I bought the AKG p220 for 160 € and I can currently buy the AKG p120 for 70 €. should i return the p220 and buy the p120? it's more than twice as cheap. the microphone will be used for for youtube, podcast and such, not singing
I need a microphone to record my album in my home studio. Which one would sound better to create an album? Really need help because i am not able to make a decision 😅
I actually think p120 could be an interesting choice, if you have a creative task to look for a dull, greasy, maybe a little vintage sound for not so low male vocal, like for an authentic punk rock album or postupunk, grunge, screamo, etc, other than that akg p420 for me sounded a little better than 220 and a lot better 120. good and informative, thank you!
P420 owner here. I like the figure 8 pattern as an overhead drum mic. Otherwise, I think the 220 is the better buy. They sound the same to me. Great videos. I enjoy your work.
The P420 seems like the best mic overall, but it's funny because I like the P120 over the P220. Seems like you either go budget or go big, but the P220 almost doesn't have a spot here because it's the thinnest less present of the group. Meanwhile the 120 and the 420 are super similar, even in bass, but the 420 just has the extra fullness. Wild! I don't think anyone would be upset with any of these mics though, they're all so dang similar.
I definitely heard a difference between the two higher spec mics with the 420 taking the win. That aside, just having the versatility of the multiple polar patterns should justify the extra spend. When you can get a professional recording mic of this quality for only 200 bucks, what’s to think about?
The P420 is the best. Sound is very detailed. The P120 is just great for its price. The P220 sound sibilant. I think I prefer this one since my voice characteristic is bassy.
I listened to your video on my iPad through 1st generation AirPod Pro ear buds with noise cancellation engaged. Through the AirPods Pro the P420 sounded warmer and fuller than the P220. The P220 sounded a bit thinner.
Great review! Best microphone review I’ve seen where your TESTS actually give a decent opportunity to compare audios without me having to rewind the video multiple times. Great job! 😃👍
If I had to get just one, I would definitely go for the P4 20. Just for the sake of the rejection pattern for solo making in hot noise environments. I do love all of these mics, though,so I plan on developing an arsenal of these fellas.
Just bought a P420 I had a blue P220 that Just started bein faulty had it 7 years been a brilliant mic can’t wait for my new one my p420 comes tomorrow
I don't think you can go wrong with any of these microphones. I use the P120 and am getting very good results right now. However, would love to try the 420 just for kicks.
@@DarkCornerStudios Once I hit a certain benchmark with my show I think I'll invest in my next microphone..could end up being the 220, although a Rode NT 1A is pretty damn appealing.
These are all great but trust me if ur a good mixer u can edit audio very good buy the 120 with a pop filter and edit the audio good it will sound the same as these ones
To a degree...you can eq the shit out of it. Though that smaller capsule does offer a tonne of work when producing if you want to level the playing field...
P220 I liked. I have no use for multi pattern mics though and my interface and dbx roll off the bass if I need to. There's also a pad on the interface. The wee suitcase is the big selling point for me. 😂
Great comparison and buying guide! I think the P420 has the most clarity and smoothest sound somehow :D But I really can't decide between the P420 and the Shure SM 27.. Maybe you could compare these two as well? Especially for female Vocals I find it hard to pick a good vocal mic in the lower cost segment..
LOL...that is funny...one of my friends has been begging me to test that mic. It might be a bit, but I will... Kinda backed up with reviews at the moment...though I will. I would assume it performs as well as you might think.
@@DarkCornerStudios Haha nice! I'm really looking forward to it 😊 I've been sending test recordings of both, the P420 and the Shure SM27, to friends and while I slightly prefered the Shure for its clarity, my friends really liked the AKG and told me I sounded better (fuller) on that mic. So yeah.. Now the struggle is real as I like both :D
If you tried out both...go with the one you liked better. Remember...you can get better at eqing both mics... Aside from that...if you can wait...I will see what I can do
I love these videos, are really funny and educational. You should make different proofs with these mics in different instruments because I think they are different for each instrument
I hear a huge difference I'm the 420 and the 220. It's either the 220 is top heavy in the high end or the 420 is smooth as a mug in the low end. Regardless the sound on the 420 is much nicer
I have a C214, a P170, and 2 P220s. The mid-high of the C214 does not flatter my voice. The P220 sounds great on my voice. The P170 sounds OK too, but its small diaphragm pops a lot. The published curve for the P420 looks to have a little funkiness going on in the upper mid-range, which I attribute to the 420's dual diaphragm design as opposed to the 220's single diaphragm. So IMHO all three microphones are somewhat different.
P420 would allow you to make stereo recordings using the mid side method and the figure 8 pattern. You could use a 220 as the front facing mic, but you could use any mic.
P220 sounds cleaner than P420 somehow, almost like a form of distortion, not sure why that is but its noticable. Don't think the 420 could be clipping at these volumes, but it doesn't really sound like clipping? P120 is a bit lacking in the lower end compared to the 220. So my pick has to be the 220.
