoring
Full package makes it easy to start recording
All microphones settings controlled from the mic
Cons
Multi function buttons are a bit clunky to use
Placement of polar pattern button makes it easy to unintentionally switch patterns
Blue Vo!ce processing only available on Windows
Conclusion
I do not think that this is the end all be all microphone that everyone thinks it is. Is it convenient? Yes. Is it decent sounding? Yes. But is it the best option for gamers, youtubers, or podcasters? Not in my opinion.
I do think that the Yeti X or the Classic Blue Yeti is a really great option for home studio musicians who just want a quick and easy microphone to set up and start recording. I say this because it sounds good enough for demoing stuff out, and it offers a lot of options to mess around with. It also makes stereo-micing stuff insanely easy. I also think these mics are a good option for ASMR people because again it makes it super simple and super cheap to get a binaural recording.
The Yeti X also introduces Blue Vo!ce functionality if you’re on windows, and that can be really nice for people who do streaming. With that being said, I would advise against just using any of the presets that are available. You would be much better off fine tuning every last one of them because they are incredibly aggressive. Also if you have a microphone already and you like the tone of it, you can just download something like Voice Meter Banana to get some real time processing.
On the other hand if you’re just looking into this microphone because you see everyone else using it…STOP. The popularity of this mic does not mean it is the right choice for you (which is the same with every other microphone as well). Determine what you need from a microphone, then do your research, and THEN pick your microphone. Do you really need 4 polar patterns? Probably not. So I’d suggest you look for a microphone that does only what you need it to do as this might save you some money, and lead you to selecting a microphone that sounds better.
Also if you’re a podcaster looking at this…please stop unless you absolutely need the multi-polar pattern functionality. If you do not need that, I’d recommend you check out a much cheaper option like the Behringer XM8500, with a USB Audio Interface, and then record to a free DAW like Audacity, Reaper, or Garage Band and learn how to process your audio that way.
If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP.
Buy the Blue Yeti X (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/yetix
