Neewer NW-8 XLR Condenser Mic Review / Test
Today I review another super cheap OEM microphone from China from Neewer, the Neewer NW-8.
For this review, I have the mic connected directly to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 2nd gen, with the gain set at 10:00. I have done no post processing on the audio, it is all raw, but the audio was slightly boosted in final cut pro X to simply make the audio easier to listen to.
If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $30.00 on Amazon
What's In the Box
Microphone
Windscreen
Shockmount
5/8" to 3/8" Adapter
XLR to 3.5mm Cable
3.5mm TRRS Splitter
Documentation
Specifications
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Sensitivity: ~-37dB
Impedance: 150-ohms
Performance / Features
The build quality of this mic feels sub par. The body is all plastic with a metal grill. It does have a little bit of weight to it which adds a decent feel to it, but all around it feels like an unreliable, poorly built microphone.
The frequency response is listed as 20Hz - 20kHz. They did not provide a frequency response graph of this microphone, which is not surprising given the price. Listening to it though, it sounds as though it lacks in the low end as well as the high end, making for a somewhat mid forward microphone.
The polar pattern of this mic is standard cardioid. It does not do a great job at off axis or background noise rejection, and the coloring as you move around the mic changes pretty drastically.
The overall performance of this mic is about as good as you would expect out of a $30 microphone. If you connect it direct to your computer with the provided 3.5mm cables, it does not sound good at all as there is lots of noise. If you connect it to an USB Audio Interface with phantom power and an XLR cable, it sounds decent. As previously mentioned it does seem very mid forward, but I did not hate it for electric, acoustic, or for singing. For spoken word, the lack in the low end, and the lack in clarity makes this sound like exactly what it is, a $30 microphone.
Pros
Dirt cheap
Lots of accessories
When connected to USB Audio Interface, it's usable
Cons
Not a good build quality
When connected as 3.5mm mic, it sounds bad
Lacks in low end & high end.
Conclusion
If you are just recording demos so you can hear your song ideas, I think this microphone would be fine. But if you're planning on using this microphone for any form of professional application I believe you should move on to another microphone.
If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP.
Buy the NW8 (Affiliate Link)
Global: https://geni.us/nnw8