@@DarkCornerStudios well im trying to save money so not the 420, im leaning towards the 220 but I'm also considering the MXL 770 because other reviews say that the 220 is very breathy. I'm still tryna decide between the two buts its a hard choice
Thanks for the review. As I am recording educational audio focused content, spoken by single person, I am thinking to take the P220. Will I need an audio interface with this.
I'm impressed that you found a P420 for only a $120. Dang...Alaska out to get me. Anyway, the P420 is for me. I was perfectly happy with the P220 but the 420 has a slightly clearer sound for my odd low-mid, nasally voice. The P120 sounds bad for me. I noticed a bass increase.
You Rock!! -YES! you truly do. , May you never forget the P is used for announcing " Professional" Not meaning that this microphone is used to record taking a Pee, However Yes, since that idea i has been brought out, you now have unique and NEW testing of the P series videos for YOU to Create ( LOL)
Couldn't tell much of a difference between p220 and p420. I am not disappointed that I got the 420. I like that I can possibly get better mic placement with the p420 with the polar pattern when needed.
I always want the most offered options therefore, for a small price Under (45USD) the P420 wins!! You are doing a truly great Job at making me understand the difference in Mic's. Please do your next review on:" Light Coner 2022" -vs "Dark Corner2022" - RELAX!! Your Dark Coner is always the winning Studio! Take care my friend--Marcus in California
Sir, i want to record drums...and need a overhead microphone... I am getting P240 and P420 in the same price...which one should i go for? Or i should buy P120...?
If you need the multiple polar patterns for instruments...go with the P420. But the P120 is SOLID for instruments if you are trying to save money. Honestly all of them are a GREAT buy
I bought the AKG p220 for 160 € and I can currently buy the AKG p120 for 70 €. should i return the p220 and buy the p120? it's more than twice as cheap. the microphone will be used for for youtube, podcast and such, not singing
I would go for the 220, I mean who needs Omni mode? Pretty useless most of the time haha. Unless the 420 has a better EIN than I'd save some cash and go 220 for the rolloff and pad. Pity, because any excuse to say 420 is usually a good one lol. Still, strictly going off the sound and no extra features the 420 wins. Not by a crazy margin but it sounds a tad nicer. cheers
Before i watch your video, im trying to buy AKG P420, but now am really confuse 😆😆😆 I never record choir, only solo. But am still using Shure pg 58, u can check it out in my channel 😇😇😇😇 which one is good for me? Akg p420, Akg P220 At2035... am really confuse
Hi there - and thank you very much. I am trying to record the sounds of nature... bees, rain, running water, trees in wind... do you think 2x P420 s on Omni would do the job ? obviously I would have to get close...
Yes...that would work well! Honestly if you wanted a better way to record sound like that...I use the Zoom H5. The included capsules are great for collecting ambient sound. Otherwise the P420s will work great...just make sure you have a decent recorder with decent preamps.
Thanks so much for this beautiful comparison Please which do you think I should get between akg p420, akg c3000 and audio technica at 2035 I'm a male vocalist, thanks
Hello! I am writing using a translator because I come from Russia, I hope it will be clear :) I choose between P120 and p220, I tested p120 with a friend, I record guitar and vocals in an ordinary apartment, I didn't like p120 because of dirty high frequencies, in particular the guitar rang too much. Is it worth overpaying and taking p220? Will it be better in this regard? How is he doing with the upper frequencies?
@@dickginkowski6071 I prefer the 420...though my sibilance makes almost EVERY mic tinny in the top...though yeah...were I to eq it I would take some of that out.
Good evening Sir, I want to Record my poetry in professional quality. please Suggest me Good microphone and Audio Interface...But my room is not sound proof ...My Budget is $300
@@DarkCornerStudios thanks for the quick reply! I am planning on surprising my fiancé by giving a setup for her piano. Unfortunately, I am very new to all this. Would I require a professional audio interface with this mic or would a cheap phantom power supply work? Appreciate your inputs!
Both P420 and P220 sound fuller, richer, and more balanced than the P120. (It would, however, tell us A LOT more if you included a brief bit of recorded music to flesh out the comparison.) The P420 is worth the extra cost over the P220 because it adds the second diaphragm and multiple patterns. You failed to mention one major difference between the P420/P220 and the lower cost P120: aesthetics. The all black model is ugly compared to those with chrome baskets. Some buyers will pay for that aesthetic differential. And yet, one should buy the P120 if it suites his needs and budget. Each has its place, and as you observe, each sits at an acceptable price point relative to the rest of the market. Nice video, but I would really prefer you add some music to the A/B comparison tests. Voices only cover a narrow range of frequencies compared to the whole music spectrum. Good video with this (major) fault. Thanks. JT
420 is better, because 420 lol! But seriously I just ordered the 420 for versatility when used in combination with my Rhode NTK, like mid/side etc. Anyway nice reviews, subbed.
8:02 that sound scares me hahaahaa bro play that music more smoother and go with lower sound than louder it scared meee Otherwise i like this chanel and videoo❤️❤️
It is a very solid choice. I use the P120 running through an Audient Evo 4 interface into Hindenburg Journalist Pro for my podcasts and get very good results. The Audient has really quiet preamps so it is great for this microphone.
